Who is a wolf dog and why was it banned in Finland?

Breed characteristics

Lifespan

A wolf dog purchased from an official nursery lives for about 25 years. There are known long-livers who have successfully lived up to 30-40 years, although in the world of dogs 20 years is already considered a respectable age. Increased life expectancy is associated with an admixture of wolf blood. Even at 30 years old, the dogs did not lose their working abilities, except their sense of smell and sensitivity, they performed their service regularly and obeyed their owner. Animals live to such advanced years thanks to timely vaccinations, good nutrition and an active lifestyle with frequent training, including long runs.

History of the origin of the species

The wolf has better hunting qualities than the dog. His sense of smell and hearing are more developed. Many hunters have tried to cross domestic dogs with wolves to obtain these two characteristics. The first evidence of such attempts appeared about 10,000 years ago. It was at this time that wolves were domesticated.

However, such crossings were random, and the result was dogs with a bad character. They did not listen to their owners and were quite aggressive.

There is an assumption that in ancient times wolves themselves got used to people. They were friendly and not afraid of humans. It was then that the crossing of wolves and domestic dogs began.

There were a lot of attempts to breed such an exotic breed, and they were made in many countries . However, the first successful hybrid was bred in Russia at the Perm Institute of Internal Troops 15 years ago. It was obtained by crossing a female wolf and a male German shepherd. Now Volkosobov are bred for official purposes.

Later, a similar breed was developed in the Czech Republic with the name Volchak . In principle, this is a type of wolf-dog. They differ in appearance: the wolfdog is more like a wolf, the wolfdog is more like a shepherd dog. And this is not the only type of hybrids. Crossing can be with another dog, and the result will be different accordingly.

Now Wolfdogs are just beginning to gain popularity, so they are not yet recognized by the International Canine Federation. They are not yet allowed to perform official duties in the army or police.

Interesting Facts

• A documentary film called “Special Purpose Dogs” was made about wolf dogs.
• Wolf Blue from the anime "Wolf's Rain" is a wolfdog, like the main character of "White Fang" by Jack London.
• In the cartoon "Balto" the hero is born from a she-wolf and a sled dog, thereby being a full-fledged wolf-dog.
• Wolf dogs are wary of people, in some cases they are capable of showing aggression and being extremely stubborn. However, most representatives of large guard breeds are prone to such manifestations. And they, like other dogs, cannot be beaten, otherwise the animal will become embittered and will not subsequently obey.
• In Germany, a few years ago, a poodle was crossed with a wolf. Almost nothing is known about the fate of this hybrid.
• Even the most domesticated hybrid individuals have some wild habits. They will never refuse to hunt small game, they love to chew and gnaw various objects, they dig real canyons, easily overcome any fences, and if they are closed indoors, they can destroy everything to the ground. Owners who decide to own such an animal are recommended to equip a spacious enclosure made of strong materials. They do not require special care, and their health can only be envied.
• There are 7 breeds of dogs related to wolves in the world. Through crossbreeding, four breeds were developed, of which only two received an official standard: the Saarloos Wolfdog and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. The first is the oldest hybrid breed, which was created in 1925. The Czechoslovakian wolfdog was bred in 1955 using a German shepherd.
• Wolf dogs today are not yet fully recognized, are not intended for home keeping and are most likely the exception. But still, people do not give up trying to improve the qualities of dogs at the expense of their closest relatives and create a unique breed with superpowers. Perhaps someday there will be a domestic wolf-dog that can be trusted even with a baby, and its sense of smell and strength will be used in everyday life. But this is still a long way off.

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Distinctive features

The wolfdog differs from both the dog and the wolf . Representatives of this breed are very similar in appearance to a wolf, but in their obedience and devotion to humans they are similar to domestic dogs. Wolfdogs are smaller in size than a wolf, but larger than a dog. This breed combines all the traits of its parents equally:

• Size and weight: male – 60 cm and 50 kg; female – 55 cm and 40 kg.
• Head: elongated, proportional to the body.
• Eyes: almond-shaped, amber or light brown in color.
• Ears: triangular, protruding, medium size.
• Nose: developed, wide nostrils, color only black.
• Neck: dry, at an angle of 40˚.
• Paws: The front legs are straight and narrowly set, the paws are turned out, high, muscular.
• Torso: fit, muscular.
• Tail: set high, reaching to the metatarsus, thick.
• Coat: thick, with undercoat.
• Color: wolf (from light gray to dark, brown and black).

