This is an important page to read through please do so carefully as well as my policies page, thank you.

 If you have only ever experienced breeds such as labrador retriever temperament you have quite a lot more research to do before attaining a nordic type breed, such as a wolfdog,  if you have experienced a northern breed type dog such as Siberian Husky  it will go a long way, and you are already at a good starting point towards understanding the emotional and physical needs of such a breed type.  All canids are individuals and thus will have a variety of personalities even in the same litter you will get a mixture of temperament levels from softer to harder.  I have had siberian huskies, the giant version of Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds and  Eskimo dogs (CDN Inuit dogs) among other various breeds of dogs grace my life in various ways, and they all had unique qualities specific to them.  My studies in wolf ethology and hands on experience of course took me even farther into understanding ALL canids wild and domestic.  

If any of the information I offer scares you off, then you know a WD is not for you. however please keep in mind I say nothing about this breed type I would not also warn any potential Malamute owners about as well.  Bringing any type of canine into your life is a HUGE responsibility emotionally, physically and financially.  If not prepared ahead of time owning any type of canine will be a disaster.  I want your experience of bringing such a canine into your world to be a positive one. Every negative story reflects badly on the animals as a whole and the erroneous beliefs thus held by the public can be greatly misplaced.  Please read my section on The Wolf In Your Dog

 General Info:

 

All companion canines have needs and requirements, specific to their breeds and types, the following pertain to some nordic and more wolf like and wolfdog breed types..

Houdinis:

 Many who have shared their life with a northern breed type canine such as a Siberian Husky, will tell you the breed are as good if not better than Houdini at escapes.  A rule of thumb with serious sibe owners is to never allow their sibe off lead, or they may never see them again.  In fact many owners lose their beloved friend every year due to being allowed off lead, or the animals escaping poorly confined areas/pens/chains. 

Although not all wolfdog breed types are quite as bad as that, in fact many can be a good notch better than that *grin*  

a good rule of thumb due to their curious, easily distracted nature, is to not allow them off lead, (UNLESS you understand how to do so in training, quite a few of my puppy owners have accomplished off lead work with my pups and DO WELL, while under supervision see some of the pics on the puppy page, this does speak to my canines' nature and trainability) I am speaking in general terms for many owners whom have not acquired the understanding of how to do this type of training responsibly and properly,(ask me how this can be done)  all it takes is one time/one escape to result in a disastrous situation and

 a) losing your dog,

b) the dog being shot, mistaken for a wild wolf,

 c) shot for harassing native wildlife or other owners pets/livestock,

d) coming into contact/conflict with native wildlife such as other wild canids, porcupines, skunks etc.  Once a dog (and this encompasses MANY breeds and breed types) escapes the first time, they seem to never stop trying, so one can build fort knox and them still escape. Build right the first time and help avoid this scenario altogether!

 

Containment: 

If there is but one message I wish to impart to any potential wolfdog caretakers it is concerning adequate containment! Owners of this breed type of dog want the public to view them as being *responsible* good neighbors and citizens, and thus portray their dogs as being good canine citizens. Who wishes to deal with the results of not being a good canine owner?  Threats by upset neighbors over escapes from a scary wolf like dog running around terrorizing kids,  being sued for the dog killing a neighbors little dog or cat, the wolfdog being hit by a car,  the dog being taken away by the SPCA and held until fines were paid. Why create havoc and unwanted negative attention towards yourself, and thus the breed as a whole, making it look like all wolfdogs behave badly, or all owners are ignorant & uneducated?

I tell people that good containment is the second step after first research and education to become a responsible canine owner.  Containment/Confinement that does not allow the public (children) to easily interact and possibly get hurt by the dog/or someone having easy access to inflict harm to the dog should be every dog owners responsibility.  I can guarantee you there is NO chaining system/ collar in the world a nordic type breed like a wolfdog cannot slip, and even given incentive, kill themselves trying.  Proper containment means enough room for there to be a shelter from all weather elements, a water and feed bowl, enough space to move around and defecate, without then having to wind up standing/laying in their own waste after only a day of being inside such containment.

