Are they the dog for you?
Everyone should first look realistically and rationally at why they would like to own a Wolfdog or lookalike type and if they are prepared to take on the responsibilities that entails. Matching a human with a dog companion mostly comes down to how much energy and time you have, where a dog's energy levels are higher than yours there is going to be trouble. You have to do extensive research, talk to as many owners as you can and meet as many of the dogs as you can, spend time with them, ask them about the good the bad and the ugly long before beginning your search for a breeder or puppy.
If after your research and having satisfied yourself on the right breeder for you and know what you are letting yourself in for & decided this is still the dog for you, then you must be mad, but go for it. You will never look back.
They are not the easiest type of dog to live with and certainly not for the faint hearted, probably not suited to the first time dog owner either. Only those who have experience of breeds such as Husky, Alaskan malamute and German Shepherd should consider living with one.
They are loving, gentle dogs but get bored easily. They can be destructive, especially as a pack and therefore require an owner who will display pack leader qualities. They are bouncy and boisterous and can quite easily knock a small child over if they are not used to being around them.
Most but not all suffer from separation anxiety so are best suited to someone who works from home, they like to be with you at all times and will follow you everywhere, even waiting outside the bathroom door. Some take time to warm to new people and places and need to be highly socialized from a very young age to prevent shyness.
They like to mouth things and will eat all your plants and hedges in the garden as well as dig holes. Most dogs will dig holes through boredom, not these guys, you can take them for a two hour hike and they will still do it, they just like digging holes and eating plants.
They are 'pack' orientated animals and do best with a companion, more than two dogs and you've got yourself your very own pack. Instincts will and do take over, they have a very high prey drive, we cannot stress that enough. We do not recommend you keep cats, rabbits, chickens or other small animals in a pack situation, the chances are they will be killed unless constantly supervised. Obviously your dog may be the exception to the rule but its just not worth the chance in our opinion.
Being bred to look like the wolf also causes problems at the dog park, beach, woods ect. Some other dog owners are facinated by the look of your dog and want to stop and chat about them for hours, others freak out and grab their dog as if yours is about to maul it or them. You will receive as many negatives towards your dogs as you do positives, you have to be ready to deal with that.
Everyone should first look realistically and rationally at why they would like to own a Wolfdog or lookalike type and if they are prepared to take on the responsibilities that entails. Matching a human with a dog companion mostly comes down to how much energy and time you have, where a dog's energy levels are higher than yours there is going to be trouble. You have to do extensive research, talk to as many owners as you can and meet as many of the dogs as you can, spend time with them, ask them about the good the bad and the ugly long before beginning your search for a breeder or puppy.
If after your research and having satisfied yourself on the right breeder for you and know what you are letting yourself in for & decided this is still the dog for you, then you must be mad, but go for it. You will never look back.
They are not the easiest type of dog to live with and certainly not for the faint hearted, probably not suited to the first time dog owner either. Only those who have experience of breeds such as Husky, Alaskan malamute and German Shepherd should consider living with one.
They are loving, gentle dogs but get bored easily. They can be destructive, especially as a pack and therefore require an owner who will display pack leader qualities. They are bouncy and boisterous and can quite easily knock a small child over if they are not used to being around them.
Most but not all suffer from separation anxiety so are best suited to someone who works from home, they like to be with you at all times and will follow you everywhere, even waiting outside the bathroom door. Some take time to warm to new people and places and need to be highly socialized from a very young age to prevent shyness.
They like to mouth things and will eat all your plants and hedges in the garden as well as dig holes. Most dogs will dig holes through boredom, not these guys, you can take them for a two hour hike and they will still do it, they just like digging holes and eating plants.
They are 'pack' orientated animals and do best with a companion, more than two dogs and you've got yourself your very own pack. Instincts will and do take over, they have a very high prey drive, we cannot stress that enough. We do not recommend you keep cats, rabbits, chickens or other small animals in a pack situation, the chances are they will be killed unless constantly supervised. Obviously your dog may be the exception to the rule but its just not worth the chance in our opinion.
Being bred to look like the wolf also causes problems at the dog park, beach, woods ect. Some other dog owners are facinated by the look of your dog and want to stop and chat about them for hours, others freak out and grab their dog as if yours is about to maul it or them. You will receive as many negatives towards your dogs as you do positives, you have to be ready to deal with that.
