Hello All-

I just introduced my new rescue Adoptee "Ramble", male GSD between 2 and 3 years old, to my Rottweiler "Gorgeous", female between 2 and 3 years old.

Listened to and applied the principles in Ed's Podcast on the subject of new dog introductions and so far, all is well. The dog's seem to get along as well as could be hoped for, neverthless they are always monitored when loose and crated when I'm not in the room.

I have some questions about the GSD. He has some qualities that make me wonder if he might not be a wolf hybrid. I am no expert and I know the venom that comes with the very word, but please read and evaluate. I dont think he is, but wanted some input, perhaps from the mods.

First off, he never barks (according to his foster never has) but growls regardless of emotion. So when he's happy-growls, excited-growls, on his back, showing his belly-growls. His ears are small for a gsd to my eye. His eyes have a forward slant, but are what I consider traditional GSD brown. His structure/confirmations seem GSD. His feet, while not webbed, are umm.. puffier(?), wider than the three GSD's I've owned in the past .

He acts like a dog in terms of accepting the Rott's play invitations, affectionate with me etc. He knows absolutely NO commands until yesterday when I taught him "sit" in basically one session. I have no experience with hybrids at all, and again, kind of doubt he is one, but if anyone would be willing to take a look, I will send you some photos (I have trouble putting them up on the board.)

Thanks in advance.

with a GSD, i'd keep in mind they tend to 'look' like wolves already....at least, i get that comment.
(once someone refused to pass luc telling me he's a wolf....no he's not)

jennifer marshal's site has some info on wolfdogs: http://www.freewebs.com/theanimaltrainer/wolvesandwolfdogs.htm (hopefully it's okay i link jennifer ), but my guess is, if your dog is acting like a dog (like you say), than it's probably a dog.

not knowing it's background, it could have picked up certain behaviours, also, it could be a low percentage of another breed that makes it look unusual for a GSD. my female, who as far as i am aware is a PB GSD (also a rescue), has to me relatively small ears and her feet are also 'puffier' as you describe them than my male's feet (of course, she is a longcoat) - i would also say she appears to have more extensive 'webbing' between the toes than my male.

my perception could be wrong, but i also don't think wolfdogs are all that common.

Keep in mind the traits of a husky come across as the traits of a wolf in some instances.

Tucker is a Border Collie/Husky and he growls/groans to show his pleasure. His paws are definately furry/puffy and have the shape of a wolf's paw (more coming to a point than rounded if that makes sense).
so it might be possible that there is a bit of husky in him.

Wendy

No vocalizations from a dog doesn't mean it is not really a dog. My Ab, Cajun, rarely rarely ever barked until I taught him to, and even then he was not particularly enthusiastic about it. He growled/grunted/groaned/mumbled/sneezed all sorts of sounds without barking and he sure as heck was not a wolf hybrid.

A lot of mixes can look like wolfdogs, and are even advertised as such, and have either very little or no wolf at all. I actually just saw a dog listed as GSD/Husky on petfinder that based on the description and pictures is most definitely a wolfdog. This "dog" is high drive, extremely territorial, a problem solver that jumps 8 foot fences, digs out under 3 foot ground fencing, eats everything in sight whether it's a chair or a stereo speaker, among other things.

Wolf hybrids are not just wolfy looking dogs that don't bark, the behavior is drastically different from average joe dog. Wolf hybrids are sharp, territorial, extremely pack oriented, and do not bond to strange or new people quickly, if at all. They are nervous around strangers and more likely to stand and watch a burglar take your stuff than say anything about it. They do not out grow chewing on everything, are more difficult to housebreak/potty train, and will eat their way through chain link if you give them the opportunity. This goes for wolfdogs that are 25% wolf or more. The higher percentage you get, the worse it is.

Anyhow. I doubt he is a wolfdog, unless he exhibits nervous, territorial, eat everything in sight, jump 6 foot fences type of behavior along with not barking Even then, he could just be a sharp, nervy, hungry, fence jumping GSD... But send me some picts, I would love to see him! TheAnimalTrainer86@hotmail.com


Edited by Jennifer Marshal (12/10/2007 03:28 PM)
Edit reason: spelling

Thanks all responders. He is affectionate to me (a stranger) and training responsive, so I tend to agree with the consensus that he's no wolf.

He's picking up commands and seeing patterns fast.