Pet cost

It is worth purchasing wolfdogs from trusted breeders, in well-known nurseries that have been dealing with this breed for more than one year. The pre-pup is picked up at 4 weeks of age to begin training him when he is able to accept you as the leader. The price for a pet starts from $250 and goes up to fabulous sums, depending on the reputation of the breeder.

In today's article we told you about the unique quintessence of a dog and a wolf. These stunningly beautiful and powerful animals have won the hearts of many people, but only experienced owners can control them. Keep this in mind if you want to get yourself such a pet.

Photo of an adult dog

Photos of puppies

Features of character and behavior

Initially, Volkosobs were bred specifically for official purposes. Now they can be found as pets.

• The character of representatives of this breed directly depends on the content of wolf genes in their DNA . Even fourth-generation dogs can be too aggressive and distrustful of people. Therefore, Wolfdog should be trained only by professional dog handlers.
• Wolf dogs are distinguished by their extreme intelligence . Because of the German Shepherd's genes, they learn commands quickly and are not difficult to train.
• Unlike their domestic parents, Wolfdogs, thanks to their sense of smell, complete search tasks 10 times faster. It takes a shepherd 6 minutes, a wolf-dog less than a minute. The jaws of this unusual breed are many times stronger. If he grabs your hand, it is almost impossible to unhook him. It will only be released on the owner's command.
• Wolves are social animals. They constantly need a pack and a leader. So are Wolfdogs . They always need a leader, and if the owner cannot show that he is in charge, the pet can begin to dominate. This will result in a complete loss of control over the dog. It is precisely because of the love for the pack, transmitted from the wolf, that Wolfdogs like to live in large families.
• Wolf dogs are quite friendly . They can easily make friends with anyone. This is good when an adult dog is adopted. But you should not teach them to have good relationships with strangers, because this breed is intended for protection.

Advantages

The wolf-dog has many advantages:

1. Developed intelligence;
2. Excellent memory. remember commands well;
3. Excellent security qualities;
4. Judge hereditary diseases;
5. It will not just howl or bark, it is quiet;
6. Playfulness;
7. Sociability;
8. Acute sense of smell and hearing;
9. Longevity. Life expectancy (up to 20-30 years);
10. Easy adaptation to changing living conditions;
11. Easy grooming;
12. Friendliness;
13. Good cold tolerance.

Flaws

Despite the large number of advantages, Wolfdog also has disadvantages:

• Cannot live in an apartment (need more space);
• High need for physical activity and training;
• They shed heavily;
• Not always gentle;
• Not always friendly to other animals.

Caucasian Shepherd Dog.

0 Being a rather stupid dog compared to the German Shepherd, this dog is intended primarily for protecting herds. Assertive, stubborn and fearless. However, it is often completely uncontrollable and ready to attack its owner.

0
Boxer.

Care and maintenance

Wolf dogs do not tolerate small spaces and chains. It is better to have them for people who have a country house with a large garden . For your pet, you need to make a spacious enclosure with a high fence and place a warm booth there. Although Wolfdogs tolerate cold and heat well, it is necessary to avoid drafts and make sure that there is plenty of shade in the yard.

There are no particular difficulties in caring for the Wolf Dog. The main thing is to feed on time, provide enough water, monitor the condition of the eyes and ears, look at the color of the mucous secretions and comb out the fur during shedding.

Nutrition

Wolfdogs should not be fed dry food, as their stomach cannot digest it . They can be given cereals, meat and even vegetables. They love to chew on the marrow bone and will not refuse sweets. But you shouldn’t abuse the latter, if only as a reward. Also, do not forget about the wolf nature of Wolfdog. They need to be given raw meat or sea fish every day.

It is better to feed puppies in small portions about 6 times a day. And then, as the dog grows older, you can switch the dog to a three-course diet. The portion also increases.

It is necessary to exclude from the diet:

• legumes,
• millet (as well as everything that is made from it),
• grape,
• acorns,
• nuts,
• pistachios and raisins.

