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026. Wolves and Wolf Hybrids |
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026. Wolves and Wolf Hybrids |
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This article is from the rec.pets.dogs: Assorted Topics, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
First, note that there is a group in the ALT hierarchy called alt.wolves. There, you can read firsthand experiences of hybrid owners, and discuss other issues involving wolves and hybrids in general.
Second, a note on whether it's possible to tell wolves from dogs genetically:
Research in the UCLA laboratory of Drs. Robert Wayne and Michael Roy has centered on the use of new technology to distinguish wolves and dogs from wolf-dog hybrids. In the past, the ability to identify hybrids was limited by the lack of known genetic markers. The new molecular tools that UCLA is using involves regions of DNA that are so variable, each individual has a unique DNA fingerprint.
So far the UCLA lab has found 14 markers in dogs not found in gray wolves and 37 markers in gray wolves not found in dogs. The information allows the researchers to examine suspected wolf-dog hybrids for the presence of both wolf and dog markers, so that they can determine if an animal is pure wolf, pure dog, or some combination of the two.
The UCLA team is currently in the process of analyzing their test by using it on a known series of wolves and hybrids in a blind study, where the origins of the lab samples are unknown at the time of testing. If the test proves reliable enough, the researchers plan to make this test available to others.
Wolves
Wolves are very different from canines, but they do share a common ancestry. Wolves can be fascinating to study -- and observation of wolves' social structure and behavior shed much insight into canine behavior.
Resources and References:
Wolf Park is an organization whose mission is to conduct behavioral research to obtain a better understanding of wolves in captivity and in the wild, to disseminate scientific information and improve captive animal management techniques, and to educate the general public to gain a compassionate and realistic understanding of wolves and ecology. Wolf Park is supported through memberships and donations. Benefits include free admission to the park for one year, Wolf Park News and Journal of Wolf Ethology, and discounts on books from the bookstore. Behavior seminars directed by Dr. Erich Klinghammer are offered. There is an Adopt-A-Wolf program as well. Note that they do not deal with wolf-hybrids: many people attempt to donate their WH's and they do not accept them. Their position is that wolf-hybrids are a bad idea and a detriment to wolves and the Park's mission. They will provide information about hybrids to those that ask.
Address: Wolf Park, Battle Ground, IN 47920. Phone: (317) 567-2265.
Steinhart, Peter. The Company Of Wolves, Knopf Books, 1996.
Mech, L. David. The Wolf. University of Minnesota Press, 1970. 384 pgs Softcover. ISBN: 0-1866-1026-6.
Complete description of the wolf, its behavior and ecology. David Mech is a renowned wolf expert, and this is an extremly informative and well written book.
Lopez, Barry H. Of Wolves and Men. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1978. 308 pgs Softcover. ISBN: 0-684-16322-5.
Description of wolves and their relationship with humans. Not really a technical discussion of wolves like the first reference.
Crisler, Lois. Arctic Wild. New York, Harper. 1958. Mowat, Farley. Never Cry Wolf. Boston, Little, Brown. 1963.
The Wolf Society of Great Britain produces the flyer "The Howler." Prospect House Charlton Kilmersdon. Bath. BA3 5TN
Wolf-Hybrids
FAQ author's note:
I disclaim any responsibility in the event you get a wolf-hybrid. It is my personal recommendation that you not get one. What follows is for informational purposes only and is presented here only because it is a controversial topic that comes up every now and then on this group. I have attempted to make a fair presentation, and have included resources for further information. --Cindy Tittle Moore
Anyone who is interested in getting a wolf-hybrid should obtain as much information about the animals before considering getting one. WH's are not casual pets and do not behave like dogs do. Most WH experts recommend that you spend some time around WH's to be sure of what you are getting into. Wolf Country and other places offer programs where people can help care for WH's and learn first hand about them. There are also seminars and organizations to help disseminate the information a WH owner needs. **DO NOT EVEN *CONSIDER* GETTING A WOLF-HYBRID BEFORE GETTING THIS INFORMATION AND EDUCATION!**
What follows below is a thumbnail sketch of the sorts of problems with wolf-hybrids, along with resources for more complete information.
Legality: Because of various state and federal laws regarding wildlife and endangered species, wolf-hybrids are simply illegal. As of 1991, they were illegal in ten states, and an additional nine required Fish & Game permits, especially if the hybrid was at least 75% wolf. A lot of states don't quite know what to do with hybrids and have thus included such terminology in defining hybrids as "wolf-like characteristics." Even when legal, they face much prejudice, and a WH that runs afoul of the law (by trespassing, biting, etc) is much more likely to be destroyed than a dog doing the same.
In addition, such a WH will generate negative publicity for wolves. Reinforcing negative images of wolves in the public's mind and giving ammunition to the ranching industry to produce more anti-wolf propoganda directly hampers the wolf's reintroduction into the wild. Unfair as it is, the general public will think "wolf" when "wolf-hybrid" comes up, and the ranching industry has long had an interest in completely eliminating wolves and will use this prejudice.
Behavior: Although there are exceptions, most WH's do NOT act like domesticated dogs, Jack London's romantic drivel notwithstanding. Dogs are the result of thousands of years of genetic selection for those attributes that are desired by man. The wolf, on the other hand, has been selected to be a survivor. Most suffer from a fear, or at least a nervousness, of being around people and are very timid until something happens to go against their instincts. The pack instinct is very strong. They will only obey their owner if they feel he is the dominant dog in the pack, so obviously, he needs to know A LOT about wolfpacks to stay ahead of the game. Also, hybrids don't always automatically assume that the "master" will remain the master, resulting in testing the owner for dominance, which can take the forms of attacking or defensive fighting.
