What's the difference between a Wolf Lookalike, Wolfdog and a Wolf hybrid?
Wolf Lookalike
A Wolf lookalike is a dog of mixed northern breeds that resembles the Wolf in looks (no wolf content) or a dog that has had wolf or wolf x dog in its breeding further than 5 generations back.
Wolf Alike
As above but exhibits more wolflike behaviours, may well be closer than 5 generations back or have CSV or Saarloos in the breeding, do your research.
Wolfdog
This section has to be split into two due to content levels.
High content.
A high content Wolfdog has a pure wolf parent within the last 5 generations.
Low content.
Today, some breeds of dog exist which acknowledge an amount of wolfdog heritage at the creation of their breed. Two breeds (Czechoslovakian Vlcak & Saarloos Wolfhond) are the result of intentional crosses with Wolves and German Shepherd dogs. No further wolfblood has been added to either of these breeds in over 30 years.
Wolf Hybrid
A Wolf Hybrid can and often is *sigh* classed as the hybridisation of two separate and distinct bloodlines from two different breeds of dog, however mostly the term is used for advertizing purposes, the wolfier a dog sounds the higher the demand for pups. Although the term 'Wolf Hybrid' is used by many breeders and Defra it is not an accurate term. A 'hybrid' is the offspring of two different species. Dog and Wolf are of the same species.
Most people ask about possible percentage's– 90% 50% 25%. The fact is there is no way to tell for sure after the first mating of a pure Wolf to a dog, the pups will be 50% Wolf / 50% dog. What is more important for future generations is possible content, this is worked out by phenotyping, making an educated guess on the physical and behavioral traits. Content will vary between the same type of dog and even between litter mates.
Please see video below for an excellent explanation from Nancy at Full Moon Farm. Full Moon Farm is a rescue and sanctuary for abused and neglected wolf dogs. One of its main goals is to educate people about these magnificent and misunderstood animals. If you wish to help support the work Full Moon Farm do please see their website here
http://www.fullmoonfarm.org/index.php
Wolf Lookalike
A Wolf lookalike is a dog of mixed northern breeds that resembles the Wolf in looks (no wolf content) or a dog that has had wolf or wolf x dog in its breeding further than 5 generations back.
Wolf Alike
As above but exhibits more wolflike behaviours, may well be closer than 5 generations back or have CSV or Saarloos in the breeding, do your research.
Wolfdog
This section has to be split into two due to content levels.
High content.
A high content Wolfdog has a pure wolf parent within the last 5 generations.
Low content.
Today, some breeds of dog exist which acknowledge an amount of wolfdog heritage at the creation of their breed. Two breeds (Czechoslovakian Vlcak & Saarloos Wolfhond) are the result of intentional crosses with Wolves and German Shepherd dogs. No further wolfblood has been added to either of these breeds in over 30 years.
Wolf Hybrid
A Wolf Hybrid can and often is *sigh* classed as the hybridisation of two separate and distinct bloodlines from two different breeds of dog, however mostly the term is used for advertizing purposes, the wolfier a dog sounds the higher the demand for pups. Although the term 'Wolf Hybrid' is used by many breeders and Defra it is not an accurate term. A 'hybrid' is the offspring of two different species. Dog and Wolf are of the same species.
Most people ask about possible percentage's– 90% 50% 25%. The fact is there is no way to tell for sure after the first mating of a pure Wolf to a dog, the pups will be 50% Wolf / 50% dog. What is more important for future generations is possible content, this is worked out by phenotyping, making an educated guess on the physical and behavioral traits. Content will vary between the same type of dog and even between litter mates.
Please see video below for an excellent explanation from Nancy at Full Moon Farm. Full Moon Farm is a rescue and sanctuary for abused and neglected wolf dogs. One of its main goals is to educate people about these magnificent and misunderstood animals. If you wish to help support the work Full Moon Farm do please see their website here
http://www.fullmoonfarm.org/index.php