“Public warned as yellow-eyed wolf-dog hybrid on the loose,” Newsweek alerted in a recent headline. “Wolf hybrid spotted roaming outskirts of California town,” warned the Independent. This was, of course, in addition to all the local news and social media coverage this local story received.
Shadow, the dog in question, is indeed a dog-wolf hybrid but he wasn’t lurking around looking for Goldilocks. He had escaped from his home in Santa Rosa and had been running scared for five days. Fortunately, he was caught and safely returned to his guardian.
For those familiar with dog-wolf hybrids, the fact that Shadow would run away and start roaming is no surprise. These dogs are among the best escape artists. They can easily scale a 6-foot fence from standing still and are known to dig their way under any obstacle. They’re also persistent — so once they learn they can escape, they’ll likely try new tactics.
Not surprisingly, they also require a lot of space — at least a half-acre of securely fenced property to roam. Also not surprising, they have a high prey drive and should not be kept around cats, chickens and other small animals. They are, however, social with dogs and don’t do well without other pack members.
Dog-wolf hybrids can also be mouthy and it’s much more difficult to train them out of this habit than it is to train dogs. They also experience something called neophobia, which is the fear of something new. After about six months of age, they begin to become increasingly fearful of new things, new environments and new people. And they respond by, you guessed it, running away.
So, why do people want these animals as pets? For many, it’s the “cool” factor, as well as the bragging rights of “owning a wild animal,” or one that reminds them of a dire wolf. For others, they’re mesmerized by the beauty of them.
Sadly, many people who buy these dogs are unprepared for what they need for their physical and social well-being. Some dogs end up spending their days in small cages or tied to chains, with a poor quality of life. According to the W.O.L.F. Sanctuary, in California, 90% of pet wolfdogs are euthanized by age two because those who acquire them have little understanding of what’s needed.
Perhaps just as heartbreaking are the conditions under which wolves are kept and bred for the purposes of creating this “special” pet. W.O.L.F. Sanctuary estimates that there are 250,000 to 500,000 wolves and wolf-dog hybrids kept in the U.S. Given the special needs of these beautiful and intelligent animals, neglect or mistreatment is commonplace.
Finally, there is a legal aspect to all of this. In California, wolf-dogs can only be legally owned as a pet if they are at least second generation, meaning they’re the offspring of a domestic dog and a half-wolf-half-dog hybrid — with no more than 25% wolf.
As always, Marin Humane encourages people to think carefully about the type of animal they can commit to for that animal’s life. Making sure the animal is an appropriate match for our lifestyle and making sure we’re prepared to care for them in the way they need ensures all will be happy, healthy and safe.
Lisa Bloch is the director of marketing and communications for Marin Humane which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email [email protected].