In the News: Tails of Marin
Wolfdogs - They're Not Really Dogs
By Jean Mansen
I’ve shared the last 10 years of my life with five wolfdogs, also known as wolf hybrids. When people ask me about them, my face beams, because I love them — they are loyal, intelligent, independent and beautiful.
I am, however, quick to caution anyone against adopting a wolfdog. They are not dogs and they do not behave like dogs. They are more destructive, harder to contain, challenging to train, have extraordinarily strong jaws and large teeth, have a high prey drive, can be shy, and are typically one-family animals, meaning that if it doesn’t work out with you, rehoming isn’t an option. A wolf hybrid can live 12–18 years. Since there are few rescue organizations that will rehome a wolfdog, most are put down if their original family cannot keep them. Adopting one is a huge responsibility and commitment.
Wolf dogs are part wolf and part dog. There is a perception that the higher the percentage of wolf, the more dangerous the animal. This isn’t necessarily true. Temperament is complex and depends on factors such as the parents’ disposition, how well the parents trusted people, the number of generations the pups are removed from the wild, their socialization, personality, and how the pups are raised until they are placed with their permanent family. The more generations a wolfdog is removed from its wild parent, the better for fitting into human society. Also, pups that are raised from birth with lots of human interaction are better adjusted than pups left alone with their mothers. Wolfdogs have a shorter socialization period than dogs and imprinting during their first five weeks is critical.
Wolf hybrids reach social maturity somewhere between three and five years. This means that puppy-like behaviors, including chewing, digging and jumping, will continue through puberty and into adulthood. However, they grow quickly — our eight-month-old girl, Tasha, is the runt of her litter (she weighs 75 lbs) — her brothers and sisters top the scales at 140 pounds and stand six and a half feet tall when on their hind legs.
Wolfdogs are natural born thieves! If they see something interesting, they’ll grab it and run, hoping that you’ll chase them. They love to steal your favorite things and will chew (devour) them, or bury them. These are normal behaviors for wolfdogs who learn about their environment by exploring with their mouths. Bones the size of your thigh last about 30 minutes. They need appreciably more exercise than standard dogs, including long runs daily.
Wolf hybrids are smart and excellent problem solvers. They can open gates, doors, cupboards and refrigerators. They can clear an eight-foot fence with ease.
A fair and trustworthy master is necessary for a well-behaved, well-trained and well-adjusted animal. Training is required throughout the animal’s life, and it is often said that wolfdogs train their owners in that the animals quickly learn the behaviors that are expected, but perform them only when they feel like it.
Containment facilities must keep wolfdogs safely inside and strangers categorically outside. Ours is professionally designed and cost about as much to construct per square foot as a custom home!
Kibble isn’t enough. Wolfdogs must be fed a proper diet of meat, bones and skin. Doggie daycare, kennels and other accommodations typically available to dog owners aren’t an option for wolfdog owners.
It cannot be overstated: Wolf hybrids are not at all like dogs. Their behavioral and social needs are vastly different from those of domestic dogs. I love ours, but I wouldn’t recommend owning a wolfdog. The time commitment is extraordinary and the downside is significant.
Jean Mansen is a dog behavior volunteer at the Marin Humane Society.
Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal
