Can dogs and wolves really crossbreed successfully to produce a wolfdog?
Wolves and dogs both belong to the Canidae family, so in theory they can crossbreed successfully, though their reproductive capacity is poor. In addition, there is no doubt that dogs were domesticated from gray wolves. But exactly when and where domestication happened is still a highly disputed matter. Some say Southwest Asia, some say Europe, and Chinese researchers say East Asia. Everyone has a case. The timing, however, is relatively certain: at the latest 15,000 years ago, and at the earliest 40,000 years ago, dogs had already become a member of human society. Today there are more than 800 known dog breeds.
The wolfdog is not a breed produced by crossing a wolf and a dog; it belongs only to the canine family
A wolfdog, that is, a wolf-like dog, is a type of dog breed. The wolfdog is not produced by crossing a wild wolf with a domestic dog, and it differs from a wolf-dog hybrid. The wolfdog looks like a wild wolf, has a fierce temperament and a keen sense of smell. It is mostly kept to help guard the home, hunt or herd sheep. It gets its name because its appearance resembles a wolf. It mainly includes breeds such as the German Shepherd, the Wolf Blue, the Soviet Red, the Kunming dog, the Belgian Malinois, the Black Wolf Dog, the Black Bear Dog, the Laizhou Red Dog, the Siberian Husky, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and the Alaskan Malamute. There are many varieties. All wolfdog types have erect ears; if they do not, they are not wolfdogs.
Wolf
Appendix: Wolfdog puppies
Before deciding to buy a wolfdog puppy, you should think it through clearly; during the puppy stage it needs more time and care. As for management, it is best to live in a village house, because the village house has a larger environment and better air, and most importantly, you will not disturb other people. From the puppy stage onward, you should spend more time with it, because the surrounding environment will make the puppy uneasy. Generally, during the first three days or so after leaving its mother, a puppy will bark at night, so you should play with it during the day, and it will quickly adapt to the new environment.
Appendix two: Wolfdog training must start from an early age. Some basic training should be carried out, including sit, lie down, roll over, stay, come, retrieve objects and so on. This training is accomplished through certain conditioned reflexes and rewards. When the wolfdog is young, it is easy to train it to produce results. But if professional training is needed for the wolfdog, then it must be sent to a professional institution. There, professionals will carry out a series of systematic training for the wolfdog. For example, bite training, tracking, identification, distance commands, stage performance, guard duty and protection. Take special note that you must not keep a wolfdog locked in a cage for a long time, because that suppresses its psychological development, its temperament will become unpredictable and hard to control, it will be prone to attacking people, its owner will not be able to control its actions, and danger is extremely likely to occur. During training, you should cultivate both the psychological and behavioural qualities and abilities of the wolfdog. You must not focus only on external abilities while neglecting training of its psychological functions. A good wolfdog is well trained and obedient to commands, and will not dash around like a headless fly. In professional fields, the wolfdog, as a working dog, generally serves for 8 years. After that it retires, returns home and enjoys its remaining years in comfort. Older wolfdogs are no longer suitable for training.
The wolfdog is moderate in size, good-looking in appearance, with erect ears, confident eyes, a splendid coat colour, a powerful head and a strong body. When standing it is calm and composed, when running fast it has a graceful gait, it is agile in movement, and it has physical strength, endurance and the character of protecting its owner, so the wolfdog is a very good working dog and a good wolfdog.