ruckus1837 asked:
I have an 8 week old female wolf hybrid pup (Arctic, Timber wolf, Malamute, Aussie Shepherd, Husky mix). She’s doing really great right now with housebreaking and I’m in the process of teaching her that my other older dog is NOT her chew toy (he won’t take up for himself…). She’s not all that hyper right now, likes to play but sleeps most of the time. I know she’ll need lots of exercise when she gets older and was wondering if she might make a good hunting dog. I was thinking of using her as a tracker for when I bow hunt or to dig out groundhogs. Her family has a lot of workers in it; dad is a full Aussie Shepherd who works a cattle farm, grandmother was lead dog in 2 Iditarod races, and her mother also works cattle. I want to make sure she has plenty to do as she gets older so I don’t have aggression problems with her. This is my first wolf dog and I’m just trying to get some ideas on how to keep her occupied once the wolf in her starts to kick in.
This question is also posted in the Hunting section.
Her mother is a Husky X Wolf, dad is full Aussie Shepherd. She has blue eyes like a Shepherd and her markings match the Aussie as well. I’m really just looking for suggestions on how to drain energy. Her mother is very friendly as is her dad, both are very well mannered and have no temperment issues, listen to their owners and don’t wander away. I’ve done research on hybrids and know how they can be if left to their own devices. Were she to be used as a tracker, she’d be on a lead; not let loose to run all over the county.
KelsandDane,
I thought about sled training… but since I live in TN that might be difficult. We don’t even get snow here in winter. Lol. I know she’d make a good pull dog, so I plan on harnessing her when she gets older. She can help me haul firewood.
I never said I wanted a hunting dog. I said I was looking for SUGGESTIONS from people who were trying to HELP me. Not so I could sit here and read about what a “gullible twit” I am. I’ve had dogs all my life, many different breeds, mixes, mutts, and pure breds. I’m very aware that she wasn’t specifically bred for anything except herding cattle should that be the road I take with her. I guaruntee you that she’ll make me happier than something I’d pay a ridiculously high price for. I was looking for a companion animal; I got one. No doubt she’ll prove some ignorant people wrong as she ages.
I have an 8 week old female wolf hybrid pup (Arctic, Timber wolf, Malamute, Aussie Shepherd, Husky mix). She’s doing really great right now with housebreaking and I’m in the process of teaching her that my other older dog is NOT her chew toy (he won’t take up for himself…). She’s not all that hyper right now, likes to play but sleeps most of the time. I know she’ll need lots of exercise when she gets older and was wondering if she might make a good hunting dog. I was thinking of using her as a tracker for when I bow hunt or to dig out groundhogs. Her family has a lot of workers in it; dad is a full Aussie Shepherd who works a cattle farm, grandmother was lead dog in 2 Iditarod races, and her mother also works cattle. I want to make sure she has plenty to do as she gets older so I don’t have aggression problems with her. This is my first wolf dog and I’m just trying to get some ideas on how to keep her occupied once the wolf in her starts to kick in.
This question is also posted in the Hunting section.
Her mother is a Husky X Wolf, dad is full Aussie Shepherd. She has blue eyes like a Shepherd and her markings match the Aussie as well. I’m really just looking for suggestions on how to drain energy. Her mother is very friendly as is her dad, both are very well mannered and have no temperment issues, listen to their owners and don’t wander away. I’ve done research on hybrids and know how they can be if left to their own devices. Were she to be used as a tracker, she’d be on a lead; not let loose to run all over the county.
KelsandDane,
I thought about sled training… but since I live in TN that might be difficult. We don’t even get snow here in winter. Lol. I know she’d make a good pull dog, so I plan on harnessing her when she gets older. She can help me haul firewood.
I never said I wanted a hunting dog. I said I was looking for SUGGESTIONS from people who were trying to HELP me. Not so I could sit here and read about what a “gullible twit” I am. I’ve had dogs all my life, many different breeds, mixes, mutts, and pure breds. I’m very aware that she wasn’t specifically bred for anything except herding cattle should that be the road I take with her. I guaruntee you that she’ll make me happier than something I’d pay a ridiculously high price for. I was looking for a companion animal; I got one. No doubt she’ll prove some ignorant people wrong as she ages.
I think it’s impossible to train a dog to shoot a gun with the absence of opposable thumbs.
“…how to keep her occupied once the wolf in her starts to kick in.”
Wow… You really don’t know much about Wolf mixes do you?
In short none of the above listed breeds are really suited as a hunting dog, and I would NEVER suggest a wolf crossed be used for a tracking dog (especially any that has higher wolf content). Most of them simply can’t deal with hunting and not finishing the job.
Then again though I wouldn’t suggest a wolf mix be kept as a pet, especially with an individual that does not seem to know all that much about them.
What breed(s) seems to be winning out in the genetic war here? Which does your cross look more like, and what does it act more like?
Aussies, Malamutes, and Huskies all makes for horrible tracking dogs- It’s simply not in them.
Malamutes, Huskies, and Wolf crosses are all prone to running when not in an enclosure and they really don’t bother to coming back- Meaning tracking is certainly a no go.
Seems to me like you need to think up something else to get all the energy out of a mix like this (considering all above stated crosses are very high energy).
Add:
A tracking dog can not be held on a lead generally- Simply does not work.
If the dog can be trained to use a treadmill that may be very helpful. Pulling jobs if the dog is built for it would also be a very good idea (the type of pulling is going to depend on the dog)- Though if the drive is not there that’s not going to work either.
You’re mostly limited by the genetics here and what the cross will or will not do, though anything involving prey (as all these breeds have a high prey drive) is more than likely not going to work.
Something like what you mentioned with the Iditarod races sound like a good way to expend energy, start by teaching her to pull carts or a small sled, then as she grows she can take more weight and longer distances, then she can haul some stuff while you ski/hike/track/hunt
That mutt is ****NOT**** gonna make *any* sort of hunter!!!
It’s NOT bred to do./be anything but a stew of mongrel to scam a gullible twit!
You won’t get a hunt…ANY sort of hunt…out of it.
You wanted a g-hog dog? Shoulda gotten a TERRIER!
Wanted birds?BIRD-DOG!
Coyote? SIGHTHOUND…etc etc.
SELECTIVELY BRED to DO A JOB!