There are many contradicting stories about wolfdogs and their behavior. Most of the negative comments come from those who have either never owned one or knew a person who owned one and abused it or believe it or not something far worse for a Wolf cross: They ignored it, resulting in a frightened, confused animal with no sense of direction. Here, we explain the TRUTH about wolfdogs, their behavior and how to prevent a negative story about your own wolfdog from circulating around the already diminished name of this wonderful breed.
What to expect~
The first thing you must know about this animal is that it is EXTREMELY intelligent. We’re not talking Labrador Retriever smart; Labs are bred to be OBEDIENT. There really is a fine line between being intelligent and being obedient. Obedient dogs do what they’re told by voice command or hand signal. In a situation that calls for the animal to think and make decisions on their own, the obedient dog is lost without a command. The wolfdog, however, thinks for itself. It is a problem-solver. Because they are so fiercely intelligent, they need a job to do or else they will become bored & as we all know a bored animal can be distructive. Focus their amazing minds on something positive and challenging and you will make them very happy. Remember also that these animals have an amazing grasp and comprehension of the human language…watch what you say around them! They remember what certain things mean and will react excitedly if they hear a word or even a sentence that they recognize (i.e. out, food, where are the car keys?, we’re going to the store, into town, etc…)
The second thing you must know is that wolves are PACK animals. To them, their humans are their alphas, and in a real wolf pack, the alphas are always with them. YOU MUST ALWAYS EITHER HAVE SOMEONE AT HOME WITH THIS DOG OR BRING IT WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. These animals hate being away from their pack, and another dog just doesn’t cut it. They love their humans and need to be with them at all times. Kennel wolves are a very lonely and unhappy animal. This is the main reason they escape from the yard or kennel.
These dogs need room to run. A tiny backyard next to a large dog park will not be adequate exercise for them. Wolves naturally have a very large territory. Take them as puppies and always walk them around the perimeter of their land and they will learn quickly to not trespass on the property of others. But despite that, they do require strenuous exercise. You can even couple their work with their exercise (if you decide to train them to pull, that is). Either way, they still enjoy a romp in the woods. Land is a necessity if you want to keep these active dogs healthy and happy.
Our personal suggestion is ‘Slump’. It is a mixture of organs (like liver, kidneys, heart, etc…) and vegetables, noodles, rice and garlic. Wolves need a varied diet as they become bored with the same food. Dry dog food is a good way to add to your slump to make it last longer. They also need meat, as do all dogs, to have a complete, balanced diet. They enjoy fruits like black berries and even apples. Take them outside and they’ll even graze on grass. Of course, every good dog deserves and loves a nice bone to chew on. Wolves and wolfdogs have amazingly powerful jaws and can crack a femur bone to get to the marrow inside. Chewing bones is also good for their teeth, keeping them clean and healthy. Watch out for sweets, though! Wolfdogs have a sweet tooth and love to seek out chocolates, cakes and cookies. These snacks will not harm their digestive system, but they are bad for their teeth. A smear of peanut butter on the nose will satisfy a Wolfie’s hunger for some sugar. Wolves drink a lot of water, and therefore need a constant fresh supply available to them whenever they desire a lap.
Your house will suit the wolf just fine! In fact, it’s mandatory. Wolves love to sleep with their humans and will even sleep in the room or bed of their favorite pack member. Shedding season can be a problem, so unless you love vacuuming or sweeping, your wolf will have to learn to cope with a kennel during the summer shedding months. Make life easier on your companion and either brush him out daily or allow him to run through thorn bushes. Scratching and rubbing on bushes is a natural way for a wolf to shed those bothersome clumps of winter hair. Another option is shaving, though be prepared to attempt to face your funny-looking buddy without laughing at him. Tying your wolf outside is the worse thing you could do. These pack animals crave human contact and freedom, which is impossible to obtain at the end of a chain. A yard is another option, but know that these animals dig, so a concrete floor is required to prevent your wolf from digging out and finding his way to the open living room window! Some wolves will even clear a fence, so a high fence is required as well. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is just let Wolfie sleep in the house. It makes him/her very happy to be as near to his alphas as possible. They are, without a doubt, 110-pound lap dogs!
If after reading this you decide this breed is not for you here is a site that might help you find your perfect pal & good luck with your search.
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