Finally, while wolves are not normally aggressive towards humans, dogs can be. Pair up the wolf's natural timidity with a dog's aggressiveness, and you have a potential recipe for disaster in these hybrids.
Predicting behavior: The percentage of wolf in the hybrid's background will not accurately predict its behavior. Beyond that, it is not possible to accurately assess a WH's actual percentage beyond a first generation cross as once one of the parents is a cross, you have no way of knowing which "dog" and which "wolf" genes the offspring will inherit from that parent. Some hybrids with low percentages are nervous and skittish, others with high percentages are more stable and reliable. Looking at the pup's parents may give some indication, but then it may not. A good deal will depend on how well socialized the animal is, that is, how much work its owner puts into it.
Remember, WH's are NOT a breed, there is absolutely no consistency in their breeding. Not only does the percentage of wolf background vary, but the dogs used in the crosses also vary, although they are commonly Malamutes and Huskies. Also, since they are not bred for any particular purpose and there are a number of backyard breeders of WH's, this contributes to their uncertain temperament. Because WH are so much more work than average dogs, and because the *potential* is there for the WH to be more prone to what is deemed anti-social behavior in domesticated dogs, the problem is amplified.
Finally, remember that many people consider a WH that is "high content" (that is, has a theoretically high percentage of wolf in its makeup) to be more desireable than a "low content" one. Because of this perception, many unethical WH breeders will overstate the percentages in their animals (estimates vary from as low as 50% to as high as 90% of WH's having their percentages overstated). Therefore, one person may think he has a high content WH and tell many people how easy the animal was to handle. The next person who gets a WH based on this type may well then get a higher content dog -- and a much larger problem than he ever dreamed of.
Around people: WH's, as with any large or excitable animal, should NEVER be allowed access to small children, unless they are on a leash and strictly watched for signs of aggression. If a child trips and falls, or gets knocked down by the big furry "dog", or worse yet, teases the "dog", a mauling can easily result. Hybrids need to be watched around strangers because they may back bite. Not all WH's react this way, but a hybrid owner cannot afford to take any chances. Again, because of negative public perception, the hybrid will likely be destroyed as a result of such an incident, and its behavior only reinforce the WH's negative reputation. In addition, it will further damage the reputation of wolves, making reintroduction that much harder, and damage the reputation of the dogs the wolves are bred to, usually Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.
Training: Many respondents emphasized that WH's can be trained, but NOT TRUSTED without their owners nearby. Most obedience clubs will not even allow wolf hybrids in classes. Wolf Country, a breeder near Anchorage, strongly recommends potential owners work around the animals for at least a year in order to see if they can handle them and do want one. They require far more intensive and thorough socialization than do dogs dogs, and can differ in their response to discipline. The normal methods used on dogs may or may not work on a hybrid. Because of all this, you will need WH support groups of some form nearby to help you with potential training problems.
Housing: YOU DO NOT (repeat NOT) PUT A HYBRID ON A CHAIN IN THE BACK YARD! You need to build an enclosure of at least 10000 square feet to allow it to explore. Also it must be fenced with at least 7' high and an overhang. Not only that, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to put a gate to your back yard to prevent children from wandering out there, because if you stick something into its area, it will try to pull it through, regardless of whether it is living or just a stick. Some of these animals are so strongly destructive that they can not be let in the house, and will destroy any house you make for them.
Health: Most medicines for dogs do not work or are unapproved for use on hybrids and as a result hybrids may have a harder time getting over kennel cough, parvo, distemper, etc. In Indiana, for example, it is illegal to vaccinate a wild animal (including hybrids).
In particular, there is NO vaccine that is approved for use on the hybrids and that includes rabies. They can be vaccinated but if they bite someone they are considered by law to be unvaccinated. This means if they bite someone, they must be destroyed, with the head sent to a laboratory to test for the presence of rabies.
Breeders: Look at the Getting A Dog FAQ for an idea of what you want to find in a breeder of WH's. Suspending for the moment the question of whether or not crossing wolves and dogs is ethical in the first place, you want to find someone who
1. Is honest about the difficulties of owing a WH
2. Is willing to tell prospective owners if in their opinion they are not suited for handling WH's
3. Has done applicable health screenings on their WH's
4. Will talk with you at length about the temperaments of these animals, not sparing you the bad parts
Stay away from anyone who
1. Can only say good things about WH's
2. Is willing to claim that they are all free of inherited diseases, free of temperament problems
3. That all WH's are alike
4. That the higher content the WH has of wolves the better, in all cases
Resources:
The Wolf Hybrid Times (WHT) is packed full of information: complete with many long series on topics such as nuitrition, containment, medical information, current legal status and issues, research, wolves in literature, photos and seasoned, practical advice from owners, breeders and scientists. Add to this commercial advertising specifically geared to wolf and wolf hybrid owners plus regular updates and activities from the various organizations. Subscription rate is $22.00 per year; please add $4.00 outside the U.S. Published bi-monthly. Address is: WHT, P.O. Box 1423, Gallup, NM 87305.
The National Wolf Hybrid Association is dedicated to responsible care and understanding of the wolf hybrid. Membership fees are $25.00 yearly which includes a bi-monthly newsletter. Address: 1059 Porter Morris Road, Chapmansboro, TN 37035. Phone: (615) 746-3442.
There are many web pages about wolves (most of them quite good). There are also many pages about wolf hybrids. Unfortunately, most of these are quite unrealistic or contain little information that is actually useful. One of the best pages in terms of information is the Wolf Hybrid Awareness Through Education (WHATE) pages at http://www.inetdesign.com/wolfdunn/whate.html
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