Wolfdog breed types like many nordic breed types can be MASTER climbers and jumpers.  I liken them to cats in their stealth, speed and agility. Many can bounce straight up from a stands till 8 feet tall into the air and grab a bird right out of the air in flight. I've seen it happen! However I also wish to make note of the fact that if the breed is treated well, is content in their environment (lives enriched) and the dog is bonded to their human caretakers they are much less prone to even attempt an escape, let alone ever actually do so. ALL dogs require good, effective containment  built for the *just in case*, scenarios.  Given the right *incentive* and circumstances is all a dog needs to escape, and that could be the last time the he/she ever does.

                    Fencing /Materials/              

 (Buyers need to check with the breeders recommendation for their particular dogs as to what will be best)  Post holes for fence posts can be drilled manually (you can buy post hole diggers in any hardware store for cheap) or rent a post hole auger.

Use a measuring tape to measure right depth when making post holes.  If building from square one, hole depth should be close to three feet deep if using wooden, if using steel posts they must be cemented in. 

Fencing: 9-gage chain link is the best way to go.  11- gage chain link though cheaper, and can still successfully work for MY puppies, and is acceptable to use for my pups, you should be warned it is not only crappier to work with and tighten up properly, it bends extremely easily, any large breed of dog can *easily* chomp through such a fence.  I have seen more mangled 11-gage fences out there in peoples yards than I care to say, and these are breeds of dogs like chow chows, rottweilers and shepherds doing the deed.  

Fencing should be a min. of 6 feet in height for the wolfdog breed type, and if only 6 feet (if in the case of many back yard fences) this cannot be a permanent unsupervised form of containment,  two foot tall lean-ins at a 45 degree angle either should be added on, or built up to be a sufficient height of a min. of 7 feet tall.  You can also build a smaller escape proof pen that is 7-8 feet tall or 6 feet tall with a roof, within your yard site/fenced area for when you are not there to supervise the animal, or you go to work etc. 

Pen Size: Min. dimensions must be 20' by 20' per animal,for every animal added ten feet must be added to the pen size, and the animal should not kept full time in such a size. They need daily exercise and stimulation to keep them content. An unhappy dog is a destructive one.

Where to buy: I recommend going to a chain link manufacturer and searching around for the best price. I personally dont bother buying from the middle man, go right to the source! you'll save some change.

What type of material is not acceptable for containment: NEVER use the flimsy cheap welded fencing!  (One can use welded stock panels also commonly called hog panels these are typically only 4 feet tall so they would need to be layered to be tall enough.) they come in 16 foot lengths. Containment is one of the more expensive investments but one WELL worth the GOOD peace of mind it gives. You can leave the dog safely at home without them tearing your house inside apart, and not having escaped your care while your away. I once  knew a man who could not contain his German Shepherd, or I should say did not put the proper work into doing so.  His house literally had holes in the walls in every room from the dog having literally chewed right through them, in every room/closet that man placed the dog. *YES * I said CLOSET, the poor dog!!!

If using wooden fencing please be aware that this breed type are natural born beavers! they certainly love to chew on anything wooden including wooden dog houses! If no other choice I would consider using some sort of wire fencing on top of the wooden fencing (lean-in arms) if  the fencing is not tall enough, or using hotwire top,  and bottom of the wooden fencing.

Dig proofing: please read the section Master Diggers!

NOTE: Size wise if a person does not have a well fenced yard, I urge containment being no smaller than 20 by 20 feet per animal, add ten feet every animal added, and this is only if the animal is taken out on a daily basis for walks and exercise.  The larger one can build for their friends the better!  I realize not  everyone can build as large as they would like. But I also encourage owners to save up and set aside for their dog, a fencing fund. If you have a nice sized yard with 6 foot tall wooden fencing..if you cannot build taller, then building a smaller secure pen within the main yard where the dog is placed when not under supervision, in the main yard is recommended.

 

Master Diggers!

