Some people believe that by mixing a dog and a wolf, the result is a combination of the best of both animals. Unfortunately, this is not true. There is much misinformation distributed about hybrids, especially concerning the supposed percentage of wolf that many hybrids are sold as.

It is not possible to determine the genetic makeup of offspring that result from breeding a hybrid. Ancestry and genetics are not the same thing. Although the animal's ancestry may be well documented, its genetics can not possibly be determined. Many of the animals being sold as wolf hybrids have no wolf in them, however, some unfortunately do.

One of the main reasons that problems occur is due to many irresponsible breeders selling their animals to the general public as ideal family pets who are good with children, or as guard or attack animals. Wolf hybrids cannot be expected to behave like a domestic dog. The hybrid, depending on the amount of wolf genes inherited, may exhibit a variety of wolf characteristics.

Wolves are predators who chase prey that run, thereby testing the animals for weakness. Small children, dogs, cats and livestock are all possibilities for the chase which may end in death. On the other hand, wolves are timid, wary animals who are very cautious around anything that is unfamiliar to them, therefore hybrids do not make good guard dogs. Hybrids are known to hide from visitors or urinate and defecate when strangers appear. Hybrids are difficult to travel with and almost impossible to leave behind.

A wolf’s digestive system requires large amounts of meat. Hybrids could also require a diet mostly of meat to remain healthy, which becomes a major expense.

One of the ways in which a wolf marks its territory is by urination. Most hybrids are difficult, if not impossible to housebreak.

It is not possible to develop a pet/master relationship with a wolf. Socialised wolves will view humans as other wolves. A young animal will show submissive behaviour towards the leader of the pack, but as it matures it may begin to challenge the alpha (leader of the pack). Hybrids may well do the same. They will often challenge their owners and continue to do so until successful, or until destroyed by their owner.

Safety is a very important issue with hybrids. For its own protection, a hybrid must not be allowed to run free. A free roaming animal could chase livestock or kill pets. Hybrid enclosures must be secure and must contain stimulating objects such as large tree stumps with roots, adequate water, shade, cleanliness, a high point to survey their domain, and a view of the living quarters of the people to whom they belong.

Wolves and wolf hybrids require enormous amounts of love and socialisation. Very few people have either the willingness or the ability or the time to devote so much of themselves for the entire lifetime of the animals - sometimes as long as 16 years. An animal like this really needs the companionship of its own kind. A domestic dog is often unable to meet the needs of a fellow family member who is a hybrid. An animal without this much-needed companionship can easily become neurotic and constantly a problem.

A wolf hybrid is a POTENTIALLY dangerous animal. Any dog or cat, can and sometimes does, bite people, sometimes even fatally in the case of dogs. At best, hybrids are unpredictable and any time a wolf hybrid causes harm to a person or animal, the resulting publicity nearly always brings harm to the reputation of the wolf.

There are many breeds of dogs available as pets, some of which, can look very wolflike. A huge amount of thought and commitment is required before taking on the ownership of any dog, but in our opinion, the ownership of a hybrid is not for most people.

Tag: Wolf Hybrids