This video was in no way made to promote the breeding, selling, or purchasing of Wolfdogs. It was meant to be informative, and DETER people away from getting one. HOWEVER...there will always be breeders, and there will always be buyers. Just like any pet, if you're going to get a Wolfdog, get one from a responsible breeder, and make sure that you are 110% ready for the challenges.
I'm sorry, did you say FIRST EVER GROOM????? And she's THIS calm?!?!?! I legit thought she'd been through plenty grooming sessions given how calm she is. That's amazing.
@@hospitalcakewalkcan attest. A friend of mine worked at wild animal sanctuary. Cared for a wolf. As in wild wolf grown in the wild. He was surprisingly well behaved, quiet and calm. Not a pet, not really liking humans that much, but did stuff like put on muzzle and leash with no protest.
My mom had a wolf. Cheyenne was part arctic wolf and part timber wolf. No dog in her. She was the most amazing animal I have ever known. She never showed aggression except one time when a man approached that made my mom uneasy. Cheyenne picked up on Mom's reaction and low key let the man know he was not welcome. Otherwise, she was pure joy. Allowed the kids to sit on her and pull her tail. Let Mom know when a tornado was coming once. Protected us. Stunningly beautiful, but funny and smart. She would howl if we got her going. RIP Cheyenne. You will always be a part of us.
What an incredible story. It sounds like Cheyenne had the same spirit as the first wolves who lived in harmony with humans so many hundreds of years ago. 💖
Years ago, I had a friend who had grown up around wolfdogs and became the person the local SPCA would call when they got a wolfdog. Wolfdogs are ineligible for adoption in my area, so they'd go to her to join her pack and live out their lives in reasonable comfort. However, part of her intake process was calling me up to come visit as the "designated stranger". As Vanessa says, wolves do NOT like new people/things. A new wolfdog was pretty likely to become terrified or aggressive toward the mailman or the meter reader, so my friend developed a kind of ad hoc system for teaching them that new COULD be okay. She’d have me come over and hang out with treats in my pockets (usually bits of steak). The new wolfdog would snarl and snap at me, but eventually they'd learn from watching their packmates that I was chill and mostly ignored the wolves, except to give treats to wolves who asked nicely. (Any wolfdog was always free to avoid or ignore me, but the better-socialized ones and the old-timers saw me as a source of noms and scritches.) It sometimes took multiple visits to convince the new wolfdog that either avoiding me or accepting treats was better than threatening me. I was happy to do it because I knew it helped the animals, but I do NOT recommend the experience of having a wolf snarl at you repeatedly at close range. I trusted my friend, paid attention, and never got hurt, but it's not a nice way to spend a day. Imagine having to go through that process EVERY TIME someone visits your house. Except unlike my friend, you don't have years of experience with wolfdogs to keep you safe. Much as I loved those animals, I wouldn’t trust most of the people who want them as pets to take proper care of them. I heard the stories of how my friend's pack members landed at the SPCA. Please, please, PLEASE don't get a wolfdog. They are wonderful animals who don't deserve what most humans do to them.
There's someone on tumblr who talked about how their parents unknowingly acquired a low-content wolfdog from a shelter (the shelter didn't realise what they had and were like "you're experienced dog owners, this one is a lovely animal but a bit of a handful"). Apparently she *was* a lovely animal, but the 'bit of a handful' part was an extreme understatement. They decided that this was going to be a one-time thing, because it was incredibly difficult to dog-proof their house against her, she had to be heavily bribed to tolerate new people, and sometimes she'd throw freshly-killed animals at her family.
My family unknowingly dog sat a friends 1 year old dog, which turned out to be a mid content wolf dog. After weeks of being with us out of the blue she attacked and almost killed my little sister, if it hadn’t been for our German shepherd who alerted us and helped save her. It was terrifying. No one should have these dogs!
That sounds amazing, scary, but amazing. ...wondering if any wolfdog sanctuary's would let me be the stranger if I have one of those padded dog suits...
I get why you say this, but every dog can learn. Your sister may have upset the wolf dog, and being that while you guys had been there for awhile, you were still somewhat strangers and they were only a year old. You should always watch dogs around kids, especially a wolf dog and pay attention to the body language.
The fact that she was behaved enough to give many warnings and still not even bite when she was uncomfortable about the nails shows how well the owners have worked with this dog. I enjoyed watching this one
Yes! I was most impressed by how deliberate she was with the air snap. You can almost see Akeela thinking before she snaps: "This is how I will communicate my discomfort." And when Vanessa backs off appropriately, Akeela registers that and understands that her warning has been heard. She's no longer over her threshold (where she feels she needs to defend herself) and has no need to escalate further.
And it shows how difficult having a wolfdog is and how stressful life is for them. Breeding and buying wolfdogs is unethical. It involves cruelty to the animals even from the "best" breeders. The puppies have to be taken from their mother at 4 weeks - that in itself is cruel. So many wolfdogs are surrendered to shelters and they are all immediately killed.
Many warnings? She didnt give a single sign of warning. Dont confuse signs of discomfort or anxiety with the escalation routine which you have to train with your hybrid, since chances are its less prominent compared to fully domesticated breeds. Not saying the owners failed on their part, he's only 2 years old. But they clearly need to speed it up a notch within the next 12 months.
@@polkhigh_33 I was thinking the licking was a sign of anxiety or feeling some discomfort and usually snapping is a result of that. The half way snap could also be called a warning snap versus a real bite
@@newdark definitely a warning snap - she didn’t quite snap close enough to actually connect with vanessa’s hand. i’ve noticed that wolves and therefore wolfdogs tend to be a lot more feral (for lack of a better word) in their mannerisms so they tend to growl and snap a lot more than a regular dog
I'm impressed with that wolfdog. Even her "ok, we're done" snap was just a warning, as her jaws closed short of your hand, even if you hadn't moved it. However, great call on the muzzle, as the warning snap was full force and loud to get her point across.
They can be so smart. They know when you don't really mean to harm them. A warning to back off is better than you get from some humans before they lose it...
In college, I had a friend, who brought his Malamute/wolf mix back from his job in Alaska. He was roommates with a brother who owned a Doberman. Those two canines were awesome buddies. The Doberman was more scary looking than the 'massive Grey husky'' that everyone thought the wolf-boy was. Those guys never had to worry about a break-in. I only had to remember not to run around the dogs, cause the Dob liked to nip my behind, and Wolf liked to sit on me. 😂❤
Amazing. I worked with a guy once who had a pure wolf (genetic test showed something like 98% wolf) that he literally raised from like 2 days old, and while he was friendly and gentle as a lamb, there was something so wild and feral about him it really sets your monkey brain wanting to run up the nearest tree. He’d bring him to the worksite and he (the wolf) would hang out with me underneath the cabin I was working on where it was nice and cool. I think it was his smell that triggered that response more than anything else. He didn’t smell bad by any means, but he didn’t smell like a dog, and it was noticeable, and when you’d catch his silhouette out of the corner of your eye it was startling. Because he was raised from such a young age by a human, he never learned how to howl, instead he “talked” to his owner, kind of like a lower pitched husky, in a surprisingly human cadence. XD
That's so interesting, about the smell! It's probably hard to put your finger on, but does anything come to mind of what he smelled like? Anything similar so I can live vicariously? I always thought we like the smell of puppy breath, because it tickles our dopamine brain of growing alongside wolves as we transitioned them to dogs....new pups=survival win!
i get the monkey brain part of this... while akela looks quite meek for her background, there's something about her that screams "beware" to some corner of my mind
@@DragonsRUs1414 it’s really hard to describe. I guess as a baseline i would describe a dog as smelling slightly musty with a hint of stagnant water and something a little sweet. The wolf smelled similar, but more musky than musty, and kind of spicy rather than sweet? Or more metallic than sweet, perhaps. Sharper, more wild, more dangerous. Like the smell of the desert during a thunderstorm.
@@namtellectjoonal7230 If that dog wanted to bite her it would have. That was just Akela's way of saying I don't like my paws handled. In the wild my paws are my life so I'm protective of them. I've had a golden do this to me once. It happens.
