Quote: Webboard User

... I fostered a wolf hybrid for about a year and a half, and I'm very adamant about people not owning them. They are not dogs, nor do they act like dogs.

If Ed has a write up on wolf hybrids, Im sure its a great one and it'll cover everything I would have to say without me having to type out the novel I no doubt would write...

 Quote: webboard user

If Ed has a write up on wolf hybrids, Im sure its a great one and it'll cover everything I would have to say without me having to type out the novel I no doubt would write...

I just emailed Ed, so I'm sure we can find it. I was getting "incorrect address" messages with the link I have used before.

I've read Ed's article- it's great- I've actually printed it before and given it to people who think they are wonderful pets (HA!) but I couldn't find the link now either. Thanks for sending an email to the source Connie!

Wolf Hyrbids should never EVER be kept as pets IMO, and anyone who says that they've had one and it "just like a dog" didn't have a hybrid (luckily the "breeders" that come up when you google all have random GSD/husky/etc mutts not real wolves.Someone who had no idea what a wolf hybrid really is is likely to get one of those). I assisted a friend of mine with his. This was a puppy that showed up at about 12 week old on his doorstep. Took him one day before he realized something was "wrong" with the puppy. When it hit 1 year old another friend of ours with some land out west took the pup. This hybrid had training and discipline since day one and you would still never have trusted this pup. He now lives in an outdoor custom built enclosure with another hybrid (a rescue) and is turned out during the day (obviously still in an enclosure) with three rescue dogs that were sexually abused by their former owners (so they're not really people friendly in the slightest). The group lives together well and this particular hybrid is aloof but friendly and very well trained though his owner still doesn't trust him with people. He's also HUGE, his elbows nearly touch, and his feet are enormous...looks like he's wearing snow shoes.

"dangerous to vaccinate"

THey were always scheduled in the middle of the day, when the surgery patients were dozing, and the office was empty. The senior partner usually saw them. We always had a tech in with us, but with the wolves, I was told it went better with less people.
THey really had a presence. I remember asking the owner, "Is this do-able?" He assured me they would not even flinch, which they didn't.
The thing I remember was they never took their eyes off me. I didn't even want to come around to their side of the table until the exam room door was opened, on their side, and they thought they were getting ready to leave.
I can't imagine being in an open field with them. How did that go?

 Quote: betty landercasp

"dangerous to vaccinate"

THey were always scheduled in the middle of the day, when the surgery patients were dozing, and the office was empty. The senior partner usually saw them. We always had a tech in with us, but with the wolves, I was told it went better with less people.
THey really had a presence. I remember asking the owner, "Is this do-able?" He assured me they would not even flinch, which they didn't.
The thing I remember was they never took their eyes off me. I didn't even want to come around to their side of the table until the exam room door was opened, on their side, and they thought they were getting ready to leave.
I can't imagine being in an open field with them. How did that go?

The Busch Gardens crew taught their wolves to put thier butts up against the cage for shots.

 Quote: Sharon Empson

I can't imagine how horrible it would be for the wolf hybrid put into a situation where it could never be what it was created to be. How frustrating, how lonely for it, how sufficating it would be!

Those were my thoughts when I was watching the episode. Two of the 3 dogs had to be kept in large runs with 8 foot fences that were imbedded in concrete. The behavorist gave very detailed instructions on how they had to be contained because they can chew through even metal. It was very sad to see them pacing all day, unable to do anything else. These 'dogs' were in southern CA and they all had escaped their yards and got picked up by animal control - here in CA, if that happens 3 times, the dog is put to sleep.

That's why I wanted to post this topic - there are a lot of people who have no idea how wrong it is to breed these 'dogs', and how unfair it is to them. The dogs in this story were beautiful dogs, with pretty markings, and they are appealing to many people for their looks.

I hope the show did not glorify the situation. I didn't see the show but hope Ceasar was aware of the danger and will do something to help them by publically warning people!

I hate that too! I hate seeing animals pace due to boredom. I know some animals are never the same mentally!

Maybe there could be a law passed that they must have huge enclosures. I don't know it just bugs me!

I wish I could remember what channel aired it, but I saw a show recently that talked about inherent differences between domestic dogs and wolves. A group of (6 I think) researchers each raised a husky type puppy from day 1, until 6 months of age, in their homes - documenting everything. They then each raised a wolf cub from day 1, until 6 months, and even by that time, the wolves had become almost totally unmanageable for the group. Even being raised right from the start, in the exact same manner, they acted nothing like the dogs. I will try and find a like to the show if I can.
The concept of having a "wolfdog" is EXTREMELY popular where I live, and when I first moved here, I couldn't believe how many people thought their pets were part wolf. Now, I just play along, because luckily, for the most part, it's not true. There are, however, hybrid breeders in BC. There was some fuss in the media about them somewhat recently (like the past couple years), hence the growing popularity.