Why do people want wolves as pets when dogs are wolves but adapted to us already?

Question

I mean whats the point? Wolves unlike dogs mature at 4 years of age and become independant, dogs on the other hand are wolves that have had this trait removed by human selection (called Neoteny) in order to make them more suitable pets example...over thousands of years people chose the most submissive, and people oriented wolves as pets and didnt keep the more dominant and unruly one that werent suitable to living in domestication until finally the dog emerged as we know it. SO what is the point in wanting a wolf when dogs are wolves? and also why do people always claim thier dog has wolf in it when they dont really know that and the statement is irrelevant because all dogs have wolf in them?

Check out this link to see what I mean about wolves maturing and dogs not maturing in the same way its called Neoteny
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny

Also I want to say that I love and respect wolves too but that I would never impose domesticity on a wolf because they are not as well adapted to it as thier descendants the dog, I am not saying that some wolves in the past have not made good companions or pets I am only questioning the reason why people find it so attractive when essentially dogs are wolves with all the pros intact and the cons removed in regards to being suited to living with and depending on a human being. Personally I think most people dont understand wolves as well as they think and should leave them in the wild which they are adapted to surviving in, because trajedy can occur due to ignorance on the humans part.

Answer 1

Usually has to do with ego-usually those who have no sense of self esteem, attention drivin, oft times have napolean complex want an animal that makes them look important, special and unique. Sad but usually it is the animal that suffers and lives a relatively neurotic life because the human selfishness in not understanding how a wolf pack works, etc. Sad that some humans think the way they do!

Answer 2

Technically, dogs are not wolves just as domestic cats are not tigers. However, I understand your point. As you said, so much breeding has been done over thousands of years to remove domestic dogs from the wolf that they have changed immensely. Wolves are indeed wild animals, and they are predators. I love wolves, and I respect them, and I think they are incredible, but I would never impose a domestic lifestyle on such a beautiful creature. I can't believe any of them would ever *choose* to be a pet... I will enjoy wolves where they belong. In fact, two years ago, we took a drive up north to see the population of wolves that are coming back to Northern Minnesota. It was incredible! They look so much happier and healthier out there in the woods than they do at the end of a leash... I would never attempt to break a spirit like that.

Myself, I'll stick with my little dogs that have no resemblance whatsoever to the wolves that they once came from.

Answer 3

Some people want wolves because they see movies on tv like white fang and other movies that show wolves as being the loyal protector. For instance when the disney movie 101 dalmations came out people went right out getting dalmations because the movies make people want them. My son was one of these people that wanted one, but he did not get one as they are not always what u see on tv.
I wanted a wolve for a very long time, but it is not fair 2 take them from their natural habitat and try to domesticate them.The reason I wanted one is a wolf is my favorite wild creature and they are absolutely gorgeous. I loved the idea of being able 2 own one. I did not ever get one but I had the same wants as so many that want these creatures.
I have many dogs, and i love my dogs, but i still love the wolf.
Dog are not wolves. Dogs are dogs. A wolf in the wild breeds from natural selection. The individuals with the best chance for survival are typically the ones to have offspring.

The domesticated dog is not created by natural selection. He is man's creation. We have taken wolf traits and sometimes strengthened them and sometimes weakened them. We bred a beagle to bark more then a wolf and a greyhound to be faster.

Another important difference is that wolves live in a wolf world and dogs do not. They don't even live in a dog's world. They live in a human world as a minority.

A wolf's behavior develops basically from the affect his environment has on what is innate to being a wolf. In other words, a wolf acts in certain ways because he was born with certain traits, instincts or behaviors and his particular environment shaped him into who he is now and how he acts in any given situation.

The same can be said about the domestic dog, but perhaps more involved. A domestic dog's behavior is developed from many of the same instincts as a wolf, but remember, a dog's association with humans has him in an entirely different environment. In fact, a lot of what we know of a wolf's environment is not even based on a wolf's environment.






A dog is one part wolf, one part human and a few parts dog. The more we can learn about each of the parts the more likely we are to understand dogs and more able we are to improve our relationship with them.






So when a person wants a wolf is because the dog does not satisfy their wants they want the full blooded wolf and not something that has origonally decended from them.