 If only I could harness the energy and strength nordic type breeds (Malamutes/Siberian Huskies etc included ) hold in those mittens of theirs! The wolfdog breed type once more like all nordic type breeds, are MASTER diggers, they can dig dens in frozen ground as if they are going through butter.  Not all dig or if they do, are minimalists in such tasks, but if you do get a digger watch out! they really dig some doozies, and one must be careful not to fall into a crater! Thus all containment must have dig outs.  This can consist of various forms of fencing (4-6 feet tall) either chain link (11 gage can be used for dig guards), other forms of wire fencing, cement flooring,  cement dig guards 4-6 feet wide, or 4 foot tall hog panels laid out) Fence dig guards can be attached using (11 gage tension wire) found in large rolls at hardware stores and used as if weaving thread.  Cut off four foot tall strands at a time attach one end securely wrapping around and tie off with fencing pliers,  weave the extended length in and out of the ground fencing and the main fencing. Or use something called hog/pig rings I recommend only using 9 gage ones, these must be applied using specialty hog ring pliers. One can get these at various hardware places here is a place in Alberta Canada that has them for cheap  PhoenixFence They ship! attach these clips every few rings or so.  Some people choose to trench half a foot to a foot down or so first, then lay the digout fencing down, its an option.  Options are to then cover up the fencing with dirt/gravel,  and then  larger gravel rock (mound rock) Some choose to have the fencing simply laid out above ground and attached. Over time plants /ground cover should naturally grow up through the ground fencing.

 

Double gated entry areas:

 Wolfdog breed types can be raccoon bandits! they can be sneaky, mischievous and are ALWAYS thinking, so be prepared to out think them. ;0) Enclosures with only one entry area/ gate  are more prone to allowing escape of the dog, as the owner is entering the enclosure with the poop bucket and shovel, the dog can QUITE easily slip past you to freedom, OR jump up on you, and use their size to push you over enough to distract you and slip by, the results are the same, loose dog! And one who will be sure to enjoy his freedom for a while ;0) I cannot tell owners HOW much double gated entry areas bring peace of mind.  Having an extra gate provides extra back up so that if the dog does get past you there is nowhere to go. The double gated entry area need only be like 7, 8  feet long, same height as main enclosure and 4-5 feet wide. Its simply a back up area.

Plastic/Wood :

 Wolfdogs are notorious beavers and plastic/rubber monsters if you put a hard plastic or thick rubber pail into their habitat as water and food buckets,  they WILL chew it up/eat it eventually. If they have a wooden dog house prepare for roofs to be nibbled on and doorways made bigger *grin*.  I personally *recommend* using due cement blocks to create a den/home for something that will be long lasting and durable for the dogs lifetime. Out here we have designed and created wolf proof water buckets, that are chew proof, not to mention insulated electric so through -50 temps the water does not freeze. and we use 40 pound galvanized  metal free feeders (little giant) for their food.

 

Off Lead Parks:

I for one would not take any of my canines no matter type to any off lead parks, they are cess pools waiting to infect your healthy canine with all sorts of nasty bugs. IF you do like to go to such places,  spayed and neutered  pups that are socialized with all canines small and large, throughout their puppyhood and adult hood,  should be fine among other canines all their life. In fact I would be more inclined to be worried about other peoples dogs being aggressive to mine, rather than the other way around. I have one puppy buyer who takes his dog to the off lead dog park every day and he gets along with all breeds, sizes and types! Not to mention with sooo many different breed types and personalities at any given time at such a place of gathering, just because YOUR dog gets along with every dog it has met to date, does NOT mean it won't meet one it won't get along with, or vice' verse'.

 

 

Explorers/Off Lead: 

Nordic breed types have a strong instinctive nature to explore, they are highly intelligent animals, that bore easily and require stimulation in the form of various toys to play with, walks for a change of scenery and socialization, and positive interaction with their owners on a daily basis. If you think your dog will be content to stick around your farm or yard like your well trained German Shepherd or Rottweiler might, think again!! But what about supervised off lead hikes? ...I get asked if my pups can be run off lead, I tell potential owners YES IF the owner understands thoroughly how to train for off lead work. They *the owners* must have the confidence and trust from the start in their pup, and start the pup from day one with off lead training.  If you already have a WELL trained dog who is bomb proof in recall, you can use this dog as we have in the past with our well trained dogs, to help raise the pup and do off lead work with, as the pup will follow the adult dog.  Take the pup to an area where there will be no distractions from things such as vehicles and people/other dogs to start out.

 

Indoor Dogs/Outdoor dogs:

 Some wolfdogs do well as indoor canines like any typical nordic breed type can, (depending on lineage) Does this mean a line with more wolflike intensities  cannot have indoor time?  No..it means they ** may ** not be **as** content to be indoors, for as long as periods as say another line might.  Some wolfdogs (depending on lineage)  tend to be a lot more destructive and harder to house train than  the average dog. They may display more intensity when it comes to being indoors than say a yorkshire terrier does.

