Are wolf hybrids safe or is it dangerously playing with nature?

Question

I always loved the wolf -like look of Malamutes or huskies but then I found they have breeders for wolf- hybrid dogs. Are these animals safe? If not, why please explain? btw there are no childeren in my house.

Answer 1

We used to handle a lot of hybrids when I worked at the SPCA, and my opinion is that it really comes down to being a well-informed owner who realizes that they are raising an animal that contains a lot stronger "instinct" than, say, a beagle.

In most states you need to register your hybrid and apply for/obtain a permit for owning an exotic pet. You also have to bear in mind that there may be places (ie boarding facilities, etc) that may be hesistant in taking a hybrid client.

They're gorgeous, but if you simply want the look, you might just want to opt for a Malamute instead. Hybrids (like Huskies) are very high energy and need TONS of physical and mental stimulation, and when bored, are destructive. You also want to keep in mind that socialization will be the key: you WANT them exposed to children, to small animals (dogs, cats, birds, etc), you want them exposed to as many (Safe) situations as possible.

Any dog, half-"wild" or not, that is undersocialized will commonly end up with aggressive tendencies, and if a hybrid bites another dog or child.. you can bet a much larger ordeal will be made of it than had you owned a snippy schnauzer.

Owning a hybrid can be a humbling and awesome experience. But with it comes a certain auora, much like owning a Pitbull.. you have to maintain a certain responsibility to ensure your dog gets all its physical/mental needs met and that they obtain 'good citizen' personalities.

Answer 2

In my humble opinion, it is SOOOOOOOOO dangerously playing with fire! Wolves are wild animals... wolf hybrids are still wild animals. In many states they are illegal to own, and in nearly all states, it is ILLEGAL for a veterinarian to vaccinate it with a rabies vaccine. The reason is that the rabies vaccines are not approved for wild animals.

There was a case a few years ago where a pair (brother and sister) of wolf hybrids were rabies vaccinated (the vet had the owner sign a form stating they knew the vaccine was not approved in wild animals) but came down with rabies anyway and had to be put down, and dozens of people who had contact with the animals had to go through the rabies shots themselves.

The vets I've worked with do NOT advocate any wild animals or wild-domestic hybrids being kept as pets. They can turn on you in a moments notice just doing what comes naturally. Also, you may not be able to get homeowner's insurance if you own a wild animal! You might want to check with your insurance company before buying. If you rent, you darn well better check with your landlord first.

Do consider getting a Malamute or Husky... you will be safer in the long run.

Answer 3

it depends on the percentage of wolf blood in the hybrid, which differs with every breeder. not only that, but they are illegal in many places, so check with your state laws. they ARE beautiful animals, but even mixed with dogs like that, they will not have doggy personalities. by that i mean that they will be shy and not easily trained and require a LOT of room. they won't be as happy and well-adjusted as a domestic dog would be. they are also not as predictable as dogs and in that sense, could be considered unsafe. basically, they will always have strong wild instincts that nothing will change.

i personally don't condone the breeding of wolf hybrids because they along with their owners end up unhappy with tragic endings because they didn't realize what they were getitng themselves into. it's really quite a lot of work and responsiblity, without the rewards of a typical affectionate pet dog. dogs have basically the personalities of a permanent baby wolf. i think you'd be much happier with a domestic dog that has a wolf-life appearance. malamutes and huskies are GREAT dogs, and beautiful to boot. they love people, are gentle with children, and my favorite thing about them is how their wolf instinct to howl is still strong. i can start howling and get a chorus started in no time! fun!

Answer 4

Wolves are not domestic dogs.

You need to be very experienced, and do a lot of research before getting one of these.

Personally, I don't think these should be kept as pets by the average person.

You might like the "wolf" look, but the temperment of a wolf or wolf hybrid is not the same as that of a malamute or husky...

Answer 5

In most cases, I'd stay away from wolf hybrids. Wolves, although they have the same basic genetic template as dogs, have not been selectively bred to fit into humans' lives for thousands of years. Responsibly-bred dogs are almost always more stable and predictable than wolf-hybrids simply because wolves have been "bred" by natural selection, not careful selection of animals that would make good pets.

Also consider that it is much harder to find a responsible breeder who breeds wolf-hybrids than one who breeds dogs because MOST (not all, and not you) people who want a wolf-hybrid buy on the impulse of wanting a "viscious-looking dog." As a responsible buyer, you may have difficulty finding breeders who do cater to YOUR needs, not the desires of the general public.

If you love the rogueish, semi-wild look of the Northern breeds (who wouldn't? (: ) I'd suggest that you look for a reputable breeder of one of these types of dogs instead.

Answer 6

Personally i would love wolves or wolf hybrids.But I have a small child and many other animals so I won't own one. also when it comes to wolves I would only own they to help with population and rehabilitation.wolf hybrids are like mutts which again I wouldn't own because of my child and other animals.These hybrids can be perfect pets or dangerous just like any other dog I would stick to domestic breeds.It is hard to say if they are safe or not are you going to treat it right train it well and take care of it properly.if so it could be as harmless as a fly.I had two friends who got litter mates both hybrids. One grew up in love well kept home very friendly. Other brought up in a bad home this one ended up biting my little girl with no warning my daughter was walking past her while she was lying on the ground she darted with no warning and bite my daughter on the arm! I wanted the dog put down when it happened but then realized why it happened her owners should be put down not her.Big choice to make.Again I would stick with domestic breed.Give a dog a home who doesn't have one.

Answer 7

Eh, depends largely how experienced you are with dogs, and how much you know about their behaviour. If raised properly then these dogs can be okay pets. They have amazingly strong instincts, though, and for a person who doesn't know exactly what they're doing it's too risky for them to own one. My lecturer is a dog behaviourist, and she sees one of these hybrids. It's (obviously) incredibly strong, and has some pretty vicious predatory instincts. It's friendly with its owners, but is really savage towards other dogs and some people. When it spots another dog or something it sees as a threat it will go crazy, and the owners aren't strong enough to control it. Kind of hazardous, no? Seriously, unless you're a very strong adult and have been around dogs your entire life I wouldn't acquire one. It could so easily go wrong.

Answer 8

Please click on this VERY informative link :

http://www.angelfire.com/nv/tmyst/facts/wolf_dog_hybrids.htm

I believe that you will find all of your questions answered if you read the incredibly detailed information provided at the above site.

Also, here is another site that might interest you : http://www.wolfpark.org/wolfdogs/Poster_section1.html


This site argues extensively AGAINST Wolf-Malamute cross breeding :
http://www.gocco.co.za/wolf_hybrids.htm

Personally, I'm with you ... I would absolutely love to own a Wolf Hybrid. In a way, I almost already do : I have an Akita mix. Akitas are one of the 6 breeds of dogs who have recently been discovered to be closest to the Wolf. Malamutes, however, are NOT in that 6 breed category : http://usti.net/home/news/clari/news/wed/ak/Uus-dogdna.RCuu_EyK.html

Answer 9

I have a friend that raises wolves and he said it takes at least 6-7 generations to start taming the wildness in them...about breeding with dogs, I dont know but would think the nature of the wolf might be dominant....

Answer 10

Not only are they generally not safe, in many places they are not legal. You will also find restrictions on where you can live or what sort of insurance you have to carry because of them.

Dogs have been domesticated. Wolves have not. If you want a domestic pet, get a domestic dog. Don't encourage the idiots who breed wolf-hybrids.