Why on Earth would you want. Half wolf as a pet?

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I've been reading the dog threads tonight, and got thinking about dogs I've met, and was reminded of a 'Dog Day' I worked at last year. I love watching the different dogs go past, and often talk to their owners about them. At the one show, I met two dogs that were half timber wolf! 1 was GSD/wolf, the other was Malamute/wolf. The Malamute/wolf was HUGE! and the most amazing blue colour WTAF is this all about. Is it really a good idea to bring a half wolf crossbreed into the house with your kids?

[BrianCoxHasScaryEggs]

Marking place.

Would think not great idea but find the idea of the mix with GSD and Malamute interesting.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I'm thinking less interesting more absolutely flipping mental!

[SirVixofVixHall]

I'm torn between flippin mental and completely brilliant meself.

[BrianCoxHasScaryEggs]

Well, yes - around young kids. There is the stability of the established breed but the call of the wild still fresh in the genes of the wolf side is too risky for my liking.

My interest is from an aesthetic pov, they must be stunning animals.

Was this in the UK?

Just wonderidng how they were able to breed without animal welfare becoming involved.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Yes it was UK. Sarf End if I remember correctly! The GSD was quite husky like. The malamute cross was seriously gigantic! A bit like how I'd imagine a Direwolf, from Game Of Thrones! The colour was stunning though. Like a British blue cat!
I'd be seriously worried about the semi wild part though. I mean, what next? Tabbycat/lion? Shetland pony/zebra?
It strikes me as being something potentially dangerous, that could easily become the latest craze, like Huskies!

[BrianCoxHasScaryEggs]

Am getting slightly giddy at the thought if how beautiful the malu x was.

But seriousness - good point about cat/lion, it is comparable indeed!

Wonder how they managed it. Assuming wolf was bred in captivity and used to dogs?

[SparkyMcSparrow]

They actually do a donkey/zebra called a Zonkey

I would be worried about the wild side of one though. Wolf x that is not a Zonkey!

[BrianCoxHasScaryEggs]

Does the Zonkey sleep alot?

[Honeydragon]

We did a show once and a guy had 5 of them, and showed them to raise money for charities/local dog rescues. He said they were amazing creatures but not for family pets.

As we were on site he let my son feed them there rabbits each night, but taught ds how to look at them behave around them. Ds learned a lot about how to behave around dogs that weekend.

(My Lab oth did not like being downwind of them)

[RedwingWinter]

A half-wolf is illegal in the UK.

I've met several wolf-dogs (not in the UK, obviously). Higher content wolfdogs don't make good pets because, like wolves, they are fearful of people. Also they can't be toilet-trained, are destructive in the house, and don't like going anywhere in cars. Wolves are best left wild.

Lower content wolf-dogs aren't right for most people, but for someone who's done their research and is experienced with northern breeds, I think they can be good pets. (I don't expect many of you to agree with me on this). I don't think anyone should breed them though. There is a real problem with wolfdogs in rescue in north america since many people have problems with them and rehome them.

There's a good wolfdog rescue in Alberta, Canada, called Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. They have lots of info about them on their website. I think at the moment they have 18 wolfdogs waiting for a place in their rescue, and they don't have space for many.

Most wolfdogs in north america now are not from breedings between a wolf and a dog, but between different wolf-dogs. As you know, there is randomness in genetics, so different dogs from the same litter can vary a lot. There is also a lot of fraud, with breeders claiming that wolf-dogs are higher-content than they really are (though this is probably a good thing in some ways since the high-contents don't make good pets).

[RedwingWinter]

As for tabby cat/lions, well there are savannah cats = cat with serval cat. They are stunning creatures too.

[Honeydragon]

Yes, they've got to be so many generations here or something haven't they?

I only know they are vair pretty

[RedwingWinter]

Yeah, they have to be three generations removed from the wolf.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Oh my. What stunning dogs. Part of me wants one, the more sensible part of me wants to go and murder the numpty who thought this would a good idea.

Why would someone want one? I guess in the main part to look tough?

This is why northern breeds and their crosses are becoming more popular in rescues. Eejits who want to look 'ard are trying to recreate as close to the wolf as they can get

[RedwingWinter]

There's an article in the Telegraph about them here with nice photos at the top (though the use of the term 'hybrid' in the article is incorrect, since wolves and dogs are the same species).

[hellymelly]

They are beautiful.In a fairy tale fantasy way. Can't imagine many are given the sort of life they need though-probably more of a fashion accessory.

[RedwingWinter]

They are stunning. Essentially that's what my husky/mal x looks like :). He stops traffic sometimes and I am forever having to tell people that he is not a wolf.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

You don't need me to rescue him do you Red?

[Honeydragon]

The ones we were with were much much prettier than wolves.

[RedwingWinter]

No thanks, Dooin, I think I'll keep him :)

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I thought a donkey zebra cross was a zeedonk? They have some at Colchester zoo!
I know it's a not very good drawing, but the dog I saw was the size of the one in the picture! I was

[Honeydragon]

Redwing I am in awe of owners like you, one as you are devoted enough to provide the work and stimulation a dog like yours requires but also you must have the patience of a saint. I get fed up of the attention my ancient Labrador gets, as apparently her breed makes her public property

I dread to think what you have to put up with in terms of people wanting to stroke, ask questions and play with your dog.

[SparkyMcSparrow]

Just googled Zeedonk, brings up the same pics as Zonkey

Maybe they couldn't decide....

Maybe one is male donkey/female zebra and the other is male zebra/female donkey ??

[SparkyMcSparrow]

You can get loads

[RedwingWinter]

Honey I bet your labrador looks cute and friendly and that's why he gets so much attention. The funny thing about a dog that looks like a wolf is that even though he is obviously friendly, some people are scared, so it's split between those who want to make a fuss of him and those who want to get further away. I admit that I am sometimes rude to people who tell me he must be vicious because he is a rescue ;). He is very very sweet (and very very stubborn).