The Czeck Vlcak or Czech Wolfdog, is a breed of German Shepherd with a few per cent of Carpathian Wolf from around the 1950's. It's not the typical wolf-cross presented by starry-eyed naturists.
Like everyone else, they found wolf crosses made pretty poor dogs. So, they kept adding in more German Shepherd blood.
According to the Wikipedia article, they do have some unique scenting capabilities. They also have some quirks with respect to training.
It looks like you really have to be plugged in to get one of these dogs. They seem to be pretty rare. According to their US breed club, they are AKC-recognized, there are around 200 in the US. http://www.czechoslovakianvlcak.org/breedinfo
I wonder if they have avoided some of the structural and health issues we so often see in GSD's. From the breed website, they do seem to retain a number of wolfish characteristics. Longevity is good.
TBH, I did not know if the OP's concern was about creating demand for an exotic breed to the wrong homes or about the potential for exploitation and fraud in the pet-finder industry.
Duane Hull Webboard User Reg: 09-23-2011
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I'm pretty sure her concern is that ignorant people will want what they see, not be prepared for living with it, and some unfortunate wolfdog will end up in a bad situation or worse, put down ina shelter as unfit for adoption.
She may also be concerned that the breed will not be properly preserved once people start breeding for selfish human criteria (which is how it ws created).
tracey holden Webboard User Reg: 07-17-2010
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Quote: Duane Hull
I'm pretty sure her concern is that ignorant people will want what they see, not be prepared for living with it, and some unfortunate wolfdog will end up in a bad situation or worse, put down ina shelter as unfit for adoption.
She may also be concerned that the breed will not be properly preserved once people start breeding for selfish human criteria (which is how it ws created).
You are correct on both counts Duane, there are already too many dogs in shelters on death row, mostly because of overcrowding, but also because of the complete unsuitability of these hybrids as 'family pets'
I can understand the desire that people have to capture the wild type physical strength, and the wild type power in the back end. The coat is beautiful too.
There are many hybrids in Minnesota, where there are so many timber wolves that there is a hunting season for them.
As a chicken veterinarian, I sure hated to see them come in the clinic. Unreadable. We never put them on the table, and we didn't back them into a corner, and never leaned over them. We scheduled their appointments mid-day when the place was dead.
Essentially, there wasn't too much medicine that was done on them -- rabies shots only. They were not "examined". I never saw a sick one. Or an old one either, for that matter.
Cathy Goessman Webboard User Reg: 12-03-2007
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As a long time visitor to Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary I cringe every time I hear somebody promote wolfdogs as pets. There are several animals at the sanctuary where the owners did everything "right" and still had to surrender them due to the innate characteristics of the wolf dog. They receive 3-10 calls per DAY from people needing to find their wolf or wolf dog a suitable home. It's been somewhat implied that they have to suggest euth in many cases where a sanctuary can not be found.
The worst part about hybrids is that you can get an animal who exhibits the worst of dog and wolf biting habits. You get a silent biter who gives little to no warning.
Cathy Goessman Webboard User Reg: 12-03-2007
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It's a gamble. Sometimes they get the best of both worlds and sometimes the worst. My brother had a wolf dog with mostly dog characteristics who was a wonderful pet. Well, except that one time he decided to chew through a wall in a rented apartment to create his own den.
Part of the problem is that some people have a "high content wolf dog" or at least that's what the breeder told them. Really they have a low content or not a wolf dog at all. Even low content is a gamble but somewhat less.
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