Chaz

What dog breed or breeds are there in the Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs, me and my family was looking into the wolf hybrids and liked the Saarloos wolfhounds, is there much difference between the breeds, we have also recently been told about Timber wolf huskys. How much exercise do wolf hybrids need because we have been told they need a lot. Can you use quads to exercise them?

Fede

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and Saarloos Wolfdog are not hybrids, they are a cross between dog and wolf. Actually, the word hybrid is wrong to refer to wolf-dog crosses, because dogs and wolves are part of the same specie (canis lupus lupus and canis lupus familiaris). An hybrid is for example a mix between a coyote and a dog, or between a tiger and a lion.

Czechoslovakian wolfdog is a mix between working lines German Shepherd (DDR) and Carpatian Wolf (European Wolf), while Saarloos wolfdog is a cross between Canadian Wolf and German Shepherd.
I don’t know much about the saarloos wolfdog, so I can’t tell you the difference in character and temperament between the two breeds, but there are some aesthetical differences. Personally, I think that the Czech Wolfdogs are more “wolfish” in their looks, I’ve seen pictures of Saarloos WDs that look more like huskies with very big ears, I don’t like them very much to be honest…

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Chaz

OK thanks for your honesty, how do you exercise your wolfdogs?

Fede

More or less the way you exercise the other breeds, you just have to be sure they get rid of their high energy in some way if you want to live peacefully But beware that they have a lot of physical and mental energy, they will not be satisfied with a simple run. They need to do, to explore, to play, possibly into the nature, a walk in the woods can be the best for them. They need to pick up the scents, to hear the sounds, to see what excite their instincts.

But it’s not just exercise they need (and yes, they need it a lot). They also need to understand their position in the pack, and you have to be VERY clear, because they took every chance to question your dominance, it’s natural for them to be sure the most valid element is leading the pack (it’s vital for the pack), and they challenge you several times during the years. You can’t make the mistake to take your leading position for granted, because a wolfdog may be submissive one day, and challenge you the next because you slipped and made a single mistake.
They need to interact with other wolfdogs, because their behavior and the way they communicate may be hard to understand for a dog, they have communication difficulties with dogs, specially with breeds that have a facial mimic very different from them (for example, molosses). It also happens that the way they play may be mistaken as aggression to other dogs, because when they play they simulate fight and predation. The first time I saw Czech wolfdogs playing between themselves, I thought they were killing each other! Some dogs may be frightened or react aggressively to their “idea” of playing
They are too intelligent for their own good, and that’s one of the reasons why they are so hard to handle.
They have a complex language which they inherited practically unchanged from the wolf. So they rarely bark (and they are ridiculous when they do) but they use a multitude of different sounds and expressions I never saw any other breed use.
They also use the growl differently from the dog. For them it’s not always an aggressive signal, so you have to understand when it is, and when it can be tolerated.
They need an effective containment, because they can leap over 10 feet fences and dig under them without any effort. They hate to be left alone, separation from the pack is the most cruel thing for them, and they will escape home to reach you when you go out without them. They can open doors (and I was shocked when a friend who owns a Czech wolfdog told me he used the key! I’m not joking! The key had been left inside the keyhole and he used it to open the door!) they open car doors, door latches, drawers, fridges, nothing is safe if they are curious.

They are highly intelligent (and that’s understandable when you think that the brain of the wolves is one third bigger than that of the dog), but they are difficult to train. They get bored very quickly, and have low attention span.

They have strong predatory drive, other animals including smaller dogs are not safe around them.

These are wolfdogs in a nutshell. I’ll be happy to tell you more if you are interested.

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Fede

Oh, I forgot another thing to put into that nutshell ...
Your garden is bound to become like this:





Because they sleep this way:





And they can be quite effective since when they are little balls of fur:





Oh God, I love them too much!!!!!!!!

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Melamaphine

What a fantastic description Fede, you clearly have done your research!

I can't wait to see some pictures when you get your pup, they're just so darned beautiful!

I've always wanted a wolf-a-like ever since reading the Jack London books, my bedroom used to be covered in wolf pictures when I was a kid. There's something so primal and almost spiritual about looking at a wolf, I can only dream of meeting one. Make sure you put up lots and lots of photos and info about them, I love hearing about it all!

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I'am chillin' with forum thanks Bigboy and Sheplovr!

I've been fleeced by Draco!

Alfie&Seren

wow, I wish I had the time money and activity level for one of these dogs. Truly beautiful! Although I am dead set against dogs being bred etc, rescued dogs are the way forward! But you've still got to admire them!

I feel a little disappointed now looking over at my scabby Shar pei and geriatric staffy cross lol

Alfie and serens mum x

Fede

I’m glad you like them. As for me, I’m in love with them
But you know, If I have to be honest it’s not the looks I admire in these dogs. Or at least, it’s not just that. They are beautiful in my opinion, they looks a lot like wolves, but if you know wolves a bit you’ll see the differences. In appearance, they are definitely dogs. And anyway, they are very high maintenance dogs, the looks alone are not enough to keep your enthusiasm up, people who purchase this breed because of their looks only are bound to regret it. You have to like their behavior to be sure that’s the breed for you.
What they really share with wolves, and the first thing I like about them, is not their looks. It’s the behavior. The way they behave, communicate and interact is the most fascinating thing about them.
One example among many: the way they act like a pack, much more than dogs. For example, when a litter is born, everyone in the pack help the mom to rise them. The male plays with the pups and looks after them constantly, and when the female is about to have the pups, and in the period when she feeds them, he is very protective of her and even share is food. Just like wolves do.
I’ll show you a couple of pictures. This is the male Czech Wolfdog of a breeder friend of mine. One of her females had a litter with another male owned by another breeder, but he looked after the pups like if they were his own, and he was very protective of them.


(in this one, the male is the one behind the mother with the puppies)

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Alfie&Seren

The pictures are beautiful, they all look so natural. Ive only ever seen pups with their mum, its wonderful the dad plays a part too.

Its always disappoints me that people/breeders etc have set dogs so far apart from their ancestors. Not just because of looks and health problems that a lot of breeds have but also their personality which you have described.

Fede

Another present for you guys!
(and now you HAVE to stop me before i go berserker with the pictures....)








And here one of the pups was trying an alternative mother

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