This results in frustrated owners who give up easily and put the dog outdoors full time, due to having a difficult time housetraining and curbing wildly destructive behaviors. I tell owners to raise ALL puppies in doors no matter, and socialize them heavily to all sights and sounds, and going ons of being indoors. It takes a great deal of patience, commitment and dedication to having one of these animals as an indoor /outdoor animal.  BUT it is NOT impossible.  In some households it may take more sacrifice on the owners part, and adapting to some of the animals needs. But that also the owner needs to LISTEN to their friends NEEDS as well, it will reduce many tears.

Some of my pups even have their own bed and bedroom, now that's a dedicated owner giving a good dog a  life of luxury!

 

Temperaments Of 

 Owners:

I tell potential owners its not only important to bring home the right temperament of dog, BUT for THEIR own temperament to match up in order to co-exist peacefully with the breed type. 

1) Caretakers should never place themselves in a position that reflects an attitude of being * High and Mighty Master* and *Alpha.* Choosing to live with a wolfdog breed type is a relationship based more in respect, and friendship than a conquer and divide attitude.  Alpha does not mean having to consistently reinforce physically ones status to the dog. 

2)  Owners need to have a lot of patience, be gentle/kind in their approach and training BUT be consistent and firm **not aggressive** The wolfdog breed type like all nordic type dog breeds have a *wild, free spirit*, and to those owners who have the same they may be that much more adept at getting along with such a canine.

3) Someone who is easily prone to losing their temper, screaming , yelling, and breaking down emotionally will fair poorly as a caretaker, and only create a dog that will be scared and non trusting of you. Ego has NO place in ownership. If you are attaining a dog as a **status** symbol you WILL fail with these animals.

4) Owners whom have a history of *giving* up other canines, or giving up on things they may do in life in general, tend to not be issue/problem solvers.  Instead of saying to themselves "okay we will just solve this."  There's no other option but to solve this,  they may play the what if game to themselves, (what if the neighbors start complaining, what if the dog escapes and kills another dog, what if they suddenly decide to attack the kids, what if, what if, what if.....) and then they may even get irrational in their thought processes about the dog/and or situation, so much so, they may even start rationalizing the irrational thoughts,  and *giving* up on the dog, or even euthanizing the dog.  They do not look at all they may be doing, or CAN do to remedy each of the situations that come up in ownership of any type of animal.

Just as the human animals personality can be diverse, the same can be said for various breeds and breed types out there.  People that purchase any type of animal that may not match their own personality, may wind up in conflict. 

 What I mean by this is if a person for example is a couch potato, is not very active, has no training background or no incline to get involved in training, and goes out and purchases a border collie,  this can turn more often than not into a disaster situation, as this breed is a very active dog that requires a lot of daily stimulation. In essence it needs a job! Any wolfdog breed type requires a home where the owners are

 

1) Patient (When something occurs that may be frustrating the person keeps a cool head and does not get all worked up over the situation problem)

 

2) Calm   (Are you the kind of person to think with a level head during times that may be hectic/frustrating/problematic, and  believe in simply finding the solution to the situation/problem? )  Or are you the kind of person that freaks out and loses their mind, and control of their emotions?)

 

3) Fairly active (You like to get out there and experience life, you love to go for walks and or runs/hikes, are a person that loves to work with and play with the dog)

 

4) Not a weak personality (meaning you don't allow people to walk all over you in your life, nor waffle a lot,(indecisive) as this personality can certainly allow a dog to take over the household and gain the upper hand, this breed *type* reminds me of Alaskan Malamutes, Rottweilers and German Shepherds in this sense)

 

5) Dedicated and committed person (meaning the owner has never given up easily on anything in life, if ever, they see things through to the end.  They have never abandoned or dumped a dog because it was not working out, or they were frustrated by the dog, they stuck to their commitment to the dog and worked through the problems! They exhausted all possible means to find the solution. No problems=only solutions) 

 

 6) A dog is not just a dog!  it is a lifetime commitment and family member which deserves as much respect , love and kindness as is granted to all living sentient beings like other human family members.  These guys will test you and push you beyond what you thought you could be pushed, and force you to think *outside* the box

