So I was searching craigslist for huskies - as I do almost everyday - and I came across an ad for high content wolf-husky hybrids. Saw the picture. I AM IN LOVE. The woman said he is 60% wolf, 40% husky... she's having another litter in the Spring which is right at the time when my husband and I will be returning to Tennessee (where she is)... those will be mid content hybrids (40% wolf, 60% husky). Anyone ever heard of them? I am seriously considering getting one. I have always wanted a wolf hybrid, but never found one crossed with a breed of dog that I like, and it always had too much wolf in it.

Comments, opinions, suggestions?

Not to be a downer or anything, but have you watched the Caeser Milan show on wolf hybrids? It might turn you off of one. I know there was member of another forum that had one who recently passed and she warns people not to get one. I think they need a special person for their care. You may be that person.....but please do tons of research first.

I don't know anything about wolf hybrids, but there's one that gets walked at the park by my house and she's not very nice. The owners say they have to be very careful with her. I thought she wanted to eat Mya the first time we saw them. I mean, I'm sure that they're all different, but from meeting this particular one I personally wouldn't want one. Mya has her issues, but she's not mean like that.

I have not seen the Cesar Millan segment on it, I will look that up and see if I can find it. I've been on tons of sites already today researching them and definitely am going to continue to do so before making any decisions. Also am going to see how her dogs and pups (she breeds them often, and at different percentages of wolf) interact with other dogs and people. I know sometimes they definitely can be dangerous dogs if not bred right, and also just sometimes in their nature. Research is definitely going to be a BIG role in deciding if getting one is right for us. Thanks everyone!

In all honestly that doesn't sound like a breeder you would want to purchase from. That's just my opinion. If you're really aiming for a wolf hybrid (and be sure you are ready to take on ALL that is possible with them- not just what they appear to act like) I would find someone who's a little more reputable than this person sounds. Frequent litters of different percentages just sounds like someone playing around making money breeding wolf dogs. Generally anyone who advertises a litter on craigslist is someone you want to stay away from- especially Wolf hybrids... That's all I have to say about it.

I wouldn't do it.
The aggression factor is way too high.
Your other two dogs wouldn't be safe around it.

Sorry, but I'm prejudiced because of what happened to my first husky.
He was healthy until the day he was attacked by a wolf-hybrid in the North Cascades.
We were visiting family, camped out in their meadow.
This is a huge many acred meadow with three houses on it in the middle of nowhere.
Neighbors next door let their wolf hybrid out at first light.
He came to our tent and started barking.
My dog Casey wanted to go out and get it on.
We held him down inside the tent for an hour, and the wolf seemingly left.
Then my wife took our dog out to pee.
The wolf dog was hiding in the woods and attacked. I've never seen a dog fight like that.
My wife was knocked down; I couldn't get the dogs apart.
I was bitten by my own dog when I lifted up him in the air to get away from the wolf.
In addition to the bites he endured, Casey sustained internal injuries that eventually killed him.
It is one of the regrets of my life that I didn't say I'd take him out of the tent that morning.

Ask your vet. He/she probably has more specific and less biased advice than mine.

Yikes. yea wolf hybrids are WAY more primal than domesticated dogs. I'd be extremely careful with your decision...

Michael! That's crazy! Poor Casey!

Oh my gosh, I'm sorry about your dog Michael! Ok so from what it sounds like I don't need a hybrid, and they definitely just shouldn't be bred! I will just stick with the classic yet awesome 100% siberian huskies!

I also found the Cesar Millan segment, and it made me change my mind quick, the fact that the dogs themselves are confused as to whether they are wild or domestic no matter what "percentage" they are is just sad It's not fair to them.

Thanks everyone! I knew I would get good feedback from everyone on this forum.

The Hybrids I'd avoid also, but if you like the wolf look w/o the danger take a look into the Tamaskan breed. Rare and expensive but a co-worker I believe has one and I've never seen a more gentle and kind large dog. I'm sure he has been trained well, but I fall in love with this dog every time I see him.

If I wasn't becoming such an old fart I'd seriously consider one for my next.

http://www.tamaskan-dog.us/web/About_The_Tamaskan.html

those are beautiful dogs, len

I didn't know wolf/hybrids are legal....wow!

Michael, I am really sorry to hear about your first husky.

There are several wolfdogs around here. They are very variable - anything from lovely to scary.

A high content wolfdog won't make a good pet because it will be frightened of people (like wolves) and impossible to toilet train. I suppose the ideal is something that looks like a wolf but acts like a dog, like the dogs that Len mentioned above, which are beautiful.

It doesn't make sense to refer to percentages, since the genetics is random, and 'hybrid' is not the right word either. If the lady is using these terms then it suggests that she is not a good breeder. You should also be aware that some people sell 'wolfdogs' that have no wolf content - some husky/malamute crosses look very wolf-ish, for example. There isn't a genetic test available [except in some specialist labs] because wolves and dogs share so much dna. Lots of places have bylaws prohibiting wolfdogs, and the rabies vaccine isn't licensed for them (likely it works, and you'd still need the vaccination, but it could cause problems with animal control).

Sometimes wolfdogs end up in rescue, so you could always consider adopting one instead of getting a puppy. That way at least you know the personality of the wolfdog before you bring it home.

Huskies and malamutes make awesome pets though and look just as beautiful.