Answer 4

The Wolf should remain wild, they have beauty and grace, for sure, but they also have their own families. They have their own way of communicating with each other. They have a code of Honor you might say, and if one breaks it, it is scolded by all. Wolfs are stronger and larger than the average dog. Bite strength would equal 10 times the bite strength of a German Shepperd.
For more info on the wolves visit
www.wolfpark.com
Wolves DO NOT belong in a home. They will make a good companion until they think they are stronger than you and go for the challenge. Which all wolves do.

Answer 5

you're right in saying that all dogs have wolf in them... since they're descended from them. i guess saying they "have wolf" probably means that they're more aggressive... like how an alsatian has "more wolf" than a poodle.

i think people like to have a real wolf as a pet because of the fact that the wolf is still kind of wild, and having them as a pet boosts the ego of the owner in that the owner would be seen as being more assertive and having the ability to tame the wolf. perhaps its the same reason why some still keep tigers and lions as pets and why circuses still employ people who can work with these animals.

wolves do have the instinct to become independent; however, removed from their natural environment early and being trained to become dependent dampens this instinct. in the wild they watch as the pack hunts and learns how to hunt along with the pack while still young; away from the wild they won't learn how to hunt and will continue to be dependent.

also its usually the male wolves that get driven away from the pack or leave because of tension with the alpha male. females may or may not leave the pack. so the instinct to be independent may also not be stirred away from the wild, because there's no competition.

Answer 6

Yes, you are correct in saying that dogs have evolved from wolves and I do understand your point of view, BUT there are many different reasons to have a wolf dog. Most people also do not own a FULL 100% wolf, mostly they are hybrids that happened in nature or breeders breeding to there domesticated dogs, mainly Malamute and Husky. I am very good friends with a lady that runs a rescue for wolf dogs. Many ignorant people get them for stupid reasons BUT there are a large majority of people, that are good decent people and Love animals. Wolf dogs are given NO chance, zero opportunity to prove if they are tame or if they are wild. Dogs get a 10 day period in which the vet or humane society wait to get their rabies results back and evaluate them, Wolfdogs do not get this chance they do not even get the test in most cases. Most people are so scared of wolfdogs because of their reputation. They are sentenced to death because of a "stereotypical" idea. Their breeders or their owners were ignorant about the breed or just didn't care and let them go or were abusive to them. That is where the rescue comes in and finds them good homes with wonderful people, that will love and take care of them. Also if your wolfdog is tame and loving it will not mature and change his whole attitude towards his owner at four. They can be very loving and sociable. It is ashame you see them as you do. They are very interesting and if loved and cared for they are very wonderful pets

Answer 7

There isn't really a good answer to that. It's a personal choice.
Perhaps some people like the idea of having a wild animal as a pet.
Perhaps they are attracted to the strict social order in wolves, much more prominent than in domestic dogs.
Perhaps they want to get away from the health problems in dogs caused by selective breeding.
etc, etc...

Answer 8

I love wolves my whole house is pretty much done in wolves. If there was a need for me to take one in my home for some reason I would do it, only if it was nescesary. wolves should stay in the wild that is there home. you have made a point there. dogs are wolves. I like the look of the wild wolf though. in the meantime I will just stick with the dogs that are already domesticated that looks like a wolf.

Answer 9

My Uncle lives in the Ozarks. A very sterotypical "mountain man" if you will. He was quite tired of the wolves killing his dogs where he lived. He was mad about the dogs, but he was attracted to the wolves beauty and intelligence. He got himself a wolf pup. Never kept him in a yard or a cage or on a leash. If the he wanted in the house, he knew who the Alpha Male was. He was amazing.

I think many people get them so they can say they have a wolf. Just like they buy ridiculously expensive cars they can't afford. They want that status of superiority.

Answer 10

Wolves are as much a wild animal as a Tiger is..Is not fair to these animals to try to bring them in and expect them to behave like dogs, Its the same asa Fox, cyotoe(sp) ect. Dogs have been domesticated over 100's of years..yes they Came from wolves but they are not wolves..We had a wolve Hybrib in the Shelter where I worked that attacked a child..It was a beautiful animal,It had also been pulling down livestock, killing dogs, Ect..We HAD to put it down..I would have much rather put down the owner and sent the wolf/mix to a wildlife place where it could live as it should!

Answer 11

I think a lot of people are attracted to the beauty and "wildness" of wolves over dogs. They don't realize that even though dogs are the same species as wolves, that wolves are wild animals. They are often more difficult to housebreak and have far more psychological issues when kept as pets than dogs do.

There's something appealing to many people about being able to own and master a part of something wild. Maybe that's part of it?