We recommend that you read a detailed article on the topic: “How and what to feed a dog: types and characteristics of nutrition.”

Health

Wolf dogs are distinguished by excellent health. They are not predisposed to diseases of purebred dogs.

• Wolf dogs easily adapt to environmental changes. They tolerate cold and heat well. But you still need to exclude drafts and ensure the presence of shade in the enclosure.
• The life expectancy of representatives of this breed reaches 20 years. However, there have been cases where Wolfdogs lived up to 30 years. And even into old age, dogs retain excellent hearing, sense of smell and mobility.

Vaccinations

1. The need to visit a veterinarian is much less, unlike purebred dogs . Wolf dogs do not suffer from the diseases of their fellow animals. The only disease you should truly be afraid of is rabies.
2. Due to the characteristics of wolf DNA, there is some intolerance to vaccinations by Wolfdogs . Therefore, even to a rabies vaccine there can be a strange reaction.

Dog handlers advise, just in case, to give your dog the same vaccinations as pets after consultation with a veterinarian.

Important article on the topic: “Everything you need to know about dog vaccinations.”

Diseases

As noted earlier, Wolfdogs do not suffer from the diseases of their domestic counterparts. Infectious diseases have consequences for them. Rabies is fatal to them.

Walk

• Wolfdog is a very active breed.
• They need long walks with strenuous exercise.
• It is better to walk in specialized parks and in the forest.
• This must be done at least 3 times a day, plus during the day the dog will run around the enclosure.

Grooming

Caring for a wolfdog's fur is not so difficult:

• It only needs to be brushed during the shedding season.
• You can wash your Wolfdog once a month.
• In summer, the number of baths should be increased so that the dog can tolerate the heat more easily.
• In winter it is better not to bathe so often.
• The dog is usually not allowed into the house, which means that it will spend most of its time outside.
• Due to wet fur, which is quite difficult to dry completely, the dog can catch a severe cold.

Nutrition

The wolf dog does not need careful grooming

The daily diet of wolfdogs is no different from the diet of large breed dogs. The animal does not require feeding with special dry food , as well as balanced dietary supplements. On the contrary, food of this kind is not suitable for these dogs.

The most optimal products for feeding wolfdogs are meat, cereals, and vegetables. Moreover, the protein level must certainly exceed the percentage of carbohydrates in food.

You can find out more about what cereals you can feed dogs here:

Hybrids are direct descendants of wild wolves, which does not exclude their manifestation of predatory habits. That is why it is not recommended to feed the animal raw meat, in order, let’s say, to exclude the possibility of the dog becoming addicted to blood.

There are also no direct indications for introducing any active dietary supplements or vitamins into the dog’s diet. Animals obtain all the substances necessary for a full existence from simple food.

Wolf dogs are used exclusively as service dogs.

Mating

Service Wolfdogs are usually not bred with each other, because the number of wolf genes decreases. And this leads to the fact that such qualities as, for example, sense of smell, gradually become worse, and such dogs are no longer suitable for service.

1. At home, pets can be bred, just like ordinary dogs . But this can be quite difficult, because Wolfdogs are just starting to gain popularity, and finding a partner is not so easy.
2. It is better to breed after the third heat . That is, approximately eighteen months.
3. First you need to prepare properly . To do this, it is necessary to provide the dogs with enough water. The floor in the room is covered with carpet. This is done to prevent the animals' paws from slipping. Just in case, dogs are muzzled.
4. Help may be needed at the initial stage of mating , when the male leans his body onto the female. Further, when it comes to the “castle”, it is better not to disturb the pets.

Read a detailed article on the topic: “Everything you need to know about breeding dogs: appropriate age, what to do if it doesn’t work out, rules and tips.”

Key points in training

• Training a Wolf Dog is not difficult. They are very intelligent and quickly remember all commands, and if it was initially shown that the owner is in charge, then the dog will be the most loyal and very obedient.
• As soon as the puppy gets into the house, it is necessary to immediately show who the leader is. This breed has a terrible habit of dominating its owner. This behavior must be stopped immediately so as not to lose control over the dog.
• Read about how to properly train a dog in the article: “Training a puppy: effective methods from dog handlers, learning commands at home.”

