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Wolfdog?

20 replies

Yokohamajojo · 12/06/2020 14:36

So today on our walk we meet this very cute puppy, 12 wks old, we talked to the owner, a young guy who proudly announced that it was a wolfdog and it had XX % grey wolf in it (sorry can't remember how much he said) anyway it was a timid little thing that looked very much like a husky cross malamute or something.

As we walked away I said to my husband, well that's someone who's been scammed as I can't believe there are many grey wolves breeding in England but maybe I'm wrong, are there wolfhounds as in dogs that actually have grey wolves in them?

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MyBabyIsAFurBaby · 12/06/2020 14:54

I just had a search out of interest and this came up:

In the UK, F1 generation Wolfdogs where one parent is a wolf are subject to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and require a licence to own. It is legal to own a Wolfdog as long as they are three generations (F3) away from the original parent wolf.

Maybe his puppy was a far off descendent! They do look like husky x shepherd dogs.

Or maybe you are right and the poor guy has been scammed. Mind you, he would have been daft not to ask for official certificates or something!

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vanillandhoney · 12/06/2020 15:15

I very much doubt it's a real wolf dog, as they require full licenses in the UK under the dangerous wild animal act.

Lots of people breed husky/GS/malamute type dogs together to create a dog that looks like a wolf, which is probably what this man has.

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frostedviolets · 12/06/2020 15:47

I imagine it’ll be some sort of husky/malamute/GSD cross.

They go under many names; Tamaskan, Utonagan, Anglo Wulfdog...

Could possibly be a purebred Czechoslovakian Wolfdog or a Saarloos Wolfhound though both of those are very rare breeds so unlikely.

Almost certainly a husky/malamute/GSD cross imo and very unlikely to genuinely have any real wolf content. Or if it does, the percentage will be absolutely minuscule.

Which is a good thing because high percentage wolfdogs from what I’ve heard generally make terrible pets.
They are legal in America but you need a license in the UK

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sillysmiles · 12/06/2020 15:49

I know this is not the point, but surely breeding a domestic dog with a wild wolf is incredibly risk in terms of the the bitch not being killed at mating?

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vanillandhoney · 12/06/2020 15:53

There's a fair bit of information here:

wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/wolves-and-humans/wolf-dog-hybrids/

It doesn't say anything about breeding the two being dangerous.

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Yokohamajojo · 12/06/2020 16:02

Yes I do think it's the case that it is a Husky/Malamute/GSD mix of some sort and it sounds good to say that it has a bit of grey wolf in it, which it may have had a hundred generations back Smile it was very cute but not something I would choose as a first dog

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Windyatthebeach · 12/06/2020 16:06

We have a Husky. Just one of the wolf like ddogs that really aren't a wolf. Tbh not 100 % like having an average ddog either...
Bet they paid £££ for their imitation wolf. Smile smugly op...

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Veterinari · 12/06/2020 16:09

It's a dog bred as a penis extension by men seeking to enhance their macho image. The reality is it's much more likely to be reactive and fearful (as these are traits reduced through domestication) , as well as poorly bred/at risk of health problems as it's been bred for appearance and by breeders catering towards a particular market rather than to produce good pets

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MiniatureHero · 13/06/2020 09:53

They are rare but I think you do get them.

But he could also have been scammed - lots of people claim their dogs are wolf dogs when they’re just malamute / husky / GSD crosses. True wolf dogs look really wolfy- they’re fairly unmistakeable.

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frostedviolets · 13/06/2020 11:10

True wolf dogs look really wolfy- they’re fairly unmistakeable

Not always
True wolf dogs look really wolfy- they’re fairly unmistakeable

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vanillandhoney · 13/06/2020 11:19

True wolf dogs look really wolfy- they’re fairly unmistakeable.

They do look wolfy, but a good cross between a GSD and a Husky can look pretty wolf-like as well - there are very, very few of them in the UK (at least, very few legal ones) as you need a license under the Dangerous Animals Act to keep them. That means someone has to come and inspect your house and garden and ensure you have a secure enclosure for them to be kept in.

It's highly unlikely that your average Joe in suburbia has a real wolf-dog.

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frostedviolets · 13/06/2020 11:23

Would help if I put the link in!

Accidentally copied the PPs comment instead of the link 🤦🏻‍♀️

retrieverman.net/2012/10/07/can-you-tell-a-wolf-hybrid-by-looking-at-it/amp/

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Shambolical1 · 13/06/2020 16:14

I've only ever met one (genuine) wolf-dog kept as a pet and it was very, very timid. Didn't strike me as a dog that found life as a pet either easy or enjoyable.

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Windyatthebeach · 13/06/2020 16:22

Me and dh went wolf walking with real wolves. Was amazing! Absolutely nothing like a wolf wanna be!!

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Windyatthebeach · 13/06/2020 16:27

Pic for evidence!

Wolfdog?
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frostedviolets · 13/06/2020 16:48

Are those really wolves windy?
I’ve definately seen GSD/Malamute/husky crosses that look exactly like that

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frostedviolets · 13/06/2020 16:52

Anglo wulfdogs (husky/malamute/GSD crosses) and Saarloos Wolfhound

Wolfdog?
Wolfdog?
Wolfdog?
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Windyatthebeach · 13/06/2020 17:01

Real wolves!! A proper 'experience' day out...

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ButOneMistressHere · 13/06/2020 17:26

@sillysmiles

I know this is not the point, but surely breeding a domestic dog with a wild wolf is incredibly risk in terms of the the bitch not being killed at mating?

The bitch will be the wolf - or at least in most cases of wandering pet dogs cross breeding with wild wolves this is the case (obs not in the UK!)
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40somethingJBJ · 17/06/2020 14:28

My friend has a Czechoslovakian wolf dog which looks very, very wolflike. They’re pretty rare I think, but it could be one of those.

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