does any one have a wolf-dog mix? How do they rate as a pet?

Question

I've been intrested in buying a wolf-malamute mix. He seems very friendly but im not sure and am concerned because wolfs are wild animals. Advice please

i have owned dogs before and my husband has worked with huskies and malamute before as well.

Answer 1

I adopted a pound dog about 8 months ago. The pound thought he was Malamute/Husky, but we ran into his previous owner about 4 months later. The previous owner claims that he's part wolf, part malamute. So I can't say for sure if he's wolf, but it's certainly a possibility.

Anyway, as per your question, Rufus is just about the best-behaved dog/pet I could've hoped for. He was around cats and kids growing up, so now he's super-gentle with them. He's massive, but whenever he sees a tiny dog at the off-leash park, he takes to them right away and plays very gently but intently with them.

So that's my experience...

Answer 2

Wolf hybreds do not make good pets, no matter what people say. If you do not know how to handle a wild animal you should not buy or breed any wolf hybreds.
Wolf hybreds generally keep all the wolf instincts, there packing needs, there inheriant wildness, there needs to hunt and become higher in there social status. It doesnt matter if the wolf was breed to a poodle.... the wolf will always shine.
Being from Minnesota we have a lot of Wolf and Coyote Hybreds, working in a shelter and being with these dogs constantly I can tell you out of 56 animals only 1 was found a home, and that was with a Wolf Hybred Rescue that has a private preservation, they never rehome these animals, they find a "pack" and then let them live out there natural lives in that pack situation. The rest were sadly euthinized. They are gorgeous animals but they are so very unpredictable.
They will constantly challenge your authority, and they will always be looking for an opportunity to increase there status, wether that means taking a chunk of flesh from you or the neighbor kid, they are total opportunists. Wolfs delagate and deal out punishment or dominance with teeth. Its there natural way. There are rare cases of a sweet, stable, and great house pet hybred, these I can say are very rare and far between.
Please also call local law enforcement and animal shelters in the area, Many states in the US (if thats where your located) do not allow hybreds. They are illegal to own, now remember they are not illegal to buy (dont understand that) but they are to own, and you could get a hefty fine and fee for transporting over state lines if you go some where else to buy. Also if they are illegal and you go to the vet for vacc or help, they have a legal obligation to report you for owning one. Please just get a Alaskan Malamute. Dont get the Hybred, you'll thank me later i garuntee

Answer 3

Are you sure he's part wolf? Many people claim their dogs are part wolf in order to increase the desire for them, and it's fairly easy to pass pure huskies and malamutes off as wolves since they look so similar to them already.

If you're rescuing him and think you have enough experience to handle him, go for it. If you're buying him from someone who is breeding them, don't. Never buy a wolfdog from someone who is breeding them purposely. People who breed them do it because wolves are wild animals and some people see them as novelties and powerful status symbols. Wolfdogs are one of the most difficult pets to own and definitely are not for the inexperienced pet owner.

Answer 4

I hope you have a closed in yard or plan on keeping her/him on a leach all the time because they tend to wander away... OFTEN.. my friend/neighbor has a malamute/wolf mix and the dog breaks away all the time and runs around town... And they need a lot of exercise.. very very active.

Answer 5

My brother owns one, He was neglected and abused by his other owner, my brother took him in and now he is really healthy and is a real baby. He is really strong, my sister in law has to walk him in a place where there is no other dogs around. They also own 2 other dogs (males a little terrier mix and a german shepard mix) that he gets along with. I have a boston terrier that he plays with once and awhile. The only problem I have with him is when I go to visit he use to like my daughter but now he doesn't like her and will growl at her, so I keep her away from him. He is really good dog my brother says, he just has problems with stuff sometimes because of his previous owners. His first owners beat him and starved him, he was then given to my brother and he was so skinny, but got fattened up quickly right after he started living with my brother.

Answer 6

i used to own one. they are not good with kids at all. they are a one person animal. if Ur mean to them at all there wild instincts kick in. if any one else is mean to them they will attack. u have to spend allot of time with them that way they Liston to u. to show them that u are the pack leader. if u have a boyfriend or a husband the wolf will try to keep u apart from them. depending on where u live there are regulations on owning a wolf even a half breed. Ur fence has to be tall enough. like where i was in Washington my fence had to be 6ft tall. i had to have barbwire across the top of the fence. on the ground in front of the 6ft tall fence. i had to have a chain link fence that laid on the ground so it was not able to dig under the fence. there's allot to owning one. to get the regulations in Ur area i would talk to some one that Bord's or breeds animals.

Answer 7

They vary widely in temperament. It's a case-by case thing.

I have an Aussie shepherd-coyote mix, and the biggest danger with him is that visitors to my house seem to think they can push him around, because he's so cute looking. They can't seem to believe he's got the fire down below, till they see it. He doesn't get angrier any faster or more unpredictably than a regular dog, he's just deceptively cute.

Answer 8

Anyone who is inexperienced as a dog owner/trainer should not jump into buying any northern breed, especially one mixed with wolf.

wolf ARE wild and will resort to their instincts when they have to. They are not domesticated and should not be expected to act as one.

Answer 9

there are those who do breed wolfdogs and they bred all of them round united statesa. yet some states you won't be able to have them and once you've one you should assert its a german sheperd blended reason if not they could nice you and take your dogs faraway from you. they do make tremendous pets my aunt used to have a wolfdog and he or she became an outstanding dogs. yet her fur became comfortable and he or she had yellow eyes like a wolf. each state is diverse in ohio you may have a bobcat and a wolf yet in PA you won't be able to its the regulation.... those who breed them won't be able to quite allow you to comprehend that they are blended with a wolf reason they could be able to get in to complication.

Answer 10

I had one. Ghost was the most wonderful pet I had for 3 years. Then the trouble started. You have to remember that they are part wild and it will show. Its natural for them to want to hunt and kill. Please talk to a vet and do your homework on getting one. It's been 10 years and I still miss her but She had to be put down. She killed my neighbors cats 2 dogs and even a couple of sheep. I couldn't take a case of a child being next. Good luck to you and please really give it alot of thought.