Predators:

 The wolfdog breed as all dogs, are predators! any animal such as small dogs, cats, birds *may* be viewed as prey to chase/hunt/kill. If one has such animals in the home already I encourage heavy socialization to them while the dog is still a pup, so the small dog is viewed as a family member and not lunch. My pups are raised with toy breeds in the house prior to going to new homes so they get an early start. My kept pup from one of my litters STILL as a mature adult falls onto his knees in submission to my shih-tzu! With cats, I do not encourage interaction unless it is heavily supervised. I have known MANY Nordic type breed dog owners with cats, that have also lost a cat or two to their dogs. Cats if they suddenly bolt may trigger a predator /prey response and that is all it takes , dog gives chase and good bye kitty cat. These are NOT KIDS pet dogs, and should NEVER be bought as such!!!! Children and dogs like this can work in a household where the parents are hyper vigilent, my pups have been placed in a few households with children, but I truly got to know how responsible the parents are too, otherwise definitely wait until the child is 11 or older to attain one.

 

Housetraining

(Mission Impossible?): Some wolfdog breed types are very hard to housetrain; (depending on lineage) not that they cannot learn , its just that they dont care to! and if unaltered they like to mark like any mature canine.  Some wolfdog breed types once more *depending on lineage* are *extremely difficult* to housetrain, and even if they get it right a few times there are many more times where it seems they simply forgot. (Convenient learners)  I tell owners this does not excuse them from putting the time, energy into such a task however. Follow the exact same protocol to train as any other breed or breed type, but be prepared to call on all your patience. ON a scale of 1-10 of ease in housetraining the wolfdog breed type can range from a 1 depending on content/lineage, all the way to a ten, ten being the worst on the scale.

 

Diet:

The wolfdog breed can be fed a high quality, high protein and fat kibble. (As pups a 30/20 formula) *no pedigree, purina etc!* they cannot tolerate foods high in grain. All my canines here can eat high quality kibble (kibble with no soy and meat based proteins as first ingredients without problem) We use Akelas dog food made by close friends of ours, and whom live close by, to our land.  We use their pro and supreme formulas, we use a mixture of the pellet and kibble for ours in our free feeders , but we have started out pups on a readily accessible food called  EVO: Red Bites (Not the original EVO mixture make sure it is the red bites) I provide a huge list of foods in my guide give to all puppy owners.

In general healthy dogs can tolerate eating certain kinds of kibble, some need to have supplemented meats either raw or cooked (Raw meaty beef meal bones for teeth) some dogs can only be on pure raw based (BARF) diets **only**. Please ask the breeder what their particular line and animals can handle/tolerate and do well on. Obviously if you get an animal you cannot find enough meat sources for because they cannot tolerate anything but a certain kind of diet, you find that diet  too costly,or not understanding of how to appropriately feed such a diet, and or availability in your area is non existent, you could wind up being a very frustrated caretaker, with a sick dog on your hands. I free feed all my canines from the time they are pups so they are not food aggressive, they also receive various meat meals and meaty meal bones for teeth. If pups are doled out certain meals a few times a day , pups tend to go into I'm starving mode and will tend to become more aggressive around feeding time, and even possessive. Free feeding I found eliminated this behavior from my canines. In my comprehensive care guide I have a huge chapter devoted to canine nutrition for wolfdogs.

 

Training

My dogs talents can be utilized in a variety of ways be it a hiking/running partner for your daily outings, to agility, recreational sledding and depending on the pups line, even competitive sledding. My pups turn out to be very athletic, large and agile canines.  I use positive training methods with my pups (clicker training with lots of praise and some lure rewarding) and they are eager to learn, and work. The time and patience need only be put into them. They are an active breed type so those needs should be met in order to keep them content, yet they also love to snuggle with their human family members and are very affectionate. There are limitless possibilities as to their potential. My line has therapy dogs, dogs that have attained CGC's to goat herding certificates, in it.

