Are Hybrid Wolves good pets?

Question

I've known multiple hybrid wolves, three being 97% wolf and the other being 93%. They were extreamly sweet dogs, and very friendly and were actually somewhat shy. I never saw any traces of aggression in them. However, my boyfriend thinks that theyre mean and will kill humans. Can anyone tell me anything good about them so I can show him something to possibly convince him of letting us have one?

About the percentage: I'm not sure how they EXACTLY determine it, but I do know that breeders and vets can. This actually has to be done in most states because hybrids above a certain percent are considered too dangerous in cities and higher populated places.

EX: In Ohio, where I live, Hybrids must be below 95% pure wolf or they cannot be kept in a home.

Answer 1

You want a mutant wolf around your kids? I think your bf is right. How can you be sure about the percentages, 50 percent of statistics are made up on the spot.

Answer 2

I would REALLY like to know where these percentages come from. If a Cocker Spaniel and a Beagle mate, the pups are 1/2 Cocker, 1/2 Beagle. But if you breed a wolf and a Malamute, for some reason, it isn't 1/2 and 1/2...it's 78%...25%, whatever, with pups from the same litter given different ratings?

How the heck does that work?

On to wolf/dog mixes.

Yes, they can be a wonderful pet for someone who has almost no contact with other people, someone who lives in an isolated area. Of course, that someone had better be a darned good dog/wolf psychologist, understanding behaviorisms and able to be a strong alpha to the animal.

They can also be a good conversation piece to have in the backyard in a very secure pen, with heavy wire buried 2' deep, with a cap on the pen. Where the hybrid will exist anytime any visitors come over.

I personally have seen many 'hybrids' who were in fact pure dog. Any hybrid will have enlongated fangs, will have a broader head, longer muzzle, than most dogs. And can you imagine...these so-called hybrids were GREAT pets! Their owners were convinced that EVERYONE should have a hybrid, as this was the best pet ever!

I have also seen many true hybrids. Worked on transporting these animals to facilities designed to contain hybrids for the remainder of their lives, as the owners could no longer keep them, as these hybrids had begun to display aggression...random aggression, which the owners couldn't understand but logically feared. There were also a few cases where the hybrid simply couldn't be kept in the yard no matter the fence/chains.

Yes, hybrids have killed humans, generally children. The wolf instinct is to kill wounded animals, to discipline unruly lower pack members. Children playing and screaming resemble injured animals...children in the household are usually considered lower pack members to such a social animal.

Also, wolves chase off or try to kill intruders to their territory. A true wolf normally would avoid humans to the very best of their ability, instinctively. But when you add dog blood to a wolf, they lose their innate fear of humans. Humans are no longer feared, but instead become intruders, become prey. So the hybrid might very well go after the meter reader/mailman/newspaper boy/etc.

Personally, I wouldn't have a hybrid, ever, for any reason. To me, it's kind of like having 10 pounds of dynamite in the front room. Left alone, in the right situations, this dynamite is perfectly harmless, kind of cool to have. But given the right trigger, it will turn deadly.

EDITED TO SAY:

Thanks, Georgia, for the Wolfpark link. It confirms just about everything I said! :-) Somber, please go and read all the pages of wonderful information there. http://www.wolfpark.org/wolfdogs/position.html (be sure to click on 'guidelines')

EDITED AGAIN TO SAY:

Good heavens, Georgia, this site you gave TOTALLY contradicts what you said! Did you even READ it before you gave the link? Wolf/dogs are NOT good with kids, are NOT docile, are NOT good watch dogs.

Somber, here's what this link has to say about those considering getting a wolf/dog: http://www.wolfpark.org/wolfdogs/wantwolf-jm.html

Answer 3

Wolves are wild animals. period. They can be sweet up until the day thier natural INSTICTS take over. A kid pulls on thier ears a little too rough or something. Trust me. The one time the wolves insticts come out and attacks someone will be more important than all the days they were nice. I know. My mom brought a half wolf home when I was a young boy. I can still remember being on top of the refrigerator while this wild animal was in the kitchen growling and trying to attack me. I was about 6 years old at the time. I like dogs. I've had several in my lifetime. Wolves and dogs look kinda alike. Don't fall into that trap. One is wild and the other domesticated.

Answer 4

A question like this you are going to get MANY differant opinions...... It is a subject close to the pitbull subject, u have those that do not trust them and those that absolutely love them. Same goes for the hybrid. I imagine that there has been bad experiences with them, but i have owned two of them.
The first one i had was never socialized with anything or anyone, it was given to me because i was the only one it took up to because the people was moving and could not take it with them.
She was veru unpredictable but very loyal to me, she was one that kids could not be around nor any other animal for that matter.
The second one i had was wolf/malamute, gorgeous animal. very loving animal, and very loyal............ he would not harm a flea and loved everything and everybody. I socialized him with everyone and everything, and he was very sweet.
so what i am trying to say, they do have wild in them and it depends on the individual animal and the temperment, but socializing them and giving them lots of human socialization makes a differance.
Before you decide to get a hybrid, you have to decide whether you have alot of time for the dog, they have to have constant human interaction. You also have to make sure they are legal in your state. If they are, most states that do allow these as pets require permits. So check into it before u do get one.

