Soooo... as some of you may know, I used to own a wolf/german shepherd hybred, Kerby.
I loved him to death, but we couldn't keep him due in part because of our small house and small yard, but the bigger issue was his growing aggression...
he bit the neighbor boy, bit the dog trainer, and was showing a bit of prey drive towards my then learning-to-crawl daughter.
He wasn't a bad dog at all.. he was a wolf! that's what they do.
Anyway we found him a great home and it all worked out... buuuut.. still in the back of my mind I keep remembering how cool he was (when he wasn't doing the bad wolf habits) and how someday it would be so awesome if it ever worked out to have a similar dog...
Well, recently I discovered that there may be a way to have the best of both worlds. A dog who looks like a wolf, but acts like a family friendly dog.
The two breeds I've been looking at are the Northern Inuit:
[link]and the Native American Indian Dog:
[link]Now, I've been researching both a TON and reading as much info as I can find..
The Northern Inuit seems like a more solid breed (they've been around longer than the NAID's), and I've found very little bad press about them. The only problem is that there doesn't seem to be any breeders in the US...
The NAID's i'm a little more attracted to (being of slight Cherokee heritage).. I like the idea behind them, they're bigger than the NI's, there ARE breeders in the USA...
buuuuut i've also found some rather negative info about them... that there is indeed wolf blood in the breed (I do NOT want another dog that I have to give up because it can't be family-friendly!), mostly being my main concern.
Anyways it will be a few years before we move into a bigger house with a bigger back yard, and so I can't get a big dog until then. That gives me a lot of time to think..
So I was just wondering if any of you had heard of these dogs (or similar breeds), have any information, opinions, advice..
I'd love to hear it!
thankie ^^
Or jämptlanninpystykorva (don't know their english name) they're very popular hunting dogs and good with families [link]
Beyond that, respect, love, and caring of your dog, though it sems you already have a good handle on that part. Best of luck with your decision.
Florida Lupine Association:
[link]
Wolf Web:
[link]
A breed that isnt really wolf-like looking, but would be good with a family if you got it as a pup is a Dutch Shepherd. That is what I own, their good guard dogs who will bond with the entire family (And friends), instead of just one person (Something you have to watch out for with the type of dog you're looking for) You've got to know how to handle them, because they are incredibly intelligent dogs, I wouldnt recomend them to just anyone, only to those who know how to properly train dogs (Anyone who lets their pet get away with anything, will find their hands more than full with a Dutchie) - But if you've had a wolf hybred before, you probably have a good idea on how to handle dogs (Unfortunately Hybreds do carry entierly too much wolf instinct, so its hard to keep them trained)
Another breed you might be interested in, kinda borderlining wolf appearance, is the Norwegian Elkhound - To be honest I may know of one that you're welcomed to check into. My mom is looking to find a good home for one of hers that I dont think she's placed yet (She breeds n shows Elkhounds-You can find her lines under the name "RidgeRunner" or "Colorado RidgeRunner") The dog I'm thinking of is an absolute sweetheart! They also do good with smaller yards, n Duncan adores kids! If you're interested I can get you more info on him
[link] These guys are really gorgeous, but not quite as wolf-y as you seem to be looking for. Other than that, I'd say the Tamaskan, but I think someone already mentioned it further up. : )
Actually, I think I've found one in the past with just the right combination of collie, german shepherd, and malamute that could easily have been mistaken for a wolf. You can get some amazing crosses in the mixed breeds.
I would try asking breeders what they think tell them your situation and they'd really would be the ones to help you decide better. I mean after all they've pretty much grew up living with the breeds! lol