Alberto Guerrero Jr.

The wolf in the house

It may seem attractive for some dog owners to have the best of two worlds in one animal,

the friendlies of a dog and the wilderness of a wolf next to them. This type of animal are call

a Wolf-dog (also called a wolf–dog hybrid or wolf hybrid, Government and veterinary

organizations often refer to them as wolf-dog hybrids.) is a canid hybrid resulting from

the hybridization of a domestic dog to one other Canis sub-species, the Gray, Red and Ethiopian

wolves (Canis simensis). But Are they a good combination? Learning from both animals can

help to understand the differences and behaviors of this type of canine.

Dog or Domestic Dog (Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris) is a member of genus

Canes that forms part of the wolf-like canids, and is the most widely abundant carnivore. Dogs

are highly variable in height, weight, colors and not all of them behave the same way than other

but present a constant behavior. Some of them may even looks like wolves.

The Gray Wolf or Grey Wolf, also known as the timber wolf or western wolf, is a canine

native to the wilderness and remote areas of Eurasia and North America. It was believed that

today’s dogs are like little wolves but it turns out that dogs are not a direct descendant of the grey

wolf; however, both species (form part of the Wolf-like canid) are genetically closely related, is

his closest living relative. Even though the origin of the domestic dog is not clear, dogs have

played a role in human’s life for many years. In early days Humans have derived enormous

benefit from the dogs.

There is evidence of the existence of this type of hybrids in different time and places,

from the Teotihuacan civilization in Mexico to the early Great Britain.

 This days there are varieties of wolfdogs and not all of them behavior the same way. The

adult behavior of hybrid pups also cannot be predicted. Although, society may think that

wolfdogs may look very attractive and exotic, they may not be as good domestic pets as

dogs, because of their unpredictable behavior and the lack of experience and knowledge

from the owner.

There are different reason of why people want wolf-dogs as a pet, it can be from a strong

desire of helping animals in need to the smallest reasons as because they look good, Wolf Park

have explain that one of the most common reasons for adopting or owning a hybrid is ego, strong

bonds, romanticism and rescue (“Wolf hybrid” 10), even though there intentions are good, there

are some other topics that they need to considerate before the decide to owner a wolf-dog,

because there is a lot of ignorance when it come to this particular animal.

Understanding that they are not just dog and learning some of the wolf behavior can help

owners to determinate how dog or wolf is the hybrid, as Cesar Millan explained in a 2010

episode of “Dog Whisperer” on wolf-dog hybrids, “The more wolf in a hybrid, the wilder the

animal, and more problems for the humans who believe they can take them.” Since wolf-dogs

do not always behavior the same way, dogs and wolves have been studied individually and they

have presented a constant behavior; nevertheless, wolf-dogs can present both of this behavior in

different ways but it will depend on the percentage of wolf that is on them.

When it comes to train this hybrid is where people have struggle, it requires a lot of time

and dedication which is where the owners lack the most, Dra Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a

veterinarian with an interest in a broad range of animal species. She said “Overall, the

sometimes-unpredictable nature of the wolf-dog and the genetic differences from our

domesticated dog species can pose a problem for owners who are not ready to take on the
challenge” (Lianne, 1). A commitment has been made when owner decide to own a Wolf-dog,

they require a lot more attention and training because of their wolf inheritance.

Wolves have behaviors that separates them from today’s domestic dog, the most common

behavior specially in younger wolves is domination and where is seem in hybrids “This is

(domination and mark of territory) something we have greatly modified in domesticating dogs”

(“wolf hybrid” 5). Dogs through generations have been domesticated and those behavior have

been easy to overcome; however, wolf-dogs are not easy to change because there has been no

proper training, they do not always respond the same way than most dogs.

When it comes to legal terms wolf-dogs have been considered a domestic animal in most

of the sates in the United States, the Government has let the citizen responsible for the care of

their hybrid wild in other it may require a special permission to hold them as if they will hold a

wild animal like a wolf. (Jessica and Andrew, 1) This can help to keep this hybrid away from

biggest cities where they need are not meet (like New York).

