Do wolf dogs make good pets?

Question

I would especially appreciate answers from people who have owned/worked with wolf dogs. I don't necessarily want a wolf dog, I'm just curious.

Answer 1

basically it depends on the hybrid itself. I have owned two of them and one was wolf/malamute, he was loving, loyal and non aggressive, he was well socialized with everything and everyone.
Then there is the other one i had, she was never socialized by the people that did own her and she was a one person dog, very aggressive and she had the instincts to kill anything in her path. She was put to sleep as the people that owned prior to me ruined her and she was too dangerous for anyone or anything to be around.
Hybrids are illegal in most states, so before acquiring one if you are thinking about it u need to check into your state laws first.
second, if it is legal u need to make the decision whether u have total time to spend with the dog by human interaction and socializing it with everyone and everything. They take alot of time as they are part wolf, wolves are wild animals, some will tame and some will NOT.

Answer 2

Reports tell me that wolf hybrids are becoming known as the most agressive "breed" known. I doubt that. My concierge (janitor for my building) had one, well he still does, he just doesn't live here. She was gorgeous, all white, but BIG and STRONG unfortunately NOT trained and rather dominate, she was great with me. I was one of the few people she didn't attempt to bite. She had killed a police dog (he was moving around when I knew him to keep the dog from being put down), had killed many cats on sight and attacked at least one child. She was samoyed x grey wolf I believe.

There is a wolf-hybrid who goes to my dog park who is the best dog I've ever seen. But every dominate or unfixed male that enters that park tried to pick a fight with him, he's won every fight but never killed anything.

That one was raised in a wolf pack and lived wild for two years. A guy had a chow and there was a pack of red wolves around. It was obvious which pups were the mix and they just didn't keep up. So guy shot them rather then let them be out competed and die, one shot wasn't lethal. The injured mix when to the vet where the current owner found him and spent about 2 years doing rehab with him.

Like any dog, I think it has more to do with the owner and the husbandry.

Answer 3

I owned one and my parents have owned several. A close friend of mine also owned one.

A lot depends on the percentage of wolf, the higher the percentage the more difficult to work with. On the other side, they are very intelligent and make great companions if you have the time to work with them.

There is a lot to learn about them, handling a part wolf is different from handling a domestic dog. Even Akita's and rotts are less challenging. The main reason is that wolves develop a hierarchy. A male will try to be the dominant one and often females do it too. Don't make the mistake of thinking its a game because it isn't.

I could talk for a long time about them. They are, in my personal opinion, the best pet/companion/friend you can have. But make sure you have a lot of time, a strong will, plenty of patience and a large place for it. Wolves need room.

Answer 4

It takes a lot of work, and definitely much more than a pure domestic dog. One who decides to take in a wolf-dog must be researched on dog behaviour, dog training, in addition to wolf behaviour. Overall, they're quite loyal, but it takes much dedication to overcome the "wildness" of the part of the dog that is wolf and the natural instincts are VERY strong.

I've met one person who had a husky/wolf and she was very, very protective, never trusted anyone coming in the home unless they were family, would growl (definitely was not used to seeing minorities), and stand her guard for her "pack". She was always full of bounding energy and broke through a screen door to get outside when the family wasn't around to open it, so they left it broken so she could go in and out whenever she pleased in a tiny fenced yard with a pool. It was really lucky they had that fence, too, too high for her to jump and right into the ground so she couldn't get out because any animal she saw, she chased, and she couldn't really be trusted meeting other people without her family there to make sure she behaved.

Answer 5

yes and no. yea they fab pets if you can manage them and lots of fun and no, they are a nitemare if you cant. I have owned and fostered them , any mixed with malamute etc arent wolf dogs, look pretty much the same but are fantastically behaved ( in comparison) sibes are pure wolfies and need an owner who understands all that this entails. they are obsessed with having fun, to any extent, yea they love you , but you are a very big secondary to whatever it is they fancy. and believe me they're buggas when they want something, they're very clever, focused and will do whatever to get what they want.. They will kill any thing they see that is smaller than them, not being nasty its just their instinct( and I'm a life long veggie, if you knew what my dog has troughed in front of me!) I bought a dog scooter which is a great way of exercising them , bearing in mind that you have no contol over them, they just chase the wildlife and they're very very fast - one wolfdog pulls one man on these things an average of 33 miles an hour ( google it if ya don't believe me or ask the experts, its a fact) and also believe me, your *** dont half hurt when ya fall and you dont half get addicted. Down side again, they very clever, obsessed with escaping if they like the place or not, open any windows or doors, jump 6-8 foot fences, no problem, a breeze, if a fence is too high they'll climb a tree and jump over, or make a tunnel underneath and oh my dont take them near a farm.. Depending on your lifestyle and your security, they could be a big hit. Siberian husky rescue always have plenty that need a good home, they're closest to the wolf, feel free to mail me if you want to know anything or wanna discuss or owt ( dont have mine now, they got stolen), have fun,bye

Answer 6

Depends on the dog and the owners knowledge of the breed. Wolf pups, actual wolf pups not malamutes or huskies, have much more natural wild still in them so they require a lot more intense training and patience. With time, understanding, and love they can be wonderful companions! A friend of mine owns, one is 90% pure wolf - actual wolf - and all 3 live in his house with him and his 2 cats. They are very protective of his property but as long as he's around, anyone in the world can pet them and love on them and know they won't bite.

Answer 7

What state do you live in? Some states dont allow wolf breeds. I have seen then in the range of anywhere from $200 to $1500. They take alot of attention and long hours of training. Make sure you have the time and the space for such an animal!

Answer 8

My husband's cousin has kept wolf dogs for years, she absolutely loves them. But she is also widely considered and "eccentric".

Answer 9

They can be difficult.