Wolfdogs!

[mindylee]

Does anyone else have these beautiful guys? I have three currently, and I am getting three more this spring (one of which is arriving tomorrow).

Beautiful dogs! I almost adopted one yrs ago. But I have a cat so decided to pass for the time being. Still think about gettin one in the future but only time will tell. I do highly recommend anyone thinkin about getting one to do their homework 1st. This is not Lassie and these dogs do have some issues with where they can/can not live. Some states do not allow them and def some counties/townships. They are a awsome breed and are very wolf like. So must be treated with the respect it deserves as well as giving it back.

 

[nayeli]

I have a hybrid. He is half wolf mixed with what looks like german shephard. That is him with our little dog =)

 

[RaresightFarms]

What health testing do you do before breeding?

Wolfdogs don't have any specific problems (like GSDs with hip problems or some breeds with arthritis or heart problems). Those are problems that pop up when you breed the same small gene pool to create a specific breed of dog. Notice that wild wolves are very healthy animals. Every time you use a wolf to add content to a wolfdog program, you are 'cleaning up' the DNA a bit. For regular problems that can be caught, like colds or ringworm or something, we give our dogs the usual health exam before introducing them to our pack to make sure they bring nothing in.

 

[RaresightFarms]

Beautiful dogs!

I almost adopted one yrs ago. But I have a cat so decided to pass for the time being. Still think about gettin one in the future but only time will tell.

I do highly recommend anyone thinkin about getting one to do their homework 1st. This is not Lassie and these dogs do have some issues with where they can/can not live. Some states do not allow them and def some counties/townships. They are a awsome breed and are very wolf like. So must be treated with the respect it deserves as well as giving it back.

That is very true! We try to screen our adopters so that we make sure they understand what a handful wolfdogs can be, because they are so intelligent and pack-oriented. Wolfdogs don't take commands, they consider your request and decide to listen to it if a) they know you as above them in rank, and b) if they agree with you. This means that they aren't going to do what they think is wrong, so you have to get them to want to do it first. No small task! You don't 'own' a wolfdog, you are the family of one. And I don't say that like a cute little I-love-my-pet phrase - it's 100% serious. If you don't treat them right and respect them and - most importantly - ACT like they are a pack member, they will decide that you are NOT their alpha (either think you are below them in rank, or decide you aren't part of their pack), and they will not pay attention to anything that you want.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Wolfdogs don't have any specific problems (like GSDs with hip problems or some breeds with arthritis or heart problems). Those are problems that pop up when you breed the same small gene pool to create a specific breed of dog. Notice that wild wolves are very healthy animals. Every time you use a wolf to add content to a wolfdog program, you are 'cleaning up' the DNA a bit. For regular problems that can be caught, like colds or ringworm or something, we give our dogs the usual health exam before introducing them to our pack to make sure they bring nothing in.

That's not really how genetics works though. They aren't pure wolves, they have been mixed with dogs, who carry all sorts of genes for genetic defects and diseases. Crossing wolf into them doesn't make that magically go away. Wild wolves are a whole different ball game, as natural selection takes care of weaker stock. I assume you're not culling any pups or adult dogs who present with health issues, so you can't compare to wild wolf packs.

Not screening for potential health defects is exactly how dog breeds got into the messes they are in today. If the stock creating said breeds had been tested for all these defects from day one (not that the tests were even around when breeds were created), there wouldn't be such a mess of health issues in dogs.

 

[RaresightFarms]

That's not really how genetics works though. They aren't pure wolves, they have been mixed with dogs, who carry all sorts of genes for genetic defects and diseases. Crossing wolf into them doesn't make that magically go away. Wild wolves are a whole different ball game, as natural selection takes care of weaker stock. I assume you're not culling any pups or adult dogs who present with health issues, so you can't compare to wild wolf packs.

Not screening for potential health defects is exactly how dog breeds got into the messes they are in today. If the stock creating said breeds had been tested for all these defects from day one (not that the tests were even around when breeds were created), there wouldn't be such a mess of health issues in dogs.

No, I was simplifying. Crossing wolf into them gives a bad gene 50% chance to not be passed down.

Of course we don't kill pups with problems. We would neuter them. No passing it on. Fortunately, we have had no problems. Our wolfdogs come from healthy lines.

If a problem is apparent, it will be tested for. I'm sorry, but you don't seem to understand wolfdogs. They are not just xyz breed of dog, bred with a wolf. We have wolfdog parents and grandparents and great-grandparents STILL owned by their breeders (retired and happy by now), and we can see the health of the pedigree all the way back. Also, unlike breeding xyz breed, there is not a 'common breed problem' to test for. Wolfdogs are not predisposed to genetic problems with eyesight, or hip placement, or joint problems, or skin problems, or etc. There are hundreds of tests for problems divided between hundreds of breeds. You don't just say 'well you need to have your breeding dogs tested'. For *what*, exactly? NO breeder of ANY dog breed just 'screens for potential health defects' of ALL the possible problems that could be in each breed of dog. What you are pretty much saying is 'well my breed has xyz health problem a lot so why aren't you testing for it'.