Answer 5

Hybrid wolf dogs can be very sweet and very dangerous and both at the same time. I investigated this in depth because an aquaintance was breeding a pair and wanted me to take puppies. I chose not to as I felt being responsible for a part wild animal was too much liabilty.
Because of the 'mystery' of genetics, there's no way to tell, not by percentage or by looking at the animal, how much wolf behavior the animal will have. There are many documented incidents of small children playing with wolf dogs who have always been sweet, always been great with kids, the child falls and starts crying, the animals perception of the child goes from playmate to prey and the animal goes after the child resulting in serious injury or death. This is not to mention the roaming, predating the neighbors chickens, livestock and cats.
I don't agree that wolf hybrids are mean, but they can be dangerous. Be sure to read up on them in depth before bringing one into your home.
To be honest, I have a dog now that I adopted at the pound that I have come to beleive is a husky wolf hybrid. I did not know this when I adopted her and neither did the pound or they would not have considered her adoptible. She is very sweet, great with kids and very gentle with humans. She is the biggest pain in the butt dog I have ever had, and I'm used to Siberians, which are a really big handful. She roams, kills things, escapes regularly, has destroyed my landscaping and steals things. She's not trustworthy with other dogs, especially females. When I had a dominance shift due to an aging alpha dog, she almost killed my beloved alpha dog, and attacked her regularly after the initial incedent so I had to keep them separated for the next two years. She's also very aloof, although she can be very loving when she chooses to be, usually when I'm holding food.
I figured out the wolf content watching a program on wolves and saw them running in profile, it was exactly her run. This sounds weird but when I discussed that, among other issues with my vet she agreed on the wolf content.
I love her and I will always take care of her, but think really hard before you choose to be responsible for the behavior of a partly wild animal. If I had known what a pain in the @ss Zena was going to be when I was making the decision to bring her home, I wouldn't have. I'm sorry that I'm not telling you all good stuff, but I felt I should share my experience because you will have the animal for 10 to 15 years, so it's an important decision.

Answer 6

There is no way or telling what percentage of wolf is in a hybrid. You have no idea how these animals will behave. Some do grow up and are just great pets but there are some who have more of a wild side and will eventually become very dangerous. Your kids worth that risk? They are not raised like fido.

I hope your boyfriend stands his ground and says no.

If you do get one be sure to get lots of insurance because you will need it.

Short story.
Wolf Hybrid breaks his chain bites the kid next door and runs up the street and kills the neighbors dog. Then the dog is shot by police, finally captured and euthanized and processed for rabies testing.

Get a shephard

Answer 7

My brother has owned many hybrid wolves. They are beautiful animals. If you plan to have children (even visiting) in your home in the next 15 years or so, I would advise against owning one. All dogs have the chance that they will revert back to instinct but hybrid wolves are more likely to revert. Get yourself a huskie, a malamute, samoyed or an american eskimo dog if you like the look of wolves. Research the breeds and make a decision based on your circumstances.

Answer 8

I think it is a bit cruel to keep them as pets because they are not domesticated, they are made up mostly of a WILD animal. Just my opinion, but I don't think anyone should be allowed to own a wild animal as a pet. There are enough dogs out there that need homes to be creating these ones delibrately. If you love wolves, don't support this so you can keep them as pets. Support the Wolf in genral and work on preserving their environment so there will be more of them rather than trying to make them pets. Stick to DOGS.

Answer 9

Ok... First of all, I am Cherokee and believe that anything that is treated with respect (big word nowadays), will in return treat you the same. Wolves are special beings and deserve to be treated special. Second, I have known approx. 50 hybrids in my lifetime and every one of them were docile, great with kids and wonderful watch dogs. But then again, it is because they had an owner that researched the wolf heritage and knew how to treat and respect the "wild animal" in them. I personally have never heard of one attaking or turning on their owner but of course it is not impossible. Just as with any animal, they can sense fear and if you BF is afraid, it would not be a good match. Research them for a while and do some serious reading with facts... you may just turn him around.

Answer 10

any thing over two thirds wolf when you put them in a uneasy situation will resort back to the wild side .get a wolf twenty five percent or less and they will be fine there is a beautiful breed called the american tundra shepherd that look like a wolf and are trainable and a great dog . only get the ones from edwardsville ks. because there is some fake breeders out there. check them out

Answer 11

I visited the Lakota wild wolf sanctuary and refuge in western NJ. On the tour the guide informed us that such attempts to have the cubs as pets had been made but they ultimately proved to be unsuccessful..Initially, wolf cubs may bond with humans or act like their domesticated canine counterparts or even socialize with their master as if he/she were another pack animal or even the alpha.. However, as the wolves matured, their attack instinct emerged, More than one had turned on their master and the attacks prompted the return of these creatures of the wild to to dwell once more in a simulation of their natural outdoor habitat at the refuge ...However, visitors on the tour were allowed to feed these amazing animals, to buy and throw Milk Bones( which were readily savored,by the way!) into their wired enclosures , adopt a wolf by giving a donation to ensure its preservation and promote this facilities noble national rescue attempts ,so these majestic creatures will not be considered
wild dogs of the past who once existed on mountaintops in the N. American wilderness and were definitely worthy of howling about.!