Wolf-dog Ownership: Preparing for the Worst

Okay, you have the basics covered. You did your research. You have experience with northern breeds. Wolf-dogs are legal where you live. A veterinarian is lined up who will take care of medical needs. 

Everything is set, and you’ve established a great relationship with your “pack”.

Awesome!

But in life there are unforeseen circumstances that may force you into some heart wrenching decisions.

Some might say I’m over cautious, but the longer I volunteer in rescue, the more stories I hear with common themes as to why people have to give up wolfdogs and dogs that have nothing to do with intolerance, ignorance, or lack of love. Many times it’s just a lack of preparation for future emergencies that involves money or stewardship.

Here some things to consider when preparing for life's unplanned problems when you have wolfdogs or multiple dogs.

Space

You may have a beautiful enclosure that is stimulating and gives three wolf-dogs plenty of room to do what they want safely. But the older member of the group is suddenly getting picked on relentlessly and needs to be moved to a smaller kennel for his safety.

The problem: The original enclosure takes up all of your available space. To divide it would mean less room for four dogs (yes, four dogs now) because the old guy is howling night and day from loneliness without a companion, so naturally, he’ll need a buddy to be happy.

If moving is not an option, do you have the resources to divide the enclosure for their safety? To make up for lack of space, do you have the extra funds to build UP, like platforms and perches to make up for lost ground?

It’s possible to make a creative and stimulating smaller space, but like everything in life it will cost time, money and probably much higher fencing than your zone allows, which leads us to regulations issues.

Regulations

When you bought a puppy, the six foot fence in the backyard with a dig guard was fine. When he was six-months old, he found out he can climb it easily. Unfortunately, once a wolfdog discovers escape, it will be a challenge to keep him from doing it again.

Despite your efforts to block the hot spots, he climbs out every night and gets into the neighborhood’s garbage cans while his companion dog barks. People are demanding you shut up your dog and keep your “wolf” contained by “yesterday” or else!

Obviously, your enclosure needs an overhaul, but then you find out your town has fencing regulations. You can’t raise it higher and a proper pen would be a community eyesore, you’ll need to landscape to hide it.

Do you have the time to do it yourself (DIY) quickly enough to satisfy neighbors? Are you physically capable to DIY or will you need to hire professionals? Did you put money aside for such an expensive project? Hopefully, you did.

Sickness and Death

Responsible ownership means you are responsible for your animal in life and death. Wolfdogs bond to their owners. You may have loved your wolfdogs and been a part of every step and phase in their life, but they only knew you. They didn’t spend a lot of time outside their enclosure or interacting with friends, family, even your spouse inside the pen.

A wolfdog suddenly without you, who is placed in the care of strangers will be confused, frightened, and even depressed.

On the other end, care providers will likely fear a wolfdog they have not met or spent time with on good, frequent, and casual terms with their owner. But these are the people you will depend on to take care of your wolfdogs if you become ill or possibly die.

Even if an illness is short term or chronic, someone other than you may have to care for your animals.

Plus, you’re probably aware that the average kennel is not equipped with the knowledge or containment to handle wolfdogs, let alone a “pack” in one space.

So do you have a plan for your beloved wolfdogs?

Life is full of twists, especially when it comes to finances and health, but it’s important to plan ahead for pets because they depend on you for life. 

A few tips…

Keep a rainy day fund for veterinary and containment emergencies, or be prepared to beg, borrow, and bargain to make things happen.

Socialize your animals. The best gift you can give your wolfdog is socialization. Get people interacting with them. Get them out. Help them understand that people coming in and out of their space is a good thing or at least okay.

Make friends in your local and remote wolfdog communities. If you’re active in it and supportive of community members through good and bad times, they will in turn be supportive of you. People in the wolfdog community will also help you find resources you may not know about.

Be a good neighbor and member of the community. People are more tolerant when you make an effort to maintain your property and look out for theirs. People are also more likely to give you a brake and stand up for you and your animals if they like you.

People who love animals tend to put a bubble around themselves and their pets. There is never a better time to bust out of it than when you take on the ownership of wolfdogs.

It’s different, people are curious, people want to help. Shutting people out or being a shut in will not be a good thing for you or your beloved pets when it comes to the worst case scenarios in life.