Posted by David Sherman on Monday, December 05, 2005 at 12:30PM :
In Reply to: Re: Want less coyotes, get more wolves posted by Ugg on Monday, December 05, 2005 at 9:21AM :
Wolf dogs are apparently legal in Idaho, or if not, nobody cares. There's one lady here who walks a pure wolf in town just like a regular dog. She's pretty sure my dog has wolf blood in her, and other people knowledgeble about wolf mixes have suggested the same, based more on behavior than appearance. I think a little wolf blood is probably good in a dog. If nothing else, it has to beat the ubiquitous pit bull lab mixes that are everywhere these days.
I know there are bad horror stories about wolf/dog hybrids, so maybe a first generation cross is too much wolf, or maybe they bred the wolf to the wrong kind of dog. The sled dog breeds are closest to the natural wolf, so perhaps they work better than breeding a wolf to a poodle or rottweiler. My dog is supposedly some samoyed/husky/malamute mix, so is already pretty close to a wolfy look.
People who don't know about wolves tend to think a wolf dog will automatically try to be dominate and will always be challenging your authority. I know of one who does (fortunately owned by a big guy who wrestles him onto his back from time to time), but in a wolf pack, most of the wolves are submissive. I think a little wolf blood makes a dog more aware of social protocol. Once they decide to be submissive, they are very careful not to do anything that could be interpreted as a challenge. I can't even chase my dog around very much, because before long she flattens herself on the ground and grovels, whereas people she doesn't know as well can play with her for a long time. I can leave food anywhere in the house, and she doesn't take it unless I give it to her. She's also quick to find the entrance to any place where I am, even a campsite, and position herself there as if to guard it. People who know about wolf dogs have told me that submissiveness and social awareness (as well as being very alert in general) are wolf traits.
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