In the 70s,we had a wolfdog. My parents basically assumed we adopted a wolf and all 7 of us kids (whom were familiar with wildlife) respected the heck out of that pup. He was gorgeous, loyal and, with massive nurturing, was the bestest puppers ever. I would never own a wolfdog these days.
Indeed. My husband, when he was young, had somehow acquired a female 1/2 timber wolf. He had no idea how to handle and train a pet like this. He realized he was out of his realm when she tried to attack a friend that stopped by. When I say attack actually she wanted to tear him to bits. Fortunately no one was injured. He found another home for her.
You really gotta give credit to Akela's owners. I have never seen a wolfdog so well-behaved around strangers. Even the best-trained wolfdogs can be very reactive in new environments and without their owners around. Akela's owners did a very good job with her!
There was a low-content wolfdog at the doggy daycare I used to work at, and even though he was a total sweetie, he was also scary smart. Like, figured out how to open the gates that I, a human with thumbs, sometimes struggled with. Definitely not for the faint or heart
I grew up with two wolf dogs in my neighborhood. To this day, they are the smartest animals I have ever known. A brother and sister pair, they were the unofficial "babysitters" for the kids on my block. They adored the children, but our parents always kept their distance (they weren't too fond of the adults, especially not men). The male was a little Houdini and was constantly escaping to do his "patrols" while his sister lazed in the sun on the porch all day. For the record, it was a fairly quiet and isolated area I grew up in. Not a lot of people and not a lot of traffic. So they weren't at risk of getting injured or attacking others. They even loved the mailman on our route since they had known him since they were puppies, so his daily visits were part of their "schedule". I adored them. Loyal, clever, stubborn, and absolutely wild. Knowing what I know now, I don't really support people owning these kinds of dogs if they weren't a part of a rescue or don't have previous experience/education. They deserve better than that. They need people who will have the patience, the knowledge, and the respect. They aren't the average couch potatoes and shouldn't be cared for by individuals who get them because they think it's "cool". Edit: Their names were Kaynan and Kalina. Lol. I keep making edits because I remember small little things. I miss those two.
I can’t even imagine leaving kids unsupervised with a full-on dog, much less one with wolf in them. I’m glad neither the kids nor the wolf dogs got hurt
@@pigcatapult We knew better than to mess with them. It was more of a "we play and they guard" situation. Lol. We didn't approach - if they wanted to be pet, they'd come to us. Everything was on their terms.
The best way not to have the problematic traits of a wolf show up is to NOT breed a dog with a wolf. It took thousands of years to breed those characteristics out and now people want to put them back in the mix. It just seems kinda dumb.
I wish more people talked about mixed wild cats too! Cats themselves already aren't actually domesticated and many fail to understand that they NEED playtime, enrichment and attention even if they are mostly laid back. People get breeds like Bengals and such bc they look fancy without knowing how active they are and underestimate how much care they actually need.
It is true that cats have not been domesticated as long as dogs have and they still have a wild streak in them. Certain breeds like Savannahs and Bengals are very close in nature to wild cats.
@@cherylhurst7093those breeds are crossbred with wild animals which is why they have wild traits. That's different from domestic cats (which descended from African wild cats) having been domesticated for a shorter period of time than dogs.
@@cherylhurst7093 how long they’ve been domesticated is a bad metric for “how domesticated” an animal is, but cat’s have been domesticated far longer than for example horses, pigs, chickens and cows. They are not at all wild. Savannah’s and bengals are both breeds made by hybridisation with wild cats, they are that way because they’re not 100% domesticated cat, and therefore experience the same kind of issues wolf-dogs do. For some reason (less regulations and not as dire consequences for humans due to cats smaller size if I would guess) it’s been more accepted in cat breeding and even though most bengals and savannahs have a quite low percentage of wild cat there’s still new G1’s bred which really shouldn’t be allowed just as with wolf-dog hybrids :/
Vanessa: "The fact that Akela is allowing me.." Akela's eyes, peaking from the happy(ish) hoodie: "... not by my own volition nor free will lady, I assure you 😰" Sweet girl ❤
A friend had a half-coyote, a cross between a Belgian sheepdog and a wild coyote that jumped the fence. She looked very much like Akela, but more the size of a border collie. I remember her as being very strongly bonded to her owner, very active and jittery. Her owner felt that being female, and being a cross with a working breed, a sheep herding dog, made it easier to socialize and train her. Still, as a pet, she was a very demanding responsibility. She needed to be with him almost all the time and needed a lot of exercise. Fortunately, he could manage that, and had a very calm temperament himself.
My Mom grew up with a CoyDog, named Towser. She doesnt know what he was crossed with but she did say he was the most loyal loving dog shes ever known. Very protective of her and her siblings. This was back in the late 1930's in Alberta.
My ex boyfriend also had a coydog, coyote and husky (we think). She was pure white with yellow eyes. She was skittish around strangers, great with kids, but couldn't be trusted around cats or anything small like that because of her high prey drive.
Wow, the coat is absolutely silky gorgeous post groom. You did a good job educating us on the breed and its needs. Best to allow the wild beasts to run free with their packs. There are plenty of domesticated dogs who need loving forever homes.
Our family had a wolf hybrid named Maggie when we were young. (IT WAS THE 90S) We used to run her along side our station wagon while we played fire truck and stood on the back bumper. She would run for hours. She was an amazing dog and was the sweetest thing ever. When we had to move, the sheriff's office asked our mom if they could adopt her to keep for themselves. Us kids just assumed our dog found a job.. The actual story was not only did Maggie find a couple of missing kids, she also helped find some drugs in a random car that led to a huge arrest. Our mom kept the new report and we found it a few years ago after she passed, in her belongings. Maggie did get a job after all. :) (We were taught specific ways to interact with her. let her come to us, not us try to grab her. not to feed her treats from our hands, not to yell too loud around her. Our mom worked with wolves prior to getting her so knew what to expect)
I really don’t know much about wolf dogs at all, but from your description it sounds like your old wolf dog was smarter than any domesticated dog could have been. Did I interpret the story right that she wasn’t trained the find the kids and drugs, but just did it on her own initiative? If so that’s pretty impressive.
@@alisonlaett9625 Might have had some Australian shepherd or collie in her. If they're interested in something they'll teach themselves or figure it out. Probably viewed human children as her "puppies" as a group (or if she had herding dog in her, her flock). As far as sniffing out drugs? Yeah, they're gonna pick that up fast when you mix herding dog with wolf provided they're raised well.
You can tell it’s a wolf by the front legs being right together like this baby’s are. Her long nose, and the way she looks up at you from under her eyelashes. Super props to this lady’s owners.
Narrow chest, long legs, big paws, big fuzzy ears that come to rounded points. Her eyes are fairly dark, though; that's what made it clear to me that she wasn't high-content.
The question is why are so many of her clients buying super high-maintenance dogs? What is the point of buying a dog that comes with so many extra problems and risks?
@@joeoleary9010 vanessa offers free grooms and seems to take on a lot of difficult clients that other groomers will reject so rather than a lot of owners having high maintenance animals, it’s more that the ones with high maintenance animals come to her
My parents had hybrids when I was growing up. Sort of a sanctuary, of sorts, taking ones that were seized from the state or unwanted. Had large portions of land sectioned off and they were kept on outdoors. Most had behavior issues or wete poorly trained, basically feral. I honestly think people shouldn't even bother breeding them because they are not for the faint of heart.
This is what was going through my mind watching the video - what if someone wants one for whatever reason and then finds out that they're out of their league and can't actually train them? By the time they realise they failed, it's probably too late to properly socialise and train the wolf-dog. What then? Unlike regular dogs who can generally learn some degree of domestication and training at any age, with a wolf-dog it sounds like a time-critical opportunity. I'm glad your parents were able to provide feral wolf-dogs with a home but it doesn't seem fair to deliberately breed wolf-dogs when there's such a high chance they may end up just feral.
My friends socialized theirs from a couple who kept him a trailer alone, with the help of the other dogs they had, and when 10 pups joined the pack, he was the best lupine uncle for them.
One of the reasons I love this channel is Vanessa's knowledge of all the breeds she works on. Not only is it informative, it's entertaining!! Keep up the great work Vanessa!
