Hybrids

[luckydog]

Aren't they just beautiful dogs?

Does anyone own a hybrid? If so, do they make good pets?

[sheltiepups]

Nope, I’m sorry I do not think that hybrid would or should be good pets, let the wolf be wild, where they are suppose to be. I do not think their temperaments would be solid. We have how many breeds? Why do we need more? But I do think that if a dog breeds with a wolf, and has the puppies, the puppies should not be put to sleep. Any way that’s JMO

[Rip's Girl]

Sheltiepups is right.

A hybrid (Actually that term is incorrect because wolves & dogs are the same species) is NOT a good pet for a novice dog owner, and even a lot of experienced dog owners/trainers don't want to bring a wolf dog into their house.

Also, most of the wolfdogs I've seen are rescues. Personally I support rescue of any kind, and wolfdogs aren't the exception. BUT, the reason they're in rescue is because someone HAD to go and mix their dog with a wolf..

[ayl]

I have read articles suggesting wolves and dogs are 2 different kind species. I kind of agreed.

[Pugdawg1]

I do not agree with producing wolfdogs. That is one thing, I simply don't care for.

[sambucca/whiskey]

I think it is a horrible idea, breeders have worked for decades on the domesticated dogs you all enjoy today, for tempermant, health.
A hybrid is highly dangerous, they are not conditioned to adjust to things the same way as our domesticated dogs, where your dog may bark if a chair is turned over a hybrid may go into a panick and attack.
I have read several books over the last month, of very experienced trainers and proffesinals, some who work with wolves and not one would trust a hybrid in their home or in public, that has to tell you something.

[Pugdawg1]

It's like they're torn between two worlds. It's sad.. and that's what I've heard over and over... can't trust them, unpredictable.

[Rip's Girl]

Very unpredictable.. Hard to live with, and caught between the wolf side and the dog side.. And sometimes the wolf side 'wins' and the animal becomes unmanageable.

[Rip's Girl]

Actually, quite honestly, I'd live with a wolf cub before I would live with a wolfdog pup.

A wolf will bond like glue to all in its pack. A wolf would never kill one of its pack. A wolf dog will.

[sambucca/whiskey]

personally wouldn't live with either, a wild breed of dog is wild for a reason plain and simple.

[Rip's Girl]

exactly.. So what is the difference between a wolf and a wolf-dog. There's a strong wildness in them both. Maybe less in a wolf dog, but it's not nearly as distant as it is in domesticated dogs..

[Agate]

From personal expierience ...... Some wolf /dogs are very personable trustworthy pets some are not. A lot of it hinges on training and wheather the animal is the Alpha or somewhat lower in the pecking order . The Alpha's after all are the pack boss. My brother has a white one that is a sweetie. Would I ever own one? would depend on the particular animal.

[fireworksinjuly]

Since dogs were orrigoanlly Wolves and have just been breed away from the wolf I have to admit Im glad someone a LONG time ago did it, with out that we wouldnt have all our FurKids...

But in modern times I think they need to be left seperate.
Just cuz they can be breed together doesnt mean its a good idea...
I do not support Hybrid dogs at all.
I think Wolves should be left to the wild and to roam, they need it, they thrive on the whild and suffer greatly in captivity.
While the exact opposite is true for dogs, theyd suffer in the wild and do great in captivity....
They are too opposited to be joined as one.

[Pugdawg1]

Would much rather see a wolf running wild and free, and being and doing what a wolf should do, then some cross between a wolf and a dog, in someone's backyard.

[dollface]

Originally Posted by Rip's Girl

Actually, quite honestly, I'd live with a wolf cub before I would live with a wolfdog pup.

A wolf will bond like glue to all in its pack. A wolf would never kill one of its pack. A wolf dog will.

I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT....Have you ever owned or lived with a hybrid? If not then you cannot say something like that

I have a hybrid his father was a Timber wolf and his mother a Rotti. As you all know his name is Taz 10 1/2 years old, the last time I weighed him was about a year ago and his weight is 158-162 pounds standing 27-28 inches to the shoulder. He is the most gentalist animal I have ever met. He use to sleep in my daughter's room at night until the stairs have become to much for him to climb do to arthritis and hipdysplasia, now he sleep in our porch which I use a baby gate so he knows to stay there, of course he can just push it down no problem. He lives inside with us and our 4 boston's, plays with the ferrets and licks the rats. He would not hurt another animal unless that animal attacked him. We looked after a 6 month old cat and Taz slept with this cat after just 3 days, my friends cat had kittens and when Taz got to see the lil one he just licked it all over and basically gave it a bath, he loves animal, children and people.

We did have the oportunity to get a bitch about 5 years ago our friend was going to bring her back, her mother was a wolf/huskey and her father was a timber wolf who was wild running free (She was tied up in heat to be bred by a wolf). Since we could not see the parents and see all puppies we said no, one reason was because we had Taz and Cuervo plus children and to get any animal I have to be able to pick it. That would of had alot more wolf in it then Taz, she was all white and 4 weeks old which is a good age to get them.

Do I recomend hybrids (wolf/cross) to people, NO I DO NOT. Would I get another one, probably not because you really do not know what you are getting. We were very lucky with how Taz has turned out, but who says we would have that kind of luck again. We did take a big chance and very fortunate the type of animal we got. Saying that any animal if not having the proper breeding can be a time bomb waiting to go off, especially with alot of crosses and BYB cause they do not breed for best of temperment to have sound puppies...I don't think people should be crossing them, but cyotese (sp)crossed with dogs are alot more unprodictable (yes they cross them too) Taz knows how to sit, stay, come all your basic obedience and he is very well behaved, lives indoors I think I mentioned that, eats dogfood. Just because my hybrid turned out to be so great does not mean yours will and you should go out and get one. When we picked him I wanted a male so we had 4 to pick out of, we did puppy tests on all of them and Taz was the only one that passed them, he never squirmed when we craddled him in our arms on his back, pinched between his paws and he never whined (not hard tho), just a number of lil tests, and well if non passed we would of walked away. We also agreed if we had any problems and that goes for all dogs then we would rehome or see if they are sound enough to rehome and if not we would of pts, may sound awful but you can't rehome an animal if they are a threat to someone else.....Like I said we are fortunate to how our boy is and I wish I could start all over with him as a puppy, I just pray that we have a couple of more years left with him, he is a real treasure to have and I feel bleesed to have had this opertunity to share our lives with this animal my biggest furbaby Taz