Meet the breed - Wolfdog
The Good
Because they are a mix, wolfdog sizes, coat colors, and blends have nearly endless possibilities. The most commonly used breeds in wolfdogs are Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and German Shepherds. While different breeders have their preferred blends, I typically prefer wolfdogs with higher Siberian Husky percentages over the others, as Huskies are the most friendly and outgoing of the three breeds. My wolfdogs generally fall into a 60-80 pound size range,
They can make excellent partners for endurance sports, like sledding, jogging, and bikejoring, especially when exposed to the sports early on. Notice I said exposed to, not necessarily started in. Puppies of all breeds need time for their joints to develop and growth plates to close before asking them to do hard running or weight pulling.
They are intelligent and mental stimulation through training and puzzle toys is just as important as physical exercise, and they get more out of a walk around the block than they do being left in a backyard all day.
Overall, they are a pretty sturdy, healthy breed with good longevity on average, especially for a larger breed mix.
They can make excellent partners for endurance sports, like sledding, jogging, and bikejoring, especially when exposed to the sports early on. Notice I said exposed to, not necessarily started in. Puppies of all breeds need time for their joints to develop and growth plates to close before asking them to do hard running or weight pulling.
They are intelligent and mental stimulation through training and puzzle toys is just as important as physical exercise, and they get more out of a walk around the block than they do being left in a backyard all day.
Overall, they are a pretty sturdy, healthy breed with good longevity on average, especially for a larger breed mix.
The Bad
They are well known for being escape artists, and unlike Siberians, have more size and determination to break through fencing rather than just wait for an opportunity to present itself. Standard fencing, crates, and chain link will NOT hold a wolfdog that truly wants to be out, and they are not above jumping and digging out either. This does seem to be mitigated some with crate training as a puppy; A puppy that respects barriers and fences will grow up to be an adult that does the same, more often than not.
They are not legal in all areas. Make sure you check your state laws to see if you can own a wolfdog where you are, and if unsure, contact your local animal law enforcement. Wolfdogs in illegal areas are typically seized and euthanized when discovered.
Like all double-coated breeds, they do shed, and they shed an exceptional amount twice a year. Grooming for standard coats is usually just running a brush over them every few weeks, with daily brushing or a trip to the groomers for a blowout. While we don't specifically breed for wooly coats, they do require more weekly maintenance than standards.
They do have prey drive, the desire to chase small animals. If you have small pets, it is best to get a puppy and not only introduce them early on, but train your puppy to be respectful of the other animals. It might be funny to see an 8-pound puppy tugging on your cat's tail, but it won't be when it is an 80-pound adult dog doing the tugging. Never leave a wolfdog unattended with other small pets. Given their size, even an accident can be a disaster to a cat or small dog.
They are not legal in all areas. Make sure you check your state laws to see if you can own a wolfdog where you are, and if unsure, contact your local animal law enforcement. Wolfdogs in illegal areas are typically seized and euthanized when discovered.
Like all double-coated breeds, they do shed, and they shed an exceptional amount twice a year. Grooming for standard coats is usually just running a brush over them every few weeks, with daily brushing or a trip to the groomers for a blowout. While we don't specifically breed for wooly coats, they do require more weekly maintenance than standards.
They do have prey drive, the desire to chase small animals. If you have small pets, it is best to get a puppy and not only introduce them early on, but train your puppy to be respectful of the other animals. It might be funny to see an 8-pound puppy tugging on your cat's tail, but it won't be when it is an 80-pound adult dog doing the tugging. Never leave a wolfdog unattended with other small pets. Given their size, even an accident can be a disaster to a cat or small dog.
Fake Wolfdogs, Misrepresented Wolfdogs, and Scams:
So, you've made the decision to buy a wolfdog. Well, that's great, but there are some things even wolfdog newbies need to know to avoid either being ripped off or biting off more than they can chew! Unfortunately, for every legitimate wolfdog kennel, there are fifty more lining up just to take your money and run, leaving you with a plain old fashioned dog mix with no wolf content whatsoever. Here are some ways to spot a fake wolfdog from the real deal.
A mid or high content wolfdog typically does NOT have blue eye or bi-colored eyes or clear markings, like those you would find in Siberian Huskies. They are usually born a completely different color than how they will look when fully grown. For the most part, dogs are born one color, and stay that color. The next time you see someone selling a 98% wolfdog, google a siberian husky mix, and a grey wolf, and see which one that dog resembles more.
There are very few breeders out there selling true Arctic or Red wolf crosses. Red wolves are endangered, so what makes you think someone would give out Red wolves just to be able to breed and sell mixed puppies? Arctics are just very hard to come by, especially those with little or no inbreeding. Some people have even gone through the trouble to say their pet is an extinct sub-species, or just an entirely made up one.
Most DNA tests, like Wisdom Panel, are not a reliable way to test what breeds make up your dog. I have seen purebred, papered dogs come up as a completely seperate breed or mix of breeds. In my opinion, these are just gimmicks for people to get your money, or in this case, prove wolf blood which doesn't exist. UC Davis has a test available that can tell you a simple yes or no regarding content, and it has to be within so many generations. So far, Embark (www.embarkvet.com) is the only widely accepted, proven DNA test to identify breeds and/or wolf content in your dog! There is no true kennel club that will register a wolfdog, so don't fall for this old scam, either. We are looking into possibly having ours 'registered', but it is more for the ability to track pedigrees than a major selling point, and would definitely not constitute proof of wolf heritage.
A mid or high content wolfdog typically does NOT have blue eye or bi-colored eyes or clear markings, like those you would find in Siberian Huskies. They are usually born a completely different color than how they will look when fully grown. For the most part, dogs are born one color, and stay that color. The next time you see someone selling a 98% wolfdog, google a siberian husky mix, and a grey wolf, and see which one that dog resembles more.
There are very few breeders out there selling true Arctic or Red wolf crosses. Red wolves are endangered, so what makes you think someone would give out Red wolves just to be able to breed and sell mixed puppies? Arctics are just very hard to come by, especially those with little or no inbreeding. Some people have even gone through the trouble to say their pet is an extinct sub-species, or just an entirely made up one.
Most DNA tests, like Wisdom Panel, are not a reliable way to test what breeds make up your dog. I have seen purebred, papered dogs come up as a completely seperate breed or mix of breeds. In my opinion, these are just gimmicks for people to get your money, or in this case, prove wolf blood which doesn't exist. UC Davis has a test available that can tell you a simple yes or no regarding content, and it has to be within so many generations. So far, Embark (www.embarkvet.com) is the only widely accepted, proven DNA test to identify breeds and/or wolf content in your dog! There is no true kennel club that will register a wolfdog, so don't fall for this old scam, either. We are looking into possibly having ours 'registered', but it is more for the ability to track pedigrees than a major selling point, and would definitely not constitute proof of wolf heritage.