A friend of mine owned a wolf-dog hybrid - not from a breeder, but rescued from a northern reserve. That dog was the gentlest animal I've ever known; she was a certified TD and they spent years volunteering with her in nursing homes and the children's hospital.
Not saying this is definitely the case for your friend, but lots of people 'think' they have a wolf-dog hybrid and its not. Especially if it behaves that much like a long-domesticated dog breed.
Every time I see a wolf, I want to cry. They are majestic and I thank them so much for dogs, dogs are everything to me. Brings so much joy to this dark world, I wish we would treat dogs, wolves, and all animals better.
My neighbors had a wolf-dog named Sheba. She was a sweet girl who lived to be quite old. We lived in the country so she roamed between our two houses. I’d feed her when they were gone and spend time at their pool with her. The only time she came to my home and laid on my front porch was during a really bad thunderstorm. I opened the door and she came into the foyer to stay safe until the storm was over then went back outside. But she did look back over her shoulder as she walked back home to her house.
My dad’s best friend had a wolf hybrid, I forgot what he was mixed with but I believe he was more wolf than dog. He was a VERY sweet boy, but was definitely territorial. He loved being cuddled and being used as a big pillow 💜 He was the “best man” in my dad and stepmoms wedding, and when his owner passed away my dad took care of him, but he was also elderly by that point. He spent most of his time in my dad’s care just lounging around the backyard that he shared with a giant tortoise lol The tortoise was actually probably more of a danger than he was though!
We went on a walk with wolves once (at a sanctuary), and there was a lot of discussion about wolfdogs. The sanctuary owners explained it using our own dogs - essentially, take a primitive dog breed like the Akita, amp up every trait that sets them apart from more normal breeds, then make them less civilised and...wolfdog. She said that while people who've previously had primitive breeds probably have the best chance of success, they're still almost always not quite prepared for the scale of the task ahead of them.
Growing up I had a shiba inu which needs around the same training methods as an Akita so when I rescued a goldendoodle the training was SOOO much different
@@cofffee817 I have a shiba inu now and he would not behave as well as this wolfdog did. He has alot of things he is scared of so we have to constantly work with him on that. And absolutely ONLY those he knows extreamly well may touch him. And when we clip his nails it's time for shiba-scream 😂. Apart from that he is super easy, well behaved and happy.
@@cofffee817 - to be honest, we've barely had to do any training with our Akita. Even though she'd never lived in a house before, she arrived home at 5 months old and just instantly knew how to behave, and she's always basically been the adult in the room. In fact, she's done more of the heavy-lifting in terms of house-training our two subsequent rescue dogs than we have. Truly a one-in-a-million dog.
It was easy to see this was a wolf by the way she walked into your house. Good looking pup, well mannered also. The owners did a very good job with her. Glad you showed the slow mo of her snapping. Made it easy to see she was targeting the trimmers, not you.
@@AStandsForFrench nah, if the dog wants to bite it is clear, but they often start with warning jaw snapping right next to you, they don't really want to bite anyone, just end what they don't like.
@@melodi996 This was more of an intimidation than "I will kill you" kind of bite. A wolf wouldn't have missed even while restrained. In fact, it's clear she could easily broke the leash if she truly wanted to.
That’s more common than you’d think - damn near every wolfdog owner (except the one with the 😊bipolar wolfdog I know) I know has to go above and beyond to get them trained well enough to be out in public.
She’s absolutely gorgeous. Look at that coat! Whew, glad you’re quick and respectful of those wolf boundaries, any warning that might’ve come before that little snippety snap was too subtle for most humans to even read. But she clearly didn’t want to hurt you, just really get your attention. What an incredible creature.
What an absolutely gorgeous creature she is. I can't believe she is this well behaved. This is an amazing video, Vanessa! _FYI: Wolf Hybrid Dog ownership is illegal in 12 US states including Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wyoming._
Wow that was a close one! I didn’t see that little bit of aggression coming. The wolf dog was very well trained and behaved wonderfully for the most part. Very cool to see.
I love how even though she did take a snap at your hand, the slow-mo was clear that she snapped short of your hand - just a warning snap. Her owner must be an amazing trainer and owner.
Props to the owner for seeing and keeping up with all that training, and props to you for your deft handling and educational information of this beautiful canine. One of my friends had a wolf dog when I was growing up, and the family made sure that he was well socialized, and had very strict rules for when guests were over. Hunter was an amazing animal, so well behaved due to the constant training and upkeep, and he lived a wonderful life. A very very happy canine. But as Vanessa says, PLEASE do your research before thinking of buying one of these hybrids. They need top notch care, a very firm hand at the wheel, and company.
Imagine being Vanessa’s friends or family… going out to dinner “how was work today” “oh you know, fine, normal just groomed a wolf” 😂 I just like living vicariously through her each day!
My parents temporarily owned a wolf dog before I was born - a friend needed to house him for a few months and they raised huskies & malamutes, so they knew a bit about big, smart, independent dogs. Even so a wolf hybrid was a lot. He wasn’t interested in fences and he was smart enough to open most latch gates, so keeping him contained was a constant battle. He knew where the food was and while he was trained not to help himself, he WOULD open the cabinet, herd you to it, and keep you there until you fed him. Overall, great story, but not exactly a good pet.
Lol Lov it This beautiful Creature was just proving he was still wild and free and was not going to change all of his Nature for any Human Good for him
I have had several malamutes. Not much could keep most of them confined. Nothing could keep my favorite, the pure white "Makya" confined (doors, windows, walls, chains, etc)!
Oh she’s so beautiful! And so good. That snap was a calm clear statement of her boundaries. This she wolf deserves every ounce of respect you and others give her. That’s a lot of smart stubborn wild dogs bred into one. Kutos to the owners for doing such a good job with her.
For this to be her first groom, she was beautifully behaved. That snap would’ve scared me and then I would’ve giggled but she’s not highly aggressive kudos to the family who owns her.❤
My aunt & uncle went through a wild animal as a pet phase back in the 90s. My uncle started with a wolf, got her as a pup I think & she bonded fiercely to him. Got her a half-wolf friend later thinking to give her company of her own kind but that didn’t work out. They tore up the backyard, had to be chained up so they wouldn’t jump the fences. My uncle didn’t provide anything for them beyond basic training & wasn’t fit to even keep them. He finally gave them up, thank goodness, but I don’t know what prompted that. You’d think he had learned his lesson but no; he bought a bobcat to keep him company in the cab of his semi. 🤦🏽♀️ They only have regular dogs now but he’s still kind of an idiot.
It astonishes me how it's still legal in the US to keep wild animals like wolves and bobcats. You'd think governments would see the "wild" in their name and say "Nope! Nobody is ever going to own that!". So stupid.
I grew up with wolf hybrids.... My dad bred them.... This was back in the 80s...but his were typically 75% wolf 25% malamute.... And of the 3 or 4 litters our dog Kelly had, most of the hybrids stayed within the family. My brothers each had one and my dad kept 5 or 6 of them over the years.... Largest one he had was Tiffin, he stood over 6ft on his hind legs, still to this day has his pelt..... At the time we lived in a very rural area of Colorado... And my dad is a cowboy is the truest sense of the word. Worked with his hands, and was on horseback probably 80% of his 80 years..... If not more.... He had a horseback packing trip company into the Colorado back country for many years, and his wolfdogs were part of their protection.... I mean over the years I've seen more of Colorado on my feet, or by horseback than by car lol.... My dad was always the stereotypical outdoor guy before it became a fad .... He was the real deal and could literally live out off the land for weeks at a time, and had many many times ... And the wolfdogs we had were just part of it.... Was and is the best thing I could've been taught and experience in life.... But I don't think anyone who isn't a firm leader and isn't experienced should ever own a wolfdog, because you will quickly get in way over your head... And then ultimately the hybrid will suffer for it.....
@@catherinewilson1079I do now yes.... Not as far out in the country as I want just yet. And you are so right, I went from Colorado being my backyard, to living in California in the San Francisco Bay area, and was miserable and always wanted to move out. But life got in the way. However 4 years I knew I wasn't going to put up with city dwelling any longer and moved from California to the deep south, southern Alabama.... And the peace is priceless..... Growing up with my father we were very poor but we farmed, so all our food came from growing it, and we all helped with that, and from hunting by my dad and older brothers .... But those are some of my best life experiences and best memories, because being with my dad was never dull and boring.... We were a large blended family of, 4 in my original parents pod, 2 stepbrothers and 2 half siblings from my father's 2nd marriage.... I miss life being that simple, wholesome and fun....