If a wolfdog presents with a problem, it's tested. Then it's parents are tested, and it's offspring (if any), and if they have it, they are neutered. I'm sorry if you feel that we should test for things that have never cropped up in any related wolfdog at any time. Should I apologize for having known healthy lines?

 

[nathana1984]

That is very true! We try to screen our adopters so that we make sure they understand what a handful wolfdogs can be, because they are so intelligent and pack-oriented. Wolfdogs don't take commands, they consider your request and decide to listen to it if a) they know you as above them in rank, and b) if they agree with you. This means that they aren't going to do what they think is wrong, so you have to get them to want to do it first. No small task! You don't 'own' a wolfdog, you are the family of one. And I don't say that like a cute little I-love-my-pet phrase - it's 100% serious. If you don't treat them right and respect them and - most importantly - ACT like they are a pack member, they will decide that you are NOT their alpha (either think you are below them in rank, or decide you aren't part of their pack), and they will not pay attention to anything that you want.

Whats the purpose of owning a wolf dog?

When i get dogs sure they are part of the family but also they learn to take commands and serve a purpose.

Just curious because the way you describe it is they do what they want.

 

[SavageDestiny]

No, I was simplifying. Crossing wolf into them gives a bad gene 50% chance to not be passed down.

Of course we don't kill pups with problems. We would neuter them. No passing it on. Fortunately, we have had no problems. Our wolfdogs come from healthy lines.

If a problem is apparent, it will be tested for. I'm sorry, but you don't seem to understand wolfdogs. They are not just xyz breed of dog, bred with a wolf. We have wolfdog parents and grandparents and great-grandparents STILL owned by their breeders (retired and happy by now), and we can see the health of the pedigree all the way back. Also, unlike breeding xyz breed, there is not a 'common breed problem' to test for. Wolfdogs are not predisposed to genetic problems with eyesight, or hip placement, or joint problems, or skin problems, or etc. There are hundreds of tests for problems divided between hundreds of breeds. You don't just say 'well you need to have your breeding dogs tested'. For *what*, exactly? NO breeder of ANY dog breed just 'screens for potential health defects' of ALL the possible problems that could be in each breed of dog. What you are pretty much saying is 'well my breed has xyz health problem a lot so why aren't you testing for it'.

If a wolfdog presents with a problem, it's tested. Then it's parents are tested, and it's offspring (if any), and if they have it, they are neutered. I'm sorry if you feel that we should test for things that have never cropped up in any related wolfdog at any time. Should I apologize for having known healthy lines?

Actually, plenty of breeders test for every potential problem in the breed. Good ones, anyway. For instance, a breeder I know who breeds ABPTs who tests hips, ears, elbows, thyroid, cardiac, patellas, and does both CERF and CRD-2 tests on eyes. They don't breed dogs who don't test well on any of those. Not all of those are even common issues in APBTs. They test everything to cover their bases.

Why NOT at least do OFA/PennHip to try and nip issues in the bud? You claim wolfdogs don't have structure issues, but the first picture you posted shows a dog extremely straight in the rear and what looks like easty-westy in the front, both of which contribute to arthritis. Straight rears often contribute to CCL tears.

I don't buy the "all their relatives are healthy" bit. I see it all the time- in my breed especially in working hog dogs. They don't test for anything because the dogs work and "prove" they're sound, but sooner or later issues crop up. A friend of mine has a stock dog (basically a mishmash of herding breeds) who comes from strictly working lines- the breeders almost kept him to work their cattle. Good thing they didn't, because he's extremely unsound and is in crippling pain with too much exercise. He's five. His parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. don't have issues... but he does, and it could have been prevented with some basic health screening.

Look, I'm not trying to beat you down or anything. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that people who breed anything are so adamantly against health testing and get so offended when it is suggested. It can do nothing but help prevent future issues, so why on earth are people so resistant? The goal of breeding should be to better the animals you're breeding... why not stack the cards in the favor of that?

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Never had much interest myself in wolf-dogs (first reaction is that I would either rather have a wolf *or* a dog...although my favorite dog breeds all seem to have dingo, coyote, etc bred in, ha), but have friends who talk about wolf-dogs they grew up with or owned with great fondness. So glad you get to bring in some new additions of something you love!

 

[nayeli]

Whats the purpose of owning a wolf dog?

When i get dogs sure they are part of the family but also they learn to take commands and serve a purpose.

Just curious because the way you describe it is they do what they want.

Wolf dogs are the same. They are just another breed of dog that is more wild. They also have stronger nose then most which means they will "mark" more and easily regress from potty training when you have a new dog marking in "their" territory.
Mine knows tricks and will do them. He will walk well on a leash usually. He does have issues but so would any other breed. Mine in particular has seperation anxiety, gets over excited around other dogs (he isn't aggressive just super playful) and he is very vocal, and he will take the little dogs food... he isn't aggressive about it but he does it none the less.

He is a great dog overall very loyal and loving, he even thinks he is a lapdog sometimes!