Wolf Dogs, Defined

What, exactly, is a wolf dog, you ask? Like the name implies, a wolf dog is a hybrid of a wolf and a domesticated dog—Siberian Huskies, Malamutes, and German Shepherds are the most commonly crossed domesticated breeds. Both wolves and domesticated dogs are "interfertile," meaning they're genetically similar enough to interbreed, but these hybrid pooches rarely occur in nature because wolves are super aggressive and territorial.

And, yes, it's true that all dogs have some wolf in their ancestry, but an animal can only be considered a true wolf dog if they have a pure wolf ancestor within the last five generations.

Wolf Dogs Are a Little Controversial

Like many other dogs that are considered "dangerous," there's some controversy around wolf dogs—and whether or not they make good pets.

While some say they're loyal, loving, and totally trainable animals, others claim they're too wild, aggressive and unpredictable. The truth is, there's no "typical" wolf dog and no way to predict how "wolf-like" it will be. Accordingly, there's much more variety in behavior and temperament than, say, a Golden Retriever, which may be tough for pet parents who aren't able to raise a wolf dog with an unpredictable temperament and wolf-like needs. Sadly, many of these animals end up living in cages, or euthanized because owners were not prepared to care for them properly.

Wolf Dogs Can't Be Vaccinated for Rabies

Unfortunately, there isn't an approved rabies vaccine for wolf dogs, so any wolf dog that bites a person or another pet can be considered a Rabies risk.

Wolf dog owners are encouraged to vaccinate their pets since the vaccine will still be protective in most cases, however, these animals cannot be considered legally vaccinated as they are not included in the vaccine manufacturers' labeled use. That means that if a wolf dog bites a person or pet, they would be considered a Rabies risk and could be euthanized for Rabies testing depending on the situation.

Wolf Dogs Aren't Legal in All 50 States

Wolf dogs are usually classified by their filial number, or the generations removed from a pure wolf. F1, for example, represents the original breeding between a wolf and a domesticated dog, or a wolf and wolf dog, while F2 represents the second generation. Because DNA sequencing is not usually performed or provided to potential owners, it can be tricky to determine whether or not your dog is a true wolf dog—or a standard, domesticated dog that has been bred to have a wolf-like appearance.

This blurriness makes it extremely hard for states to establish legislation around wolf dogs being kept as pets—and many have made it out-right illegal, while others allow restricted ownership.

If you're considering adding a wolf dog to the family, do your research to ensure owning a wolf dog is legal in your state.

Wolf Dog Pups Can Look—and Behave—Totally Different Than the Rest of the Litter

Although many litters of domesticated doggies share several physical and behavioral traits, wolf dog pups can look and act unlike any of their brothers and sisters. Why? Some pups in the litter may take on more characteristics of the domesticated dog, while others could take on more characteristics of the wild wolf. Like we said, there's no true way to predict your wolf dog's degree of wolf-ness as she grows into an adolescent and adult.

Wolf Dogs Need a Ton of Space

Wolf dogs are usually recommended for people who live in the wilderness or woods because they need a ton of space to remain happy, healthy, and exercised. Some resources recommend an area of at least 65x65 square feet with plenty of trees and obstacles for the wolf dog to climb.

Wolf Dogs Need a Special Diet

Nope, the standard kibble you feed your other dogs won't do it for a wolf dog. They need two to four pounds of raw meat daily. Feeding your wolf dog regular dog food won't provide him with the nutrients he really needs.

Wolf Dogs Howl—A Lot

There are countless reasons why wolf dogs howl, from communicating with another wolf dog (or wolf!), to telling another dog to stay off her turf, to hearing a siren in the distance. If you bring a wolf dog home, be prepared for a lot of howling.