@@rondameier8168 I hear ya! Have lived in farm country and in the woods, but now at 70 on my own in a small (10K) town. If I was married, I’d be living in the country in a flash❣️It is the only way to live in peace and quiet.
My 81 yo aunt has a wolf hybrid. He's beautiful & HUGE - he weighs about 170. He looks more like a gray wolf than a dog. He's very well-behaved & sweet, & is extremely protective of my aunt. Very glad she has him to keep her safe.
Had a part wolf dog malamute as a kid. He was the best dog ever. Super smart. He loved to watch me as a baby, fetching my mom if he thought I needed her. An excellent guard dog, but also your new best friend once invited into our home. ❤ And he never bit a soul btw.
When I worked for a petstore a long time ago we had a regular with a wolfdog. He was absolutely massive, and also the biggest baby. Once when they were in the store one of my coworkers accidentally dropped a can and the dog was ready to LEAVE NOW lol. We always gave them their space because the wolfdog was so skittish, but man he was beautiful to look at.
If you hadn't told us what Akele was, breed wise, you'd have never guessed her breed. She is sooooo incredible calm, and chill AF!!!! Her owners have done an awesome job with her!!!!!
Whenever I see a well socialized dog, I remember how my mother socialized our Chow, Smokey. When he was still a lil puppy and welcoming of attention, she would take him for walks where he would encounter a LOT of people, and while get was getting pet and loved on she would tell him "You be nicey dog" over and over again. Later, as he entered his adolescent phase, she began giving treats to strangers who wanted to pet him and having him Heel and Sit before she'd say You Be Nicey Dog and he got treats and pets and love. As an adult, he was bonded to mom 1000% and did not seek affection or even attention from others in the house. Most days he'd growl if approached during his nap while mom was at work... but if mom was there to say You Be Nicey Dog, suddenly he was all wagging tail and yes please scratch my ears and back yes I will lick you I will Lick The Crap Out Of You He lived to the ripe age of 14, and passed on a few years ago. I still remember the grumpy old dog fondly 😊
The fact that she's better behaved than most usual breeds who you've worked on, and this is her first groom, is a testament to her owners. They've done a remarkable job with her. She's beautiful.
She was the bestest girl ever. This was her first professional groom???? And no singing the song of her people, only snapped once (although that was very close) but didn't struggle with the muzzle when you did put in on her. The biggest of props to her humans. To get her to that point could not have been easy.
Oh, she's GORGEOUS. And I imagine she was also quite a handful to train, but it was worth the owner's effort. Can't believe how cool she was being groomed apart from that one snap.
My parents and I had a cleaning business and our one client had two wolf hybrids they kept outside (fenced in yard, lots of livestock) and a really tiny mutt (probably a lot of chihuaua). Those were some of the sweetest, most intelligent dogs I've ever met, and they protected that little one and their goats and ducks so well
Talking about food guarding reminds me of a video about feeding a tiger at a zoo. The handler mentioned letting the tiger be thorough about cleaning his bowl, so he knows it's definitely empty before taking it away.
That last pic of her. With her head turned is amazing. Even the way her eyes stared ahead. Can see in her little soul she is very wise!! And clever gal!!! She is beautiful as ever!! My eldest daughter had a wolf dog someone kidnapped her or rather dog napped her she never got over losing her ! But yes her coat is stunning the way Sunshine's on it as well!! And ty for all the very honest info on wolf dogs!!
Yamunuska Wolfdog Sanctaury is the only wolfdog sanctuary in Canada. They provide care for rescued wolf dogs, all content levels, and education to the public about these beautiful animals. They also have a YT channel.
I grew up with hybrid wolf dogs and know several ppl who raise them. They are amazing dogs ❤ but you are right they are not for the NOVICE owner in any way. Mine as a child guarded me as their own. I was sickly as a child I had one who slept with me and another that guarded me at all times. They take hours and hours of quiet patience and a firm but gentle hand. Their maintenance and care is not cheap but very necessary. Absolutely awesome video today 😊
I love how you research each animal and give all of us the possible good, bad, and ugly! Thank you for always making great videos! Much love to you, camera man, and your four legged babies!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I adore you and your channel! You are respectful of the beautiful animals and l have learned so much about the breeds and their unique traits. Just saw the sweet young dog and his support rat, loved the matching bandanas! Thank you for all you do.
Even the nip wasn't super aggressive, clearly intended simply as a show of their displeasure as opposed to an attack. It was also directed at the trimmer, not her.
Thank you for mentioning the whole-prey diet necessity; so many people don't consider hide, bones and organ tissues, and so their animal (wolfdog, full dog, or feline) ends up missing out on a lot of crucial nutrients~
Absolutely amazed at Akela's excellent behaviour! What a good girl, she was so patient (until she wasn't, but toes are a touchy subject with a lot of dogs as far as I know, so glad she didn't actually nip you). She's such a pretty girl but wolfdogs are definitely one of those critters I know are best for me to admire from afar.
Very impressed with their behavior. And, yes, they were done with you touching their paws. Lol. Bravo to the owner and to the wolf. Thanks for all the information you provided on the hybrid. As majestic as they are, they're not for me. Be blessed.
A fantastic name for a Wolf Hybrid. Her owners obviously have lots of experience and put in time patience and effort to help her become this calm. She must have had lots of grooming from them. Loved seeing her in the garden and moving, so sleek, so very shiny. I hope Akela returns to you. Maybe her owners would be nice and either do her feet for you or help you by staying while you did them. Thank you for sharing Akela with us.... Such a privilege to see.
First time I have seen a dog on leash in your yard. As always, you are more than a dog whisperer. Thank you for your great patience, love and skill with these beautiful animals.
it's why when they are young you touch their paws as much as the rest of them, to get them use to their paws being touched. as also training the command paw can be helpful as well.
This video was in no way made to promote the breeding, selling, or purchasing of Wolfdogs. It was meant to be informative, and DETER people away from getting one. HOWEVER...there will always be breeders, and there will always be buyers. Just like any pet, if you're going to get a Wolfdog, get one from a responsible breeder, and make sure that you are 110% ready for the challenges.
Also look into the Norther Inuit Dog. They are dogs bred to look like wolves! Maybe you want the wolf look, but you still really want a dog.
Most of us understand what you meant. People are just looking for something to pick a fight over lol
Get ready to be bitten, not even because they're trying to hurt you.
Owning an animal means being responsible for that animal, whether it's a wolf dog or a hamster.
there are no responsible wolfdog breeders, though. that's the problem. breeding them at all is irresponsible.
I’m not just amazed that the wolf dog is well behaved. I’m surprised that it’s part husky and so quiet.
ikr? the wolf genes are certainly strong with this one.
Maybe they canceled each other out?
Same! I was like "nahhhhhhh impossible!".
Wolfs are quiet enough to tame husky genes 😂
😂😂😂
I'm sorry, did you say FIRST EVER GROOM????? And she's THIS calm?!?!?! I legit thought she'd been through plenty grooming sessions given how calm she is. That's amazing.
im gonna assume she probably was groomed many times at home. and had planty of time to socialise which is why she behaved well.
Wolves aren't extremely hyper. If she weren't this calm, THAT would be extremely worrying.
@@namantherockstarreported as spam. Most channel frown upon people self promotion in their comments
@@hospitalcakewalkcan attest. A friend of mine worked at wild animal sanctuary. Cared for a wolf. As in wild wolf grown in the wild. He was surprisingly well behaved, quiet and calm. Not a pet, not really liking humans that much, but did stuff like put on muzzle and leash with no protest.
@@Ульф-щ8ч People just assume them to be like small dogs, but they're just like stoners unless you touch their feet or mouths XD
The shift from angry snarling dog to humiliated in a bright green muzzle was hilarious 😂
Off switch lol
She knew she done f’ed up 😂
@@BobTheHatKing The regret is real. Very smart girl, very aware of her actions begetting consequences.
