02/11/2025
You may have seen in the media that some young wolfdogs recently escaped. Natalie has written an excellent post highlighting the needs of these wonderful animals and why wolfdog ownership is not to be taken lightly. 
Higher content wolfdogs:
They've hit the news recently, with a trio of youngsters found loose roaming. But what are they, and do they make good pets?
While there are lots of dog breeds which look a bit like wolves, or have a small amount of recent wolf ancestry, the higher content wolfdog is little different. But what is it? Well, essentially, it 'does what it says on the tin' - it's an animal with a very high percentage of wolf in its recent ancestry. Generally at our sanctuary, when animals contain a lot more wolf than domestic dog genes, we classify them as 'higher content' or 'virtual wolves'. Although legally they're classified as domestic, and this means they can legally be bred and sold just like dogs ( and unfortunately exploited by cash breeders too) , they DO NOT make good pets. They need lots of space, and a peaceful life. They are smart but independent and creative. Their favourite game is chewing - and they can get through a sofa in 10 minutes! They can easily jump over 6ft fences, so zoo style fencing is a must. And they howl - not great if you have immediate neighbours!
Is there a risk of them becoming the next status dog? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Even if people are tempted by their strength and beauty, their sensitive wild nature makes them difficult to train and socialise - they often hide away from strangers, so a person hoping to show them off would be left sorely disappointed! Does this mean people don't try? Of course they do! But the sad result is usually young animals abandoned, anxious and traumatised, rather than causing a 'dangerous dog' problem.
People who own them successfully have spent years learning natural canine behaviour and force free, cooperative training methods. They have committed time and money into making sure they have the right facilities and expensive diets and vet care. And they've said goodbye to all those holidays and days out with friends and family - because there's not a regular petsitter or kennel that can cater to them!
So you think you want a 'virtual wolf'? Think again! Check out the many wonderful natural dog breeds and low wolf content types out there instead. And please support specialist sanctuaries like ours, who may be the only refuge for the animals that have been victims of someone's fantasy whim to have a wolf on their sofa!
If you love wolves, please consider a donation to our sanctuary:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/project-wolfheart