[quote="Ghost"Sometimes wolfdogs end up in rescue, so you could always consider adopting one instead of getting a puppy. That way at least you know the personality of the wolfdog before you bring it home.

Huskies and malamutes make awesome pets though and look just as beautiful.[/quote]

This is true, I could take that route. After hearing so many bad stories about them though I think I am just going to shy away from them and stick with huskies and malamutes - I agree - they ARE just as beautiful. I do love the look of the wolves, but it's not worth the risk of bringing a dangerous animal into my home!

I did a ton of research on wolf mixes. I'd never get one. The percentages mean nothing, genetics don't work that way. A pure dog plus pure wolf will have a litter where one pup could be very wolf like and another very dog like. They are unpredictable, less likely to ever look at humans as pack members, let alone pack leaders. The rescue here just recently helped get a wolf "pet" (not a mix at all) to a wolf sanctuary. Gorgeous animal, horrible idea to bring into a home.

The tamaskan is your best bet for a "wolf" pet, they act more like labs than huskies. They are amazing family animals.

Embrys breeder breeds reallly low content wolf puppies, usually less than 20%, I think with the percentage those puppies are, I'd stear clear.

You could just look for an agouti colored husky. Those look pretty wolf like!

I'm just assuming here, so disregard if I'm wrong but are you in Hawaii due to the military? If so, wolves and hybrids are banned from base housing. Heck some breeds are look down upon. My husband's one 1ST had a beautiful husky that he was a stud dog. He wasn't allowed to use on base vet services because he was used to make money. Now I'm only speaking from Army base stand points.

henielsen wrote:

I'm just assuming here, so disregard if I'm wrong but are you in Hawaii due to the military? If so, wolves and hybrids are banned from base housing. Heck some breeds are look down upon. My husband's one 1ST had a beautiful husky that he was a stud dog. He wasn't allowed to use on base vet services because he was used to make money. Now I'm only speaking from Army base stand points.

It's government wide actually. All military base housing bans wolf hybrids, pits, dobermans, rottweilers, and several other breeds. It's falsely believed amongst the more ignorant folks that huskies and mals are banned too, but that's not true. The cops that came and gave us trouble for that idiot lady complaining about Caesar the scaredy cat pit mix gave my friend a lot of trouble and was badgering her about if they lived on base. They don't for that reason as well as the housing on our base should probably be condemned. Not exaggerating that one either, it's a dump.

Oh I know about condemned base housing. I lived on Ft. Irwin in stuff that was built when it was still Camp Irwin. Our place wasn't as bad as the stuff across the road though, that was pure projects. I was watching Hair and realized that the barracks they used in that movie (1972) were the geo-barracks when we were there in '97.

It's pretty sad what they try to make us live in. I'm glad I don't qualify for base housing since I'm not married yet. When I was at Wright-Patterson in '04-'05, my dad was floored that the housing that was crappy when he was there ('67-'69) was still there and even crappier. They actually started tearing those down and building new ones while I was there, but still...

A review of a new book about a woman's experience raising a wolf hybrid appeared in this morning's paper. It's quite germane to this discussion:

http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2011/11/bookmarks_ceiridwen_terrill_ta.html

I know a woman on a Border Collie forum who has a Tamaskan- GORGEOUS!

Tamaskan was my first dog choice, but my wife doesn't like the wolf look. I lucked out getting her to go with the guy we got. Appa just has such a sweet face it won her over. I wouldn't mind getting a Tamaskan as dog #2, but I think we're a Malamute family from now on.

Quick response since a decision has already been made, but:

1. Hybrids are extremely dangerous. Why? Not because ALL are dangerous (far from it, some are amazingly sweet), but because they are UNPREDICTABLY dangerous. There is no way to tell if a hybrid is going to be well adjusted or if after 2 years old, instinct will kick in and the dog snaps. That unpredictability makes hybrids a danger to any family that has other animals or children. It makes it a danger to anyone.

2. I agree with Kristina, that "breeder" doesn't appear to be a reputable breeder at all.

3. Tamaksans are beautiful creatures. However, I advise anyone looking into them (as I have extensively myself) to do A LOT of research. Tamaskans are NOT an actual breed. They are currently in the process of applying to become one. Right now they are nothing more than overpriced mutts (I'd say that about any breed that is not registered or Kennel Club accepted yet). There are also two strands of Tamaskan. Due to political reasons, two groups broke off from the original Tamaskan board who attempted to create the breed. This leaves a LOT of politics in the mix and ALSO means that one Tamkasan line may NEVER become a true breed (registered breed) if the other line is accepted or vice versa. Lastly, as mentioned, there are ALSO several "breeders" advertising "Tamaskan Wolfdogs" who may or may not have actual wolf in them and one kennel I can think of is a known puppymill. I agree that the breed is gorgeous and I also admit that John and I looked into the breed extensively. However, I found that the politics were more important to some than creating an open and educated group of people interested in the breed. I personally question the ethics of at least one line and also question whether a group of people so focused on the politics are really taking the best care to health test and CREATE a breed properly.

Regardless of whether or not the Tamaskan ever becomes a registered and accepted breed, it will ALWAYS be a designer breed, which also comes with its own set of controversy (similar to the existence of AKKs, another beautiful and adorable breed that will forever be surrounded by controversy).

Just something to think about.