"aw man :("
The thing is, she could have most likely just ripped that thing by opening her mouth...
Wow that wolfdog is very well behaved, props to the owners for being able to socialize it and train it properly
The result of hard work and dedication right there
That's what I was gonna say, kudos to the owners
@@The_Original_Brad_Miller if I was a dog groomer I would be a big ball of nerves grooming my first Wolfdog
“it”💀
@@six9946 An animal is referred as “it” in case you didnt know 💀💀💀
Not just well behaved for a wolf-dog, she's well behaved for a dog. What an awesome client!
Agreed
Reminds me of Honey on the UA-cam channel “Bob and the Wolf Dogs”. She’s mischievous but also very well behaved
Akila: “I said NO”
Vanessa: In addition to the happy hoodie, we have this delightful muzzle 😅
My mom had a wolf. Cheyenne was part arctic wolf and part timber wolf. No dog in her. She was the most amazing animal I have ever known. She never showed aggression except one time when a man approached that made my mom uneasy. Cheyenne picked up on Mom's reaction and low key let the man know he was not welcome. Otherwise, she was pure joy. Allowed the kids to sit on her and pull her tail. Let Mom know when a tornado was coming once. Protected us. Stunningly beautiful, but funny and smart. She would howl if we got her going. RIP Cheyenne. You will always be a part of us.
Thank you for making your memory of Cheyenne a part of this audience
Lovely story ... thank you for sharing. How long did your mum have Cheyenne?
@@SmileyBlue69 Thank you. She had her for 18 years!
how on earth did she come to have her?? thats so cool!
What an incredible story. It sounds like Cheyenne had the same spirit as the first wolves who lived in harmony with humans so many hundreds of years ago. 💖
Years ago, I had a friend who had grown up around wolfdogs and became the person the local SPCA would call when they got a wolfdog. Wolfdogs are ineligible for adoption in my area, so they'd go to her to join her pack and live out their lives in reasonable comfort. However, part of her intake process was calling me up to come visit as the "designated stranger".
As Vanessa says, wolves do NOT like new people/things. A new wolfdog was pretty likely to become terrified or aggressive toward the mailman or the meter reader, so my friend developed a kind of ad hoc system for teaching them that new COULD be okay. She’d have me come over and hang out with treats in my pockets (usually bits of steak). The new wolfdog would snarl and snap at me, but eventually they'd learn from watching their packmates that I was chill and mostly ignored the wolves, except to give treats to wolves who asked nicely. (Any wolfdog was always free to avoid
or ignore me, but the better-socialized ones and the old-timers saw me as a source of noms and scritches.) It sometimes took multiple visits to convince the new wolfdog that either avoiding me or accepting treats was better than threatening me. I was happy to do it because I knew it helped the animals, but I do NOT recommend the experience of having a wolf snarl at you repeatedly at close range. I trusted my friend, paid attention, and never got hurt, but it's not a nice way to spend a day.
Imagine having to go through that process EVERY TIME someone visits your house. Except unlike my friend, you don't have years of experience with wolfdogs to keep you safe.
Much as I loved those animals, I wouldn’t trust most of the people who want them as pets to take proper care of them. I heard the stories of how my friend's pack members landed at the SPCA. Please, please, PLEASE don't get a wolfdog. They are wonderful animals who don't deserve what most humans do to them.
There's someone on tumblr who talked about how their parents unknowingly acquired a low-content wolfdog from a shelter (the shelter didn't realise what they had and were like "you're experienced dog owners, this one is a lovely animal but a bit of a handful"). Apparently she *was* a lovely animal, but the 'bit of a handful' part was an extreme understatement. They decided that this was going to be a one-time thing, because it was incredibly difficult to dog-proof their house against her, she had to be heavily bribed to tolerate new people, and sometimes she'd throw freshly-killed animals at her family.
Thanks you for sharing this with us all. A very strong example and quite a handful indeed. Those hybrids wwerre the lucky ones I suppose.
My family unknowingly dog sat a friends 1 year old dog, which turned out to be a mid content wolf dog. After weeks of being with us out of the blue she attacked and almost killed my little sister, if it hadn’t been for our German shepherd who alerted us and helped save her. It was terrifying. No one should have these dogs!
That sounds amazing, scary, but amazing.
...wondering if any wolfdog sanctuary's would let me be the stranger if I have one of those padded dog suits...
I get why you say this, but every dog can learn. Your sister may have upset the wolf dog, and being that while you guys had been there for awhile, you were still somewhat strangers and they were only a year old. You should always watch dogs around kids, especially a wolf dog and pay attention to the body language.
The fact that she was behaved enough to give many warnings and still not even bite when she was uncomfortable about the nails shows how well the owners have worked with this dog. I enjoyed watching this one
Yes! I was most impressed by how deliberate she was with the air snap. You can almost see Akeela thinking before she snaps: "This is how I will communicate my discomfort." And when Vanessa backs off appropriately, Akeela registers that and understands that her warning has been heard. She's no longer over her threshold (where she feels she needs to defend herself) and has no need to escalate further.
And it shows how difficult having a wolfdog is and how stressful life is for them. Breeding and buying wolfdogs is unethical. It involves cruelty to the animals even from the "best" breeders. The puppies have to be taken from their mother at 4 weeks - that in itself is cruel. So many wolfdogs are surrendered to shelters and they are all immediately killed.
Many warnings? She didnt give a single sign of warning. Dont confuse signs of discomfort or anxiety with the escalation routine which you have to train with your hybrid, since chances are its less prominent compared to fully domesticated breeds. Not saying the owners failed on their part, he's only 2 years old. But they clearly need to speed it up a notch within the next 12 months.
@@polkhigh_33 I was thinking the licking was a sign of anxiety or feeling some discomfort and usually snapping is a result of that. The half way snap could also be called a warning snap versus a real bite
@@newdark definitely a warning snap - she didn’t quite snap close enough to actually connect with vanessa’s hand. i’ve noticed that wolves and therefore wolfdogs tend to be a lot more feral (for lack of a better word) in their mannerisms so they tend to growl and snap a lot more than a regular dog
I'm impressed with that wolfdog. Even her "ok, we're done" snap was just a warning, as her jaws closed short of your hand, even if you hadn't moved it. However, great call on the muzzle, as the warning snap was full force and loud to get her point across.
Those were some intimidating teeth, though. When she snapped, it sounded like a mousetrap going off.
They can be so smart. They know when you don't really mean to harm them. A warning to back off is better than you get from some humans before they lose it...
In college, I had a friend, who brought his Malamute/wolf mix back from his job in Alaska. He was roommates with a brother who owned a Doberman. Those two canines were awesome buddies. The Doberman was more scary looking than the 'massive Grey husky'' that everyone thought the wolf-boy was. Those guys never had to worry about a break-in. I only had to remember not to run around the dogs, cause the Dob liked to nip my behind, and Wolf liked to sit on me. 😂❤
You are right it was a warning snap, however absolutely not full force. This would not have broken your arm if it had connected.
@@antiquegirl6505 Wolf thought it was a lap dog lol
her FIRST EVER professional grooming?? and she’s that well behaved?? amazing!
i love her ❤
Indeed, that's great behavior by any breed's standard, let alone wolf-dogs
At 2.25 she really does look like little Red’s Grandma , don’t you think.😳
Yeah and she also made that doggo look so great. She is the best.
this is the proof for that wolfdogs are not those "wild dangerous animals" as people say and they can be wonderful pets if you treat them correctly.
Check under the hood.... it's male
Even when her wolfie timer ran out she still kept it low key. What a good girl!
What a good trainer she had
She's a DIVA.. You can tell.. She knows she is center of attention..
