Wolfdogs as Service Dogs?
I get many emails asking about whether dogs with wolf heritage, would be a better mix to use as a service dog over top of say a well established purebred dog breed. I first would like to say speaking from the vantage point of someone whom has worked with various purebred dog breeds as well as many verified mixes of such, all the way to pure wolves. I have come to see the diversity of personality ranges within even old lines of domesticated dogs, that breed true and uniformly in looks. There are *some* wolfdogs out there that can be suited well to be service dogs, and have attained such status quietly, they are not common however, and would not be my professional first choice. ( For one such animals are banned throughout the majority of Canada, with only a few remaining Provinces not yet Banned) They are banned in MANY states as well. So be aware of anyone peddling such dogs as such, they may have found a new fangled way to sell their no background dogs to the public. 
Just as many use the word wolf in the line to make it seem like it is more mysterious, wild and exotic, even if the dog is a Siberian husky represented as a wolfdog. It simply is not very credible for someone to come along and start making such claims, over top of a purebred dog breeder of say belgian turvurens whom have PROVEN that sort of consistency in the line. I make that suggestion of possible service dog with my own line, only because I have produced some temperaments in my litters that would be more suited than perhaps one of their siblings to be placed in such a program. But that is not what I breed specific for, and no wolfdog breeders in all of Canada NONE have accomplished this. Typically wolfdogs used as such (the few and far between) are canines that are so far removed from the wolf equation, they are simply mutt dogs like you would find at the pound (northern breed mixes)
Two the Rabies vaccine is not approved for usage in dogs with wolf in them THUS, it is ILLEGAL for veterinarians to treat them with such in illegal Provinces, (they could lose their license) and in legal Provinces, such a thing is a massive liabiliy if any organization certifies or endorses such canines. If a public/private organization does give their stamp of approval and something occurs, they set themselves up for a heavy lawsuit. Not to mention due to the rabies vaccine not approvaged for usage the kid/adult so much as SCRATCHED accidentally has to endur a series of painful rabies shots and the dog does not get the quarantine period other dogs do.
Question:
Hi,
I am in the process of trying to find a service dog. I've gone through programs wihtout much success, so I've started down the road of training my own. I have been in contact with a woman who has just bred her service dog, and is willing to give me one of hers for free. (At this point, you're probably wondering why in the world I'm emailing you...) I asked her about the breeding of the pups, and she said the mother is a shepherd (she told me what kind, but I don't remember), and the father is 1/4 German shepherd and 3/4 wolf. I know nothing else about the lineage. She said that her trainer said this is the best mix for a service dog.
So, I've tried doing research on wolfdogs and their personality and what not, but I haven't been able to find the information that will answer my question. I looked over several breeder's webpages in hopes to get help from one of them, and out of all the ones I've looked at, yours is the most informative (albeit a little difficult for me to read). So. Here is my question. Would a wolfdog make a good service dog? There's probably more questions I should be asking along with this, but I have no idea what; so, if you have any addition thoughts that might be of use to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Noble Pawz' Response:
Here at our facility, we truly do understand the info. we talk about and not just write out the info. Service dogs can come in all breed and breed mixes, as it comes down to more personality suited for the job(s) vs. breed/and breed type although some breeds are more prone to becoming such animals than say others (having a bit more of a chance to become so)
what exactly are you looking for when you say service dog?
what kinds of things are you hoping to train the dog in (your expectations ?)
I cannot agree that such a canine is the best mix for a service dog. Sounds like someone trying to peddle something. I have worked with so many different purebred dogs and mixes, and though some of the purebreds out there are a bit more suited (Belgian turvuren and malinois being but two examples) I have met several mixes of all kinds (including a couple of northern mixes that could possibly have wolf somewhere in their line) that could knock some peoples socks off in the past. These were animals with such minimal wolf to be unrecognizable as anything other than a mutt mix dog.
Anything with wolf in it, even if it's a small amount you are adding something that is either going to compliment that line, or be something that makes that line less stable, (depends on what the breeder is breeding FOR and that they understand genetics well enough to accomplish the goal, due to just how different wolf can be from typical domestic dogs.)
Wolves perform behaviors with more intensity and frequency depending on the circumstances, than average dogs out there, they can be highly reactive at inopportune times, (not a trait desired in service dogs) and completely have their own ways of doing things, they can get into a zone of focus that once there noone can break them out of (wolf trait), granted the more wolf you get in there the more this holds true.
It really, comes down to evaluation in the end no matter the animal, and what exactly that evaluation shows in order to properly train and place the pup. I say a dog is only as good that way as what the owner puts into hem BUT also in the end no matter the nurture, nature holds a great deal of water . When you involve wild animal into domesticated breeding you need to breed carefully and very selectively. You can bring out the best of traits or the worst. When you breed any line of dogs including wolfdogs, you need to understand BOTH sides of the equation (lineage) cause when pups are born you are going to get a mixed batch of marbles inherited from both sides.
I cannot say nor recommend in good faith my FIRST choice when thinking of a service dog is a wolfdog breed type UNLESS the person breeds specifically for certain things, and even then like even in any purebred litter you will get a wide range of personalities from softer to harder.
Some breeders will tell a buyer what they want to hear. There is one breeder in Canada who has stolen a few things from my noblepawz site (and put my info into her own words) still stealing! and has placed it on her own site right down to talking about how we raise our pups. Yet they are complete novices and newbies to it all yet coming across like she knows what she they are doing. Scary out there, for sure. Luckily I understand all the lines practically in existence when it comes to wolfdogs, but someone starting out...yeah scary place!!! your told so many different things.
I breed first and foremost for companionship a hiking/sledding/family buddy. I breed for a gentle sweet disposition. In my litters though quite a few have been born that would be good in various service arenas even though I did not breed specific to such. I breed for specifics like health and temperament, and wind up getting some pretty exceptional animals here and there, they are all wonderful of course, but some shine more than others and would be more suited to something *extra* than what they were even bred originally for.
There is no straight up answer to you other than to say this pup you are looking at has it been prelim tested on seeing if it has enough stability in it's temperament to be a service dog? I don't think one should look so much at what is in the animal though. You are MORE likely however as I said to get a good service dog from a purebred dog breeder (some well bred Belgian lines or old German Shepherd lines) whom breed CONSISTENT and true every litter and can point to previous results of such canines being produced. So far I'm getting most buyers simply wanting a companion animal. Minus the Hollywood movie trainers who do work my pups (they have jobs)
What the wolf can do if in the right program I do wish to point out however is give the line a bit of an edge when it comes to intelligence and the dog being that much more *intuned* with their human stewards.
One last thing you said it was difficult to read on my site, can you please explain that a bit more I am always looking to improve such things for readers.
Thanks again. I hope I have helped you but even a little with your question. Don't hesitate to ask anything else