After owners have failed with their wolf-dogs they have no other alternative get rid of

them, this has been an issue with wildfire and other organization how end up taking care of them,

since this hybrid cannot be taken to the same facilities than other dogs, this has cause, Wolf park

said that wildfires and other wolf’s facilities have been increasing the number of hybrid left by

the owner how where unable or unwilling to take care of them (“Wolf Hybrid” 4). This have

been an issue for areas in America and some in Europe where there’s been cases where wolf-

dogs have been left in the wild.

Not all wolf-dogs are bad, nearly all the wolf-dogs can become a good pet, Dra. McLeod

said, “it can be difficult to raise them but for some people who have the time and resources, a

wolf-dog can potentially make a good pet” (Lianne, 1). Training can be different but not
impossible, it will all depend in whether has more dog or wolf in him. Although wolf-dogs are

hard to train, they have the potential to become a great pet, because of the experience and

dedication from his owner

It has been said that higher wolf-content animals are generally more difficult to work

with. In general, it is expected that it will get the same results than a dog. “In very high wolf-

content animals, you often cannot achieve the same goals, especially with reliability, as you

could achieve with a dog”. (“wolf” 1). Most first-generation animals are generally less suited as

a good pet by most people’s standards and expectations. These animals often do not work out,

for such hybrids generally exceed the ability of most people to socialize, contain, and generally

provide a safe home.

All aspects of ownership should be addressed long before the acquisition of a pup,

including laws, need and the type of environment to the care of this canes. Dra McLeod said that

they need to be expose to a lot of environment early in their live, different people and situations

to prevent them from being skittish and potentially fearful (which can lead to fear biting).

Knowledge of the animal’s needs, enclosure requirements, and safety issues as well as legality

should be understood and assessed before considering such an animal in the home. Once an

animal has been brought into the home, a ten to sixteen-year commitment has been made.

Dogs behavior and reactions are important at the moment they start to be train. People

often expect their dog to understand their language and human body language, to automatically

know what is desired of them. “Yes, a dog can certainly learn many of these things, but the dog

must be taught. Training is something overlooked by many people who have wolfdogs.”

(wolf 1). High content animals tend to retain the natural fear that wolves have of men. An animal
overwhelmed with fear has a great difficulty focusing on any specific training task. Because dogs

have developed an attitude to place their owners.

Unfraternally thousands of dogs have been abandoned and wolf-dogs are among that list,

Wolf Park said “if you consider all the thousands of dogs which end up unwanted in shelters, or

simply dumped and abandoned by a disgruntled owner, if you consider the estimated 4,000,000

dog bites which occur every year in North America it is no wonder that a wolfdog, part

domesticated, part wild, has trouble adapting to a captive situation in the hands of an owner who

is unwilling, or unable to meet the animal’s needs.”(wolf hybrid, 4). Most of them end up in

facilities like this or in the wild, and many other do survive at all, the quality of life of this hybrid

become poor according to the animals need, and make them almost impossible of a possible

adoption. But not all wolf-dogs end up in traffic situations, fortunately there is people and

organocation how are dedicated to rescued and rehabilitate this type of hybrid and inform owner

and possible owners about the need of this animal.

As in choosing of any kind of bread, owner should inform first of the need of any of their

potential pets, wolf-dogs are not an exception, even though they may look exotic they are not just

another dog, because they are part wolf too. There are other alternatives from owner can chose

that look like wolfdogs, Siberian huskies or Alaskan Malamutes and others. Wolf-dogs are not

for everyone, but when people have the time, dedication and experience, they have the potential

to become a good companion.

Works Cited

McLeod, Lianne. “An Overview of Wolf Dogs As Pets”, Edited by Adrienne Kruzer, Updated

04/12/17, The Spruce, https://www.thespruce.com/pet-wolfdogs-1237356,

Mizejewski, David. Wolf Dogs are a Dangerous Trend | Pet Talk, Nat Geo Wild, 2 Mar 2016.

Youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbp4vmZ6IcE,

International wolf center. “Wolf-dogs hybrid” wolf.org

Addams, Jessica. and Miller, Andrew. “America’s Other Controversial Canine”, wolfpark.com,

http://wolfpark.org/animals/hybrids/sloan-poster/