It is better to give the puppy for training to a professional dog handler. He will use a special method to motivate the dog to follow commands.

Health

Before buying a wolf-dog puppy, special services are interested in its health. The discovery was that the hybrid has high immunity and almost perfect health. It will survive in almost any habitat, adapting to anything. Therefore, the military takes four-legged animals with them to anomalous, radioactive and other zones.

Diseases, if they appear, disappear in wolfdogs in a matter of days, without relapses. So far, only rabies is fatal to them.

There are disputes on this issue between dog handlers from different countries. To date, it is not known whether a regular rabies vaccine helps hybrids, and a special one has not been invented. Some believe that this is not done intentionally to reduce the possibility of ordinary breeders keeping wolf dogs.

How to choose a puppy

Choosing a puppy is the most difficult thing. There is an opinion that there are no official nurseries where you can buy wolf-dogs.

However, there are two nurseries: in Perm and the Moscow region. There are not many puppies, so there is a waiting list to buy them. That is, the puppy must be ordered in advance.

Breeders are not always willing to give away puppies due to the complex nature of this breed. And not every dog ​​handler will undertake to train such a dog. Wolfdogs are bred only for service purposes in the army.

To choose a good puppy, you need to follow the same rules as for other dogs. First of all, look at the dog himself. The puppy must be:

• Active and playful;
• They are not afraid of man;
• Outwardly healthy and clean.

Next, you need to ask the breeder the following questions:

• Are there any health problems, if so what?
• What vaccinations have been given and which ones still need to be done;
• Have you been treated for fleas and worms?
• How friendly is the puppy's mother;

It is better to ask the breeder how to properly care for it, how to train it (perhaps he will recommend a trusted dog handler) and many other questions. This way you can accurately determine whether such a breed is suitable for a family.

Wolfdog is a rather difficult breed to train. She was created by crossing a female wolf and a male German Shepherd. They have an unsurpassed sense of smell, hearing and excellent health. This breed has many advantages. However, you must initially build the right relationship with the Wolf Dog, otherwise you may lose control over your pet forever.

Psychology

Wolfdog puppies are raised from early childhood. It is generally accepted that the wolfdog is a difficult animal to train, which is highly aggressive, like a fighting dog, and does not get along well with humans. This is far from true. Hybrids bred by crossing a she-wolf and a German shepherd in the Perm region are predominantly endowed with the positive qualities that characterize any large breed dog. It is necessary to clarify that the term “wolf dog” itself is applicable exclusively to animals obtained as a result of crossing on the territory of Russia. In other countries, attempts have also been made repeatedly to breed wolves and dogs to produce hybrids. Of course, positive results were also obtained.

Thus, several new breeds were developed, some of which are officially recognized. As for the “wolf-dog” hybrid, these animals have the appearance of a wolf, as can be seen in the photo, and the potential, as well as the temperament, of a German shepherd. The level of aggression and inability of these animals to learn is directly related to the amount of wolf blood, expressed as a percentage. For example, wolfdog puppies, in whose veins no more than 15% wolf blood flows, are practically no different from an ordinary German or Swiss shepherd in terms of character and temperament. If the proportion of wolf blood exceeds 25%, the wolf dog may have a slightly increased temperament in terms of aggression, however, subject to the use of experienced training, negative qualities can be reduced. At the same time, such hybrids have a sharper sense of smell and endurance.

In general, the wolf dog is characterized as an animal with the following qualities:

• The wolfdog almost instantly navigates unfamiliar terrain. So, he can detect a person in a small area within a maximum of 30 seconds, while, for example, a Russian or Estonian hound dog will perform this trick in 3 - 4 minutes.
• Wolfdog puppies have good health and practically do not suffer from diseases that are inherent in young dogs of large breeds.
• Adults are also in excellent health and do not require vaccinations. There is an opinion that vaccinations given to a hybrid do not have any effectiveness, that is, they are simply ineffective.
• Wolf dogs are easy to train and are distinguished by their intelligence and intelligence.
• It should be remembered that only a person with strong leadership qualities, who is able to show a certain rigidity and force the animal to obey, can instill the right qualities in a hybrid.
• Despite widespread misconception, the wolfhound is not a hunting or hound dog, and is not adapted to hunting in tandem with a person.