If you’ve come across the word ‘wolf’ and ‘dog’ in the same sentence, chances are that your dog is a wolf dog. These fascinating hybrid pets have captured our imagination as much as they have confused us with their unusual appearance and behavior.
Wolf dogs are an interesting example of natural selection at work. When a pack of wolves meets with a female dog to mate, only the most dominant male will get to mate with her. In doing so, he passes on his dominant genes, which help his offspring dominate other wolf pups when they compete for mates in the following years. The rest of them either do not mate with females or if they do, their offspring are less dominant than their sire. The end result? Wolf dogs are more docile than wild wolves due to their selective breeding by humans over thousands of years.
How do you take care of a wolf dog?
The first step to caring for a wolf dog is to know what kind of personality they have. If you’re going to have multiple dogs in your house, you need to watch their interactions with each other. Most wolf dogs will be good with other pets and children if they are raised with them in the same environment.
If your new pup is more shy or aggressive than the rest, it might be best not to get more than one in your household at first. Since these dogs are a hybrid, there are some behaviors that will be inherited from both parents and others that may come solely from one of their parents. It’s important that you monitor their interactions so that you can keep them safe from harm as well as make sure they don’t unintentionally hurt each other.
How much do I feed my wolf dog?
A normal diet for a wolf dog is about two cups of dry food twice a day and about 2-3 cups of wet food twice a day. The amount of food you should give your pet depends on weight and age as well as how active they are; young pups should eat less than older ones due to their energy needs, so it’s best to monitor their consumption.
Wolf dogs tend to love water so don’t be surprised if your pup begs for it all the time!
Can you raise a wolf pup like a dog?
In theory, yes. However, wolf dogs as a breed are still rare in the United States. It’s not uncommon for wolf pups to be abandoned or surrendered by their parents. As such, raising a wolf dog is best left to professional animal caretakers and other individuals with experience in raising these animals.
A wolf dog could have a number of health problems due to its hybrid heritage. These problems may include respiratory issues, susceptibility to illness, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and more. As your pet gets older and less healthy, you might face increasing vet bills. Your friend’s advice on taking care of a wolf pup might end up being pretty costly for you!
How do you train a wolfdog puppy?
Wolf dogs are incredibly intelligent and are often eager to learn new skills. Unfortunately, that intelligence can come with some stubbornness as well. If you’re interested in training your wolfdog, here are a few tips that should help!
1. Use the same tone of voice and gestures: A wolfdog is accustomed to the sounds and gestures of his or her pack. When you train them, start by doing the same thing they do when they want to tell you something: speak their language!
2. Be firm but gentle: Wolfdogs have a reputation for being unpredictable and hard to manage because they’re so intelligent. But if you can be firm with your commands, it will show your puppy that you mean business without being harsh or too assertive.
3. Start obedience training early: Wolfdogs can be difficult to teach because they act like wolves at home but also love being pampered like dogs at home. They need to know that there are rules in order for them to follow them without question. Start teaching them when they’re young!
What to Know Before owning a wolfdog?
The number one thing to know before owning a wolfdog is that they are not dogs. They are wolves, just like their wild counterparts. This means that they need and crave the same things that wolves do: exercise, affection, and training.
The other thing to know about wolfdogs is that they are quite expensive to raise and care for. However, if you have the patience and the time for it, you’ll reap great rewards.
Wolfdogs can be a lot of fun to own! Just make sure you’re prepared for the commitment- both mentally and financially- required to take on a pet like this.
