Since dogs descended from wolves thousands of years ago, it’s logical that the wolf hybrid would appear in nature. The wolf hybrid, also called a wolfdog or wolf-dog hybrid, is not a breed, but a cross when a wolf mates with a dog. There is fossil evidence that these hybrids lived 10,000 years ago in Europe and that they were used to hunt mammoths. It is estimated there are between 300,000 and 500,000 hybrids in the United States today, more than in any other country. As the popularity of these hybrids has increased, so has the necessity for wolf hybrid rescues. Unfortunately, more and more of these animals have had to be euthanized, because they are so hard to place.

When considering any mixed-breed dog, each mix needs to be researched in order to attempt to determine what the characteristics and temperament of that dog might be. When occurring in nature, it seems to be the female wolf that mates with the male dog. In breeding, wolves have most often been purposely bred with dogs that already resemble the wolf, like the German Shepherd, Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute. Although the behavior of a wolf hybrid rescue cannot be predicted with any degree accuracy, the majority of the hybrids have been found to be curious animals that are more destructive than dogs. They are tireless diggers that will chew most anything. And in addition to their howling, they are difficult to housebreak.

The wolf and the wolf hybrid have been the subject of much controversy over the years. The Humane Society of the United States and other similar organizations consider the wolf hybrid to be wild animals and, as such, not suitable as a household pet. Between 1981 and 1999, there were 38 documented wolf hybrid attacks and 13 fatalities, all of them children. Forty states have banned the breeding, sales, possession, ownership and importation of the hybrid, necessitating wolf hybrid rescue organizations. And these organizations, created because of their love for animals, are trying to rescue a dog that may never be adopted.

The wolf hybrid requires patience and lots of room to roam. They are skittish with new people, fast or unexpected movements, and loud noises. They require firm and consistent training from a confident master. Do not allow your emotions to overcome your judgment when you see these dogs and succumb to their exotic good looks. The wolf hybrid rescue organizations are overrun with these beautiful creatures that require a very knowledgeable owner and a very specific environment. Their adoption requires extremely careful consideration.