Wolfalikes
Origins & TemperamentA wolf on your couch
Dogs exist thanks to an ancient collaboration between humans and wolves. But today, wolves are seen as pests, especially in our region of Wallis in Switzerland, where the topic of wolf hunting is often brought to the table and raises heated debates.
And yet, there has always been something fascinating about them. The wolf has been used both as a symbol for good (family, freedom, loyalty, protection, wisdom) and for bad (chaos, destruction), and has inspired many mythical creatures. That fascination still exists today, and many people dream of living with a wolf.
Of course, real wolves belong in the wild and are unsuitable as pets. Wolfdogs often retain a high wolf content and can be very hard to manage. The aim of wolfalikes is to keep that wolfy appearance while diluting the wolf content in favor of an easier temper, suitable for modern life and families with other pets or children.
The origins of wolfalikes
Wolfalike breeding is a small world and a relatively recent practice. Research on their history is very difficult as most of it is based on the information found on breeders’ websites, which can be inaccurate or incomplete, not no mention that the website often disappears with the breeder.
There seems to be one consensus though, that wolfalikes originated in the UK in the late 80s, from the experiments of a lady called Edwina Harrison who crossed different breeds to get a family dog with wolfy looks. Some of her dogs’ descendants were used to create the Northern Inuit breed, which later became known for their appearance in the series Game of Thrones.
Due to disagreements between breeders on the goal or management of the breed, many other breeds were created, such as Tamaskans, Timber Dogs, Anglo Wulfdogs, and others. As all wolfalike breeds are very recent, very few (if any) are officially recognized by governments or breed federations.
Sophie Turner (Sansa) adopted the Northern Inuit who played her character’s direwolf in Game of Thrones
Temper
There are of course differences from breed to breed and from dog to dog, but these are general characteristics that are often found in wolfalikes.
Separation anxiety
They are pack animals and often have a very hard time being left without a human, leading to destructive behaviors.
Loyalty & affection
They are very loving and attached to their owner and family. They will cuddle with you and each other on the couch.
Socialization
They can be shy at first, but with the right training they are generally very social dogs, with humans, dogs or or other pets, and rarely have aggression issues.
Trainabilty
They are very intelligent and trainable, though they will get bored quickly if a training session is too repetitive or if they have nothing to gain.
Sensitivity
Maybe due to their primitive instincts and attachment to their owner, they may sense more things than other dogs. Some can easily become assistance dogs.
Noise
They don’t typically bark a lot, but they can sometimes whine or howl if they are bored or left alone.
Interested in adopting one ?
Here’s a little checklist of what you need to think about.
Living situation
These are not dogs you can leave alone all day five days a week while you go to work. They will be unhappy and wreck your home. If you work from home or you can take him to work with you, great. Otherwise, please make sure you have a long-term plan that suits his needs. This can include :
- Having other members of your household who don’t mind taking care of him while you’re gone
- Having a dog-sitter, a pension or an arrangement with other dog owners
- Leaving him for only a half-day at a time
- Having other pets to keep him company
- Making sure he gets plenty of exercise before you leave
Regulations & finances
Please check that you’re allowed to have this dog where you live :
- If you’re renting, get an explicit permission from your landlord to have a dog
- Check your country, state and city’s laws concerning dog ownership, restricted breeds and wolf content
Please check that you’re financially comfortable enough to pay for your dog’s expenses. In Switzerland, a large dog costs around 2000 to 3000 CHF a year in food, insurance, vet bills and equipment. You also need to have some money saved up in case of emergency. We strongly recommend getting basic health insurance for your dog.
Commitment
This dog will be your companion for the next decade of your life. You will be his whole world, and he deserves to have a good life with you. Here’s a few things you need to think about :
- You’ll need to dedicate time to his training and socialisation, and be patient with him, as the teenage phase is often very long. No matter your experience level, we strongly advise following puppy classes from the very start and continuing with education classes for as long as you deem it useful.
- A dog that looks like a wolf comes with a few warnings. He may scare people, and he may be confused with a real wolf. This means you need to put some extra care into security matters such as secure fencing and sturdy equipment.
Still interested ?
Then once you’ve thought about it,
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