If you have experience in positive training with more stubborn breeds whom also have a high intelliegence, this type of dog just might be the callenge for you

About my Dogs/Pups/Health Information

 Here at Noble Pawz only the healthiest and most stable of temperaments are bred;    My dogs I am proud to say can adapt nicely into many a household IF the proper research is undertaken prior to ensure such a  canine is the right type of dog for ones home environment, and lifestyle.  I raise my puppies using the Early Neurological Stimulation (Super Puppy Module)  this helps ensure from the moment they come into this world, they have a healthy start in life.  Here at Noble Pawz my first priority is for the health and total well being (including a long happy life) of my puppies.  All puppies are examined prior to going to new homes by my vet. I stand by the health of my dogs, and all pups are guaranteed to be free of any and all parasites external or internal. All my adult canines have access to a high quality meat based diet and no expense is spared when it comes to their nutrition and good vet care. I have never had Parvo or any other such vaccine related disease on my grounds, and am hyper vigilant when it comes to making sure none of my pups are exposed to any unhealthy external sources. My pups are guaranteed against any genetic disorder. Puppies by the time they come to their new owners have already been given an excellent start in being highly socialized to various sights, sounds and experiences, I encourage all owners highly to continue with this throughout the animals life.

 

 

Ensuring The Right Placements

So many people buy a variety of canines on impulse every year, without thoroughly doing their homework.  All breed rescues  are full of canines that were relinquished for a variety of reasons.  (Millions of dogs and cats die on a yearly basis due to irresponsible breeding and buying) Most often than not  dogs are dumped due to the caretakers not being able to handle that cute cuddly pup anymore once they grew up big and strong, and is now an adult the owners simply cannot live with and tolerate.   All dogs including the wolfdog breed type do not come to their new homes already fully trained and able to comprehend what is wanted of them.

  Unrealistic expectations of the canine, or simply not being bothered to take the pup through obedience training create unruly, dominant acting, unhandleable canids.  I want all my puppy buyers to receive a puppy they can live and laugh with.  BUT the dog can only be as good as the owners own time, dedication, patience and knowledge of how to properly raise another living, breathing, thinking individual.   I am here for the life of the dog/pup and the owners, they can call me at 2 in the morning if need be, I want the transition from my home to the new owners to be as smooth as possible for all parties involved. Happy buyers make for happy puppies and a happy me. 

I consider my puppy buyers as extended members of the family, my commitment does not end just because the pup leaves my immediate care.  Of course this is why making the right placement the first time is of the upmost importance, more so than simply the sale. Money alone never gets someone a pup from me.  This is why I have my applications to fill out and my contracts to help me make sure I make the right choice of home the first time round. It is very difficult to rehome this breed type, and some never truly rebond to another family again.

 

 

Breeding To Better A Breed

I take breeding very seriously. Having been involved deeply with rescuing all types of canines from Siberian Huskies to wolfdogs, I have been in the trenches first hand, I've seen and heard all the excuses owners will give to get rid of their responsibility.  Because I have been so deeply and actively involved in rescue, I also know how tight my own breeding protocol has to be in order to help prevent any of my pups from ever winding up in an abusive/neglectful home, where eventually they may wind up in rescue. 

 

 I am proud to say I stand by all my dogs, and will do everything within my power to not only ensure they never windup in rescue but I take back my pups for life. This should not be something the puppy buyers should take advantage, any owner has their own share of responsibility.  I choose the most dedicated owners for my puppies.

 

For the person who goes the distance however in sharing their life with one, they will never look back.

I often say any canine from Poodles to Alaskan Malamutes can either be your worst nightmare and like you have brought home the anti christ, or one of the most amazing journeys you will ever trek.  It all depends on the lack of knowledge and preparation on the new caretakers part.   My dogs are watered down versions of my wolves, and are wolfie looking due to careful selection of certain traits I wish to see.  Breeding to me is a continual improvement.

 

I hike with them, train them, and take them on outings. However I must also state just as different as a yorkie is from a German Shepherd my dogs are as different from other canines as well in respect to their own specific needs and requirements.

 

I only breed to choose the best of all traits in my dogs physically, (health wise and looks) and emotionally (stability and gentleness with a drive to work) if a dog does not have everything I feel it has to better the breed or to help compliment another of my dogs, then they will not be bred.  The wolfdog breed type can, if the owner is well prepared take you on an amazing journey. I would not breed and sell anything I myself would not also wish to buy,  and be proud to share my life with.

 

 

 

 

Think you have what it takes to be owned by one?

Then go here Policies Page and apply here Application Page