Definitely a nice simple warning snap, not an actual attempt at a bite. Always appreciate the communication haha
Amazing. I worked with a guy once who had a pure wolf (genetic test showed something like 98% wolf) that he literally raised from like 2 days old, and while he was friendly and gentle as a lamb, there was something so wild and feral about him it really sets your monkey brain wanting to run up the nearest tree. He’d bring him to the worksite and he (the wolf) would hang out with me underneath the cabin I was working on where it was nice and cool. I think it was his smell that triggered that response more than anything else. He didn’t smell bad by any means, but he didn’t smell like a dog, and it was noticeable, and when you’d catch his silhouette out of the corner of your eye it was startling. Because he was raised from such a young age by a human, he never learned how to howl, instead he “talked” to his owner, kind of like a lower pitched husky, in a surprisingly human cadence. XD
That's so interesting, about the smell! It's probably hard to put your finger on, but does anything come to mind of what he smelled like? Anything similar so I can live vicariously? I always thought we like the smell of puppy breath, because it tickles our dopamine brain of growing alongside wolves as we transitioned them to dogs....new pups=survival win!
i get the monkey brain part of this... while akela looks quite meek for her background, there's something about her that screams "beware" to some corner of my mind
I really enjoyed your post! The monkey brain up a tree set me into giggles! That's a visual right there🤣
@@bobbixvvit’s the eyes, it’s like they stare into your soul lol
@@DragonsRUs1414 it’s really hard to describe. I guess as a baseline i would describe a dog as smelling slightly musty with a hint of stagnant water and something a little sweet. The wolf smelled similar, but more musky than musty, and kind of spicy rather than sweet? Or more metallic than sweet, perhaps. Sharper, more wild, more dangerous. Like the smell of the desert during a thunderstorm.
i cant get over the sheer sound of the bite. i keep replaying it, so glad it was another warning. you are one brave woman!
Same. I think the sound of the clipper was setting her off.
same, I wouldn't have touched that dog after this, but she's super brave and professional
Thankfully it was just a warning nip and he hit the off button right afterward.
@@namtellectjoonal7230 If that dog wanted to bite her it would have. That was just Akela's way of saying I don't like my paws handled. In the wild my paws are my life so I'm protective of them. I've had a golden do this to me once. It happens.
In the 70s,we had a wolfdog. My parents basically assumed we adopted a wolf and all 7 of us kids (whom were familiar with wildlife) respected the heck out of that pup. He was gorgeous, loyal and, with massive nurturing, was the bestest puppers ever.
I would never own a wolfdog these days.
I agree.
I actually want to own one though 😅, not that my mom would let me.
I agree. Somehow I believe we should support the wild ones remaining wild.
We had a low-content wolfdog in the 70s as well. Fantastic dog, loved being out in the snow.
Indeed. My husband, when he was young, had somehow acquired a female 1/2 timber wolf. He had no idea how to handle and train a pet like this. He realized he was out of his realm when she tried to attack a friend that stopped by. When I say attack actually she wanted to tear him to bits. Fortunately no one was injured. He found another home for her.
the close up shots of Akela wearing the happy hoodie make her look like the wolf pretending to be the grandmother in red riding hood.
You really gotta give credit to Akela's owners. I have never seen a wolfdog so well-behaved around strangers. Even the best-trained wolfdogs can be very reactive in new environments and without their owners around. Akela's owners did a very good job with her!
There was a low-content wolfdog at the doggy daycare I used to work at, and even though he was a total sweetie, he was also scary smart. Like, figured out how to open the gates that I, a human with thumbs, sometimes struggled with. Definitely not for the faint or heart
I grew up with two wolf dogs in my neighborhood. To this day, they are the smartest animals I have ever known. A brother and sister pair, they were the unofficial "babysitters" for the kids on my block. They adored the children, but our parents always kept their distance (they weren't too fond of the adults, especially not men). The male was a little Houdini and was constantly escaping to do his "patrols" while his sister lazed in the sun on the porch all day. For the record, it was a fairly quiet and isolated area I grew up in. Not a lot of people and not a lot of traffic. So they weren't at risk of getting injured or attacking others. They even loved the mailman on our route since they had known him since they were puppies, so his daily visits were part of their "schedule".
I adored them. Loyal, clever, stubborn, and absolutely wild. Knowing what I know now, I don't really support people owning these kinds of dogs if they weren't a part of a rescue or don't have previous experience/education. They deserve better than that. They need people who will have the patience, the knowledge, and the respect. They aren't the average couch potatoes and shouldn't be cared for by individuals who get them because they think it's "cool".
Edit: Their names were Kaynan and Kalina. Lol. I keep making edits because I remember small little things. I miss those two.
I can’t even imagine leaving kids unsupervised with a full-on dog, much less one with wolf in them. I’m glad neither the kids nor the wolf dogs got hurt
Thanks for sharing your memories!
Thankyou for your story
@@pigcatapult We knew better than to mess with them. It was more of a "we play and they guard" situation. Lol. We didn't approach - if they wanted to be pet, they'd come to us. Everything was on their terms.
The best way not to have the problematic traits of a wolf show up is to NOT breed a dog with a wolf. It took thousands of years to breed those characteristics out and now people want to put them back in the mix. It just seems kinda dumb.
I wish more people talked about mixed wild cats too! Cats themselves already aren't actually domesticated and many fail to understand that they NEED playtime, enrichment and attention even if they are mostly laid back. People get breeds like Bengals and such bc they look fancy without knowing how active they are and underestimate how much care they actually need.
Savannahs are even worse :(
I whole heartedly agree, but need to point out that cats are absolutely domesticated.
It is true that cats have not been domesticated as long as dogs have and they still have a wild streak in them. Certain breeds like Savannahs and Bengals are very close in nature to wild cats.
@@cherylhurst7093those breeds are crossbred with wild animals which is why they have wild traits. That's different from domestic cats (which descended from African wild cats) having been domesticated for a shorter period of time than dogs.
@@cherylhurst7093 how long they’ve been domesticated is a bad metric for “how domesticated” an animal is, but cat’s have been domesticated far longer than for example horses, pigs, chickens and cows. They are not at all wild. Savannah’s and bengals are both breeds made by hybridisation with wild cats, they are that way because they’re not 100% domesticated cat, and therefore experience the same kind of issues wolf-dogs do. For some reason (less regulations and not as dire consequences for humans due to cats smaller size if I would guess) it’s been more accepted in cat breeding and even though most bengals and savannahs have a quite low percentage of wild cat there’s still new G1’s bred which really shouldn’t be allowed just as with wolf-dog hybrids :/
Vanessa: "The fact that Akela is allowing me.."
Akela's eyes, peaking from the happy(ish) hoodie: "... not by my own volition nor free will lady, I assure you 😰"
Sweet girl ❤
*peeking
A friend had a half-coyote, a cross between a Belgian sheepdog and a wild coyote that jumped the fence. She looked very much like Akela, but more the size of a border collie. I remember her as being very strongly bonded to her owner, very active and jittery. Her owner felt that being female, and being a cross with a working breed, a sheep herding dog, made it easier to socialize and train her. Still, as a pet, she was a very demanding responsibility. She needed to be with him almost all the time and needed a lot of exercise. Fortunately, he could manage that, and had a very calm temperament himself.
My Mom grew up with a CoyDog, named Towser. She doesnt know what he was crossed with but she did say he was the most loyal loving dog shes ever known. Very protective of her and her siblings. This was back in the late 1930's in Alberta.
I knew a CoyDog named Ludo. He was the biggest dumbest dog and the sweetest boy in the whole world 😭
My ex boyfriend also had a coydog, coyote and husky (we think). She was pure white with yellow eyes. She was skittish around strangers, great with kids, but couldn't be trusted around cats or anything small like that because of her high prey drive.
Wow, the coat is absolutely silky gorgeous post groom. You did a good job educating us on the breed and its needs. Best to allow the wild beasts to run free with their packs. There are plenty of domesticated dogs who need loving forever homes.
She is BEAUTIFUL
Very expressive eyes
Also that sound at 5:45 shows how powerful her bite is 😮
Our family had a wolf hybrid named Maggie when we were young. (IT WAS THE 90S) We used to run her along side our station wagon while we played fire truck and stood on the back bumper. She would run for hours. She was an amazing dog and was the sweetest thing ever. When we had to move, the sheriff's office asked our mom if they could adopt her to keep for themselves. Us kids just assumed our dog found a job..
