What is the closest thing i can get to a wolf leaglly in the uk?

Question

As in a pet wolfdog which would live in my home, i love wolves and everything about it and hosnetly if i were allowed to get a wolf i would have.

Answer 1

you can actually own a wolf if you get a dangerous wild animals licence however it cant live in your home as a pet, it must be in its own enclose and never taken out except to go to vets etc so no walks. Its also very expensive to meet the licence conditions and to keep it as it must be reviewed every year.

Wolf hybrids up to F3 also need a dangerous wild animals licence and have the same requirements as a full wolf. But F4 and below does not require a licence and can be kept like a pet, however they are not like dogs and most don't make good pets and with the wrong type of owner can be dangerous (not everyone is suitable to manage every breed/species)

an F4 is 4 generations away from wolf

wolf X dog = F1 -licence

F1 X dog = F2 - licence

F2 X dog = F3 - licence

F3 X dog = F4 - no licence





There are crossbreeds being bred now to look like wolfs, normally using GSD, Malamutes and Husky's. there called Northern Inuit Dogs, there is no wolf content in them some look more wolf like some don't. Many have been having hip problems due to over breeding and little health testing.



There are also two dog breeds that had wolf in its creating however that was so many years ago they are now accepted dog breeds, these are the Czechoslovakian Wolf dog and Saarloos wolf dog. Both breeds are not for novice owners both breeds should have hips tested at the least.



Many people are now crossing the above two breeds with other breeds and calling them wolfdogs but really they are not actually wolfdogs as there is no resent wolf added.



No licence is required for the Northern Inuit, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and Saarloos wolfdog as they are dog breeds. However if you get one make sure you go to a good breeder as many are breeding them for money with the current wolfdog fad with no consideration to health and temperament.



Met a Czeh the other week, stunning dog about the same size as a GSD, the owner was surprised I knew what it was, they said it was still young and that it has been hard work. He seemed a very calm and lovely boy but from what they said they have put a lot into him and do things to work his brain rather than just an ordinary house pet.

Answer 2

Unless your an extremely experienced dog owner I would advise against it. To have this kind of animal for the reasons you've given is not a viable option. Any Northern breed is strong willed, needs firm handling, discipline and training. I would not say they are ideal 'pets'. Plus your recall has to be excellent, I see many of these beautiful dogs constantly being walked on a lead because the owners are afraid if they let them off they won't come back. They need a lot of open space to run around in, a large garden just doesn't do it. Their prey drive is strong. They thrive on a raw diet. I do not recommend a Sarloose (German Shepherd x Wolf) for many many reasons, unless you are extremely confident in your ability to handle these. They're as near to feral as you can possibly get. Apart from Malamutes and Huskies there are also Utonagans (literally means Spirit of the Wolf). Alaskan Malamute x Siberian Husky x German Shepherd. these dogs are often advertised as ideal family dogs, well good luck. We have one, it came to us after having gone through two owners by the age of four months. He was a particularly difficult dog. He took 18 months of hard work and constant training. We now have a lovely and well socialised dog but nothing prepared me for what I was taking on, even though our experience with Northerns goes back a long way.

Inuits (we have a fantastic boy) can make wonderful dogs but again do have that wild side that will always be there. Of course, there's exceptions to the rule but this is a general guideline to the type of dog your considering.

If do decide on a Northern breed pick your pup carefully, don't go for the very feisty one for instance or you'll probably end up with a real handful.

Answer 3

Owning a wolf is nothing like owning a dog. Even the dogs that most closely resemble wolves have little in common temperamentally. Over the last 15,000 years we've made some major changes to the temperament of Canis Lupus, which is what makes our domesticated wolves such great, reliable, trainable pets.



Wolves are skittish, largely untrainable, and difficult to handle. They require more work than the average dog owner is willing or able to provide, are excessively needy, and after maturity it's typical for behavioral anomalies to show up due to the forced repression of their instincts by captivity.



You might, however, be very interested in the British Utonagan dog breed.

Answer 4

Love wolves, but don't try to own one. Wolves are wild animals and will NOT act like a dog at all. They can not and should not be kept in a home. This is the same for hybrids. Hybrid wolf-dogs are not safe and should also not be kept as pets. Please do your research. If you want a dog that looks like a wolf, then get a husky, malamute, or a GSD but don't get a wold or wolf-dog. You'd just be adding to the problem.



http://www.wolfpark.org/Images/Education/ArticlesWordDocs/SoYouThinkYouWantAWolf.pdf



http://www.timberwolfinformation.org/info/archieve/newspapers/wolf_hybridsarenotsafe.htm



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I622e7i3ZWU

Answer 5

Husky & malamute are two of the less domesticated dog breeds ie mentally being closer to a wolf instinct wise, they also look like one

You may be interested in the sarloos wolf dog as a dog breed too

Answer 6

Malamute. Beautiful dogs but they tend to be be quite stubborn and unless you are persistent in your training they'll become maybe too aloof. Make them work for something and they're great.