Quote: Sharon Empson

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!

That's what the show was about - getting the word out against buying these dogs.

We have a wolf educational facility not far from me. Part of what they educate the public on is the reasons why people should never own a wolf hybrid. They have had many people ask for them to take their hybrid when they discover that they can not handle them, they have not taken one in the many years they have been in business, until recently.

A man came to them with a three month old pup, he realized that he was not dealing with an average dog. This pup was placed in with a shy wolf female for her to raise. They will keep him to further demonstrate why people should not keep hybrids as pets.

"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?

There's a place up the road from me that has several breeding pairs of wolves. They provide them to educational programs, not to private individuals. They are *semi-Tame*, but not really tame. I did get to handle 3 week old pups one time and they were amazing. Fully alert, mouths full of teeth and eating all solid foods. The guy who runs the place does not advocate EVER having wolves or hybrids as pets. He has kept some hybrids himself, but he is very clear on the fact that they are NOT like dogs.

Also, I believe there's no actual evidence that rabies vaccinations are effective on wolves and so if you have a hybrid, the vets don't want to know it because they cannot legally give you a rabies certificate for that animal. One vet told me that they *know* it works, but they can't legally say it.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

They are in fact illegal in many parts of this country.

http://www.hybridlaw.com/

Ed has an article on the LB site that details why they should be illegal and explains why no threads advocating having wolf crosses in the home are permitted on the board.

Well, turns out that some of the web articles are in the process of updating, etc.

This, of course, remains in place: Threads advocating having wolf crosses in the home are not permitted on the board.

Of course, this board wouldn't be likely to start or allow to stand unchallenged such a thread.

 Quote: betty landercasp

"dangerous to vaccinate"
I can't imagine being in an open field with them. How did that go?

These 2 dogs were litter-mates- and were surrendered from a man who assured us they loved people. I saw him handle them, and didn't see outright signs of aggression- I had him turn them out, and I followed. The hybrids ran straight up the hill into the woods at the back of the 2 acres. I followed to the top of the hill t be within sight, sat, and waited. The alpha of the 2 eventually approached me, but I was VERY careful with my body language, and made absolutely '0' eye contact.

Here is a link to a couple pics of them if anyone is interested. We managed to eventually adopt them out to a single woman who seemed to understand hybrids- they dug out the first night there, the male was hit by a car. When they found the female the next day, the police shot her after she bit a child. Sad story. I always felt guilty for letting them go to that home- but they were not safe around other animals (especially livestock!) and I had children at home- no way they were coming home with me. They were nice enough animals- living in a 2 acre pasture.... when contact with humans was initiated by them. I wouldn't ever turn my back on those two though. Instinct is instinct, dogs are domesticated... wolves are NOT. Mix the 2 together, and you end up with a potentially dangerous, unpredictable combo. Which side of the animal will you see next?

Anyways- beautiful animals. Freya was very regal, and Odin was silly looking with an extreme beta personality.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/turnnburn52984/FurryTale%20Farms/Freya-1.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/turnnburn52984/FurryTale%20Farms/DSCF5600.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/turnnburn52984/FurryTale%20Farms/DSCF5583.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/turnnburn52984/FurryTale%20Farms/DSCF5601.jpg

Oh- these two hybrids were said to be from Alaska, and GSD crosses. I think the GSD influence is easy to see in the male (Odin)

So, out of curiousity, (and that's truly all it is), how do these breeders actually get wolves to breed with dogs? I'm completely ignorant here, but I would think it to be difficult to obtain wolves and then get them to breed with dogs. Or, are they just breeding hybrids with hybrids??

I can't figure out why anyone would want to risk owning one, for their own safety, but also the liability.

 Quote: janet dudley

So, out of curiousity, (and that's truly all it is), how do these breeders actually get wolves to breed with dogs? I'm completely ignorant here, but I would think it to be difficult to obtain wolves and then get them to breed with dogs. Or, are they just breeding hybrids with hybrids??

I can't figure out why anyone would want to risk owning one, for their own safety, but also the liability.

I'm curious about that too. If they are so aggressive towards animals not in their pack then just a meet and "greet" wouldnt cut it. I think the dog would have to become a pack member before they could get "busy".

I don't understand what the point of it is anyways. Why do people constantly have to own exotic pets that are possibly deadly to their owners? Silly if you ask me, why can't people just be happy with good old Fido?

Edited by (11/03/2010 07:35 AM)
Edit reason: Spelling

People want them for various reasons none of which are good. Primarily I think that they think it's "cool" to own a "wild" animal or that it somehow makes them more "macho." Personally I do not understand why they want to own any wild or semi-wild animal.

My sister did own a wolf hybrid for 7 years but she and her husband did NOT purposely get one. They got what was supposed to be a malamute mix from rescue. But, from her conformation, they suspected that CJ was part wolf. And a friend of theirs that works with wolves confirmed their suspicions and helped them work with CJ. They did well and CJ was fortunate, but as she got older she became more and more wolf-like in her behavior until they finally and sadly had to have her put down.

That is something I do not understand. Every time I hear something about people owning big cats or other predators as pets I look to my own cats and think about the damage they could inflict if they weighed 500 lbs. My small little female drug a rat in the house that was nearly as big as her the other day and was doing a fine job of mauling it. Thinking about what a wild cat can do is frightening.

Just one good look at Loki's teeth tells me all I need to know about the potential of a wild canid to do damage!

There are plenty of exotic pets that are safe, attractive and do not pose a risk to your friends and family!