The actual story was not only did Maggie find a couple of missing kids, she also helped find some drugs in a random car that led to a huge arrest. Our mom kept the new report and we found it a few years ago after she passed, in her belongings. Maggie did get a job after all. :)
(We were taught specific ways to interact with her. let her come to us, not us try to grab her. not to feed her treats from our hands, not to yell too loud around her. Our mom worked with wolves prior to getting her so knew what to expect)
Thanks for sharing your family’s experience with Maggie. 👍🏽🐺
I really don’t know much about wolf dogs at all, but from your description it sounds like your old wolf dog was smarter than any domesticated dog could have been. Did I interpret the story right that she wasn’t trained the find the kids and drugs, but just did it on her own initiative? If so that’s pretty impressive.
That is amazing and something to really be proud of. Thank you for sharing.
@@alisonlaett9625 Might have had some Australian shepherd or collie in her. If they're interested in something they'll teach themselves or figure it out. Probably viewed human children as her "puppies" as a group (or if she had herding dog in her, her flock). As far as sniffing out drugs? Yeah, they're gonna pick that up fast when you mix herding dog with wolf provided they're raised well.
I have to wonder if a K9 handler on the force knew her and saw some promise in her when she was yours.
You can tell it’s a wolf by the front legs being right together like this baby’s are. Her long nose, and the way she looks up at you from under her eyelashes. Super props to this lady’s owners.
Narrow chest, long legs, big paws, big fuzzy ears that come to rounded points. Her eyes are fairly dark, though; that's what made it clear to me that she wasn't high-content.
the dark eyes look so odd alongside her long nose, she almost looks a bit silly
I love that you're giving educational information while being a satisfying video at the same time
wolf gave instructive mini-nip
Right! I have been introduced to dogs I've never heard of and learned more about the breeds in general.
The question is why are so many of her clients buying super high-maintenance dogs? What is the point of buying a dog that comes with so many extra problems and risks?
@@joeoleary9010 In the area she lives there are a lot farms and vinyards, that explains the amount of farm dogs. Others are rescues.
@@joeoleary9010 vanessa offers free grooms and seems to take on a lot of difficult clients that other groomers will reject so rather than a lot of owners having high maintenance animals, it’s more that the ones with high maintenance animals come to her
My parents had hybrids when I was growing up. Sort of a sanctuary, of sorts, taking ones that were seized from the state or unwanted. Had large portions of land sectioned off and they were kept on outdoors. Most had behavior issues or wete poorly trained, basically feral. I honestly think people shouldn't even bother breeding them because they are not for the faint of heart.
This is what was going through my mind watching the video - what if someone wants one for whatever reason and then finds out that they're out of their league and can't actually train them? By the time they realise they failed, it's probably too late to properly socialise and train the wolf-dog. What then? Unlike regular dogs who can generally learn some degree of domestication and training at any age, with a wolf-dog it sounds like a time-critical opportunity. I'm glad your parents were able to provide feral wolf-dogs with a home but it doesn't seem fair to deliberately breed wolf-dogs when there's such a high chance they may end up just feral.
My friends socialized theirs from a couple who kept him a trailer alone, with the help of the other dogs they had, and when 10 pups joined the pack, he was the best lupine uncle for them.
One of the reasons I love this channel is Vanessa's knowledge of all the breeds she works on. Not only is it informative, it's entertaining!!
Keep up the great work Vanessa!
I second that !❤
well, she kinda has to. the wrong move on the wrong breed can leave her with a few less fingers, this breed being a good example of that
I absolutely love how brutally honest she is. It needs to be said. It may just save a dog's or hybrid's life.
A friend of mine owned a wolf-dog hybrid - not from a breeder, but rescued from a northern reserve. That dog was the gentlest animal I've ever known; she was a certified TD and they spent years volunteering with her in nursing homes and the children's hospital.
Is there a chance she wasn’t a wolf-dog?
Not saying this is definitely the case for your friend, but lots of people 'think' they have a wolf-dog hybrid and its not. Especially if it behaves that much like a long-domesticated dog breed.
Every time I see a wolf, I want to cry. They are majestic and I thank them so much for dogs, dogs are everything to me. Brings so much joy to this dark world, I wish we would treat dogs, wolves, and all animals better.
TD?
My neighbors had a wolf-dog named Sheba. She was a sweet girl who lived to be quite old. We lived in the country so she roamed between our two houses. I’d feed her when they were gone and spend time at their pool with her. The only time she came to my home and laid on my front porch was during a really bad thunderstorm. I opened the door and she came into the foyer to stay safe until the storm was over then went back outside. But she did look back over her shoulder as she walked back home to her house.
Akela is being a real lady through all the new smells and noises. She's socialized really well in addition to her natural disposition.
My dad’s best friend had a wolf hybrid, I forgot what he was mixed with but I believe he was more wolf than dog. He was a VERY sweet boy, but was definitely territorial. He loved being cuddled and being used as a big pillow 💜
He was the “best man” in my dad and stepmoms wedding, and when his owner passed away my dad took care of him, but he was also elderly by that point. He spent most of his time in my dad’s care just lounging around the backyard that he shared with a giant tortoise lol
The tortoise was actually probably more of a danger than he was though!
I'm amazed by the animals that have blessed human lives. It's like a fairytale to me. But, I do have a parakeet 🙂
We went on a walk with wolves once (at a sanctuary), and there was a lot of discussion about wolfdogs. The sanctuary owners explained it using our own dogs - essentially, take a primitive dog breed like the Akita, amp up every trait that sets them apart from more normal breeds, then make them less civilised and...wolfdog. She said that while people who've previously had primitive breeds probably have the best chance of success, they're still almost always not quite prepared for the scale of the task ahead of them.
i haven't heard that term before, thank you for sharing!
Growing up I had a shiba inu which needs around the same training methods as an Akita so when I rescued a goldendoodle the training was SOOO much different
@@cofffee817 I have a shiba inu now and he would not behave as well as this wolfdog did. He has alot of things he is scared of so we have to constantly work with him on that. And absolutely ONLY those he knows extreamly well may touch him. And when we clip his nails it's time for shiba-scream 😂. Apart from that he is super easy, well behaved and happy.
@@alicemaria975 - heh, you learn it pretty damn quick when you adopt an Akita!
@@cofffee817 - to be honest, we've barely had to do any training with our Akita. Even though she'd never lived in a house before, she arrived home at 5 months old and just instantly knew how to behave, and she's always basically been the adult in the room. In fact, she's done more of the heavy-lifting in terms of house-training our two subsequent rescue dogs than we have.
Truly a one-in-a-million dog.
It was easy to see this was a wolf by the way she walked into your house.
Good looking pup, well mannered also. The owners did a very good job with her.
Glad you showed the slow mo of her snapping. Made it easy to see she was targeting the trimmers, not you.
If she was actually trying to bite and not just communicate her displeasure, she would not have missed.
@@iankrasnow5383 she is restrained. she was limited by the leash holding her in place.
@@AStandsForFrench nah, if the dog wants to bite it is clear, but they often start with warning jaw snapping right next to you, they don't really want to bite anyone, just end what they don't like.
@@melodi996 This was more of an intimidation than "I will kill you" kind of bite. A wolf wouldn't have missed even while restrained. In fact, it's clear she could easily broke the leash if she truly wanted to.
she is sooooooo stunning!!! and you can see the intelligence in her eyes. 🖤❤️
She has a stunning coat!! It shone and moved like silk in the sun. She always looked very wary and unsure while being groomed. What a good girl. 💞
She was better behaved than a lot of the “pure bred” dogs and cats you’ve had on your channel. She such a good girl! ❤
That’s more common than you’d think - damn near every wolfdog owner (except the one with the 😊bipolar wolfdog I know) I know has to go above and beyond to get them trained well enough to be out in public.
OMG Grooming a cat ... I would wear chainmail.
Absolutely a testament to proper training and socialisation starting from a young age!
She’s absolutely gorgeous. Look at that coat! Whew, glad you’re quick and respectful of those wolf boundaries, any warning that might’ve come before that little snippety snap was too subtle for most humans to even read. But she clearly didn’t want to hurt you, just really get your attention. What an incredible creature.
What an absolutely gorgeous creature she is. I can't believe she is this well behaved. This is an amazing video, Vanessa!
