Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my wonderful Missy two years ago. I drove over an hour each way. The ad said chow-mix. When I got there, the guy first brought out the pups and they honestly looked like chow-chows. He told me that the mom was papered purebred and the dad had 1/8 wolf in him. He said that "they" (not sure who they are) are breeding wolf into the chow bloodlines to extend the chows typical lifespan...that normal purebred chowchows have an average lifespan of 6-9 years and the wolf lines would increase them to 10-12 years. Has anyone ever heard this?

Regardless, I fell in love with Missy right off and brought her home. She has been absolutely wonderful with all members of my family. She has been greatly socialized and frequents local softball games with me often. Everyone loves her. I had planned to breed her, key word...."planned".

She has just gone into heat, and I have caught two different neighborhood dogs nosing about. I have not actually "seen" them get to her, but I just have that feeling. Reportedly, these are both chow mixes also....another "chow/wolf" and a "chow/?". My second question is when and how will I know if she is actually bred? And if she is, anyone want puppies?

I'm sitting on nearly the same sort of situation. Except they are both my animals. My female is much more dog than she is wolf. This was her second heat. My male wolfdogs is nearly three years old. I thought I had another year before I had to worry about him even being interested. Well, I was wrong. About three weeks ago she went into heat and he got her. The vet told me that we had to wait until day 45 before we could do an x-ray to see if there are puppies, how many, and if they are alright. Don't know if that helps at all. I guess we're both in the same "wait and see" boat.

see my message to the original poster please.
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KenC

*President: Wolfdog Rescue Resources, Inc (WRR)
a 501(c)3 IRS approved organization

http://www.renokeo.com/wrr.html

*Keona's (my wolfdog) site: http://www.renokeo.com/keona.html

First, let me comment on something here...with over 20 years experience with wolves and wolfdogs, the wolf/chow does rarely make a good mix.... in order to make a "good wolfdog"...both in physical characteristics and most important, temperment, the northern breed (snow dogs) are used. Very good breeders have learned to mix in the German Shepherd but its done carefully so that agression does not appear.

Second, I don't think you should be breeding your animal...there are so many animals in shelters, and after the storms (Katrina and the others) that need adoption, you are just adding to the numbers of possible animals with no home...

Third: the best thing anyone can do before they get a dog with suspected wolf content is study all the avialable sites giving information on wolfdogs... more wolfdog pups end up in rescue their first year than any other breed because people get in "over their heads". Each wolfdog from a particular litter can be totally different in temperment...some may inherit more wolf genes than normal...and become a problem for folks not having expeirence in raising a wolfdog. Where do they end up? The lucky ones end up in rescue, the other ones, because uneducated owners dont know the laws of their particular state or county take them to county shelters and proudly proclaim "it has wolf in it'..... you know what happens before they get the car out of the parking lot????? The animal is put to sleep....yes...thats right.

Fourth: responsible breeders of any breed, espescially the wolfdog, interview prospective owners, do a home check to insure proper containment and last but not least, if things dont work out, take the animal back.

I think what you are doing is very wrong. And you can get as mad at me as you want to for that, but I've been in the trenches for many years...i've seen the sadness and mistreatment of the wolfdog, i've held their head as they are put to sleep because of an iresponsible owner leaving them unattended with small children, who in turn pestered the animal until it bit them.... ive rescued them from chains tied to a tree with no water or food, from nice people, who suddenly realized after 4 months they had no idea what they got into......

No...what you are doing is wrong.

There are plenty of wolfdogs right now, including puppies up for adoption on wolfdog lists... if you go to Yahoo Lists, you can find several, one in particular is Wolfdogadoption...

regards,

If you care to check my organization out, we are recognized by the National Wildlife Federation of America.

We are trying to stop the madness.......
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KenC

*President: Wolfdog Rescue Resources, Inc (WRR)
a 501(c)3 IRS approved organization

http://www.renokeo.com/wrr.html

*Keona's (my wolfdog) site: http://www.renokeo.com/keona.html

Luvswolves- I'm a bit confused. Did you actually read the thread that you responded too, or are you always on some sort of high horse? Because the question I responded to didn't sound like this person ment to breed her wolfdog. Rather that she feared that her wolfdog might have been bred and wanted to know how and when she would be able to know for sure.
I, personally, DO NOT disagree with anything that you said about responsible breeding, or the fact that there are WAY to many wolfdogs in rescues. But honestly, if you're trying to pass on knowlege there are much better ways of doing it. Not talking to someone like thier an idiot would be a good start. (Not that there aren't idiots out there..just that people don't like to be talked down too.) I whole heartedly hope that you are one of the people who not only want to stop the irresponsible breeding of wolfdogs, but also wants to educate and help the first time owner of such animals in order to keep yet another wolfdog from ending up in a rescue or dead.

I'm not on a high horse, I'm on a three legged horse thats spend thousands of dollars and hours rescuing and educating potential new wolfdog owners.

I refered you to my post because it appeared you were part of the thread, nothing more nothing less.

Education is the key, first and formost...I spend alot of time doing that, my last wolfdog and this high mid right now are used in seminars at schools and community gatherings to that very such thing...being a 501(c)3 organization, it allows me to do so without having to aquire a USDA exibition permit, for no monatary gains are made thru the seminars.

If someone has no intention of breeding, the first thing they should do is have the animal altered when it reaches the proper age, this prevents "accidents".

I wasn't "talking down" to anyone. I was stating my stand on the situation, thats all....

My organization also does homechecks and transports for the wolfdog sanctuary's listed under us, proper education of potential wolfdog owners is the main ingrediant in retarding rescue.
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KenC

*President: Wolfdog Rescue Resources, Inc (WRR)
a 501(c)3 IRS approved organization

http://www.renokeo.com/wrr.html

*Keona's (my wolfdog) site: http://www.renokeo.com/keona.html

Your dog should be fixed. She may make a great pet for you but how many people do you know responcible enough to handle a chow let alone a chow/wolf? I doubt a 1/8 percentage anyway. The guy probally just wanted to sell his dogs. If you want to get involved mroe with them then get into rescue. My pound gets them in frequently as there are two "breeders" near me. They are usually put down. Not to mention the hundreds of dogs that are put down there too. If you do let this dog have pups its your decision. I wouldn't agree with it but its up to you. Breeding any dog is a lot of work,not jsut letting a neighbor dog get to her. There are many helath tests and expenses. Sadly there are two adds for wolf mixes in my paper right now. I bet every one of those pups will end up with a new owner by next year at this time. The breeder down teh street form me admitts almost every person tries to bring the pups back It should be aboout what is better for the dog,and having pups is not good for a dog.
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This might be a little late but I'll post anyway.

I would call the vet and ask him, when he can do an exam.

I am not trying to get on a high-horse or put anybody down but as the owner of a chow mix, I have to say please get her fixed and don't breed her intentionally. Wolf or not, there are ALOT of chow mixes in the world. I have seen too many beautiful dogs dumped in shelters because "The new apartment won't let me have a chow mix".