The Reality of Owning a Wolfdog

What is it really like to own a wolfdog? Can they make good pets?

Rosie at Mission: Wolf Sanctuary, photo by Moira Schein

Wolfdogs are a unique hybrid of domestic dogs and wild wolves, often creating behavioral traits that are much more complex and difficult to manage than those of a typical pet dog.

Despite their romanticization in the media, wolfdogs often exhibit behaviors rooted in their wolf ancestry, which makes them poorly suited for most homes.

Let’s explore some key aspects of wolfdog behavior that potential owners must understand:

More wolf or dog?

Obviously wolves are a hybrid between wolves and dogs. But which do they take more after?

That very much depends on the genetics and experiences of the individual.

There’s a pretty wide spectrum between wolf and dog, and a major determining factor is the wolf content – the percentage of wolf genetics vs domesticated dog genetics.

For example, a wolfdog that is 90% wolf and 10% husky is going to act much wilder than one that is 20% wolf, 50% german shepherd, and 30% husky.

But life experiences are just as important. If the animal was raised in an abusive household or in a poorly run breeding operation, they are likely to show wolf traits like skittishness and possibly aggression.

On the other hand, if they have experiences loving owners that are able to give them proper physical and mental stimulation, socialization, and nutrition, then they may be more open to interaction with humans.

They’re not wolves, and they’re not dogs. They’re just an entity of their own.

Moira Schein

It’s important to understand that wolves in the wild typically roam anywhere from 20-100 miles a day and are constantly playing, communicating, and interacting with the other members of their pack.

So a wolfdog will not be happy being cooped up alone in someone’s backyard, and definitely not in a house.

Wolfdog Characteristics

Faelen and Maeve at Mission: Wolf Sanctuary, photo by Moira Schein

One of the biggest differences is that the lack the desire to please that we tend to expect in our pets. This makes them very difficult to train and challenging to form emotional bonds with.

Highly Intelligent

Wolfdogs are extremely intelligent and require almost constant mental and physical stimulation. This means that they are easily bored, and a bored wolfdog can be destructive.

If their needs are not being met, then they will cause damage or escape.

Natural Behaviors

Behaviors like digging, howling, roaming, marking territory, and shows of dominance are common.

Sociability

Wolfdogs are highly social – with each other, not necessarily with humans. Wolf packs are families, so the members of the pack are very close. Wolfdogs can become very close with their human or animal companions, but will be wary of any strangers.

They have a strong fear of and unknown people and environments. Living with wolfdogs requires a much higher level of education and awareness than domesticated dogs, something that most people don’t have. This makes interactions with strangers very risky.

The Result

Although many wolfdog owners begin with good intentions, they are often unaware of just how big of a commitment they are making.

This disconnect between expectations and reality lead to frustration for both the owner and the wolfdog.

Even when the owner does everything right, wolfdogs are still more likely to escape and get into trouble or show aggression toward strangers.

Unfortunately, although there are exceptions, the common result is abandonment, escape, or being forced to put the animal down.

The bottom line is that wolfdog ownership is a life changing commitment and a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly.

References

https://missionwolf.org/common-problems#:~:text=The%20wolf%2Ddog’s%20frustration%20can,for%20leadership%20and%20mating%20rights.

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