_FYI: Wolf Hybrid Dog ownership is illegal in 12 US states including Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wyoming._
that is a remarkably well behaved mid-content hybrid! So, so appreciate you emphasizing how difficult they are/ownership of a hybrid animal is.
Wow that was a close one! I didn’t see that little bit of aggression coming. The wolf dog was very well trained and behaved wonderfully for the most part. Very cool to see.
While I’m conflicted about keeping any wild animals as pets, she is beautiful. I agree her owners have done a wonderful job with her.
There is sooooo much soul in her eyes 🥰 What a tremendous animal ♥️
Cracking up at that first happy hoodie shot! 😂 Such a sad skeptical puppo 😂
@@Arsenicosisthe shot of her snapping when she got tired of her paws being touched, and then immediately showing her in a muzzle is hilarious 😭
I love how even though she did take a snap at your hand, the slow-mo was clear that she snapped short of your hand - just a warning snap. Her owner must be an amazing trainer and owner.
My friend had a huge wolf hybrid named Nightmare, but she was actually one of the sweetest, most well-behaved "dogs" I've ever ran across.
that’s a badass name lol
Best name ever!!
Ain't it, though?
😜@@runawayfaeIX
Yes.
@@n0tlauren
It's always the ones with those kinds of names. If they were named Princess, or some name of a similar nature, it wouldn't be the same story.
that was an amazingly clear "no!" she didnt pursue you afterwords and didnt show any further aggression. as a wolfy girl that was very kind of her!
Props to the owner for seeing and keeping up with all that training, and props to you for your deft handling and educational information of this beautiful canine. One of my friends had a wolf dog when I was growing up, and the family made sure that he was well socialized, and had very strict rules for when guests were over. Hunter was an amazing animal, so well behaved due to the constant training and upkeep, and he lived a wonderful life. A very very happy canine. But as Vanessa says, PLEASE do your research before thinking of buying one of these hybrids. They need top notch care, a very firm hand at the wheel, and company.
Imagine being Vanessa’s friends or family… going out to dinner “how was work today” “oh you know, fine, normal just groomed a wolf” 😂 I just like living vicariously through her each day!
They must be used to it considering the number of bears she's groomed.
"today I worked on a new species of trash goblin"
Imagine discriminating against Pitt bulls but run right out to get a wolf. The Canadians must be mentally strong to do so . 😂
@@seth5308 1- Not the same people.
2- Idiots are everywhere and they keep multiplying.
Exactly how I feel. Oh how I wish she could work on my Labrador mix rescue.
My parents temporarily owned a wolf dog before I was born - a friend needed to house him for a few months and they raised huskies & malamutes, so they knew a bit about big, smart, independent dogs.
Even so a wolf hybrid was a lot. He wasn’t interested in fences and he was smart enough to open most latch gates, so keeping him contained was a constant battle. He knew where the food was and while he was trained not to help himself, he WOULD open the cabinet, herd you to it, and keep you there until you fed him.
Overall, great story, but not exactly a good pet.
Lol Lov it This beautiful Creature was just proving he was still wild and free and was not going to change all of his Nature for any Human Good for him
I have had several malamutes. Not much could keep most of them confined. Nothing could keep my favorite, the pure white "Makya" confined (doors, windows, walls, chains, etc)!
Oh she’s so beautiful! And so good. That snap was a calm clear statement of her boundaries. This she wolf deserves every ounce of respect you and others give her. That’s a lot of smart stubborn wild dogs bred into one. Kutos to the owners for doing such a good job with her.
For this to be her first groom, she was beautifully behaved. That snap would’ve scared me and then I would’ve giggled but she’s not highly aggressive kudos to the family who owns her.❤
My aunt & uncle went through a wild animal as a pet phase back in the 90s. My uncle started with a wolf, got her as a pup I think & she bonded fiercely to him. Got her a half-wolf friend later thinking to give her company of her own kind but that didn’t work out. They tore up the backyard, had to be chained up so they wouldn’t jump the fences. My uncle didn’t provide anything for them beyond basic training & wasn’t fit to even keep them. He finally gave them up, thank goodness, but I don’t know what prompted that. You’d think he had learned his lesson but no; he bought a bobcat to keep him company in the cab of his semi. 🤦🏽♀️ They only have regular dogs now but he’s still kind of an idiot.
"but he's still kind of an idiot" 😂😂😂😂
It astonishes me how it's still legal in the US to keep wild animals like wolves and bobcats. You'd think governments would see the "wild" in their name and say "Nope! Nobody is ever going to own that!". So stupid.
Bless him 🤣🤣😅💖💖
Imagine breaking into a semi and finding a bobcat though 🤣
@@runawayfaeIX There's LOADS of stories about truckers having Pumas/Mountain Lions/Cougars as "guard animals" for their semis! It's NUTS.
Maybe she instinctively knew you were taking care of her. So beautiful! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
You somehow made her more stunning than she already was. Beautiful wolfgirl.
I grew up with wolf hybrids.... My dad bred them.... This was back in the 80s...but his were typically 75% wolf 25% malamute.... And of the 3 or 4 litters our dog Kelly had, most of the hybrids stayed within the family. My brothers each had one and my dad kept 5 or 6 of them over the years.... Largest one he had was Tiffin, he stood over 6ft on his hind legs, still to this day has his pelt..... At the time we lived in a very rural area of Colorado... And my dad is a cowboy is the truest sense of the word. Worked with his hands, and was on horseback probably 80% of his 80 years..... If not more.... He had a horseback packing trip company into the Colorado back country for many years, and his wolfdogs were part of their protection.... I mean over the years I've seen more of Colorado on my feet, or by horseback than by car lol.... My dad was always the stereotypical outdoor guy before it became a fad .... He was the real deal and could literally live out off the land for weeks at a time, and had many many times ... And the wolfdogs we had were just part of it.... Was and is the best thing I could've been taught and experience in life.... But I don't think anyone who isn't a firm leader and isn't experienced should ever own a wolfdog, because you will quickly get in way over your head... And then ultimately the hybrid will suffer for it.....
Lucky you! Do you still live out in the country??? I believe once you have lived that way, it is so hard to go back to a town/city!
@@catherinewilson1079I do now yes.... Not as far out in the country as I want just yet. And you are so right, I went from Colorado being my backyard, to living in California in the San Francisco Bay area, and was miserable and always wanted to move out. But life got in the way. However 4 years I knew I wasn't going to put up with city dwelling any longer and moved from California to the deep south, southern Alabama.... And the peace is priceless..... Growing up with my father we were very poor but we farmed, so all our food came from growing it, and we all helped with that, and from hunting by my dad and older brothers .... But those are some of my best life experiences and best memories, because being with my dad was never dull and boring.... We were a large blended family of, 4 in my original parents pod, 2 stepbrothers and 2 half siblings from my father's 2nd marriage.... I miss life being that simple, wholesome and fun....
@@rondameier8168 I hear ya! Have lived in farm country and in the woods, but now at 70 on my own in a small (10K) town. If I was married, I’d be living in the country in a flash❣️It is the only way to live in peace and quiet.
There’s still country in the US, thankfully. It is getting smaller all the time. Find it and hold onto it.
She has the most beautiful eyes!
Incredible! I've never seen such a well behaved mid content wolfdog, let alone at a groom; a first no less. Kudos to the owners, and also to you.
The owners have obviously put a lot of time, care and effort into raising her. She is a beautiful pup.
Although she was good for her groom, I am really glad your cameraman was there with you! She is beautiful. Still not getting one though.
Wow, never wanted a dog less. Thank you 😊
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more patient and skillful groomer. You definitely know how to care for animals.
She's a fraud.
And also confident. I think half the reason even “bad” dogs are pretty well behaved with her is because she shows no fear.
She has such gorgeous eyes, and so expressive… she’s also very lovely, and I swear to god, she is absolutely snuggle-worthy.
She’s beautiful and so well-behaved. She’s definitely got a “I’m not 100% sure about this, but I like you, so do what you must” look on her face.
My 81 yo aunt has a wolf hybrid. He's beautiful & HUGE - he weighs about 170. He looks more like a gray wolf than a dog. He's very well-behaved & sweet, & is extremely protective of my aunt. Very glad she has him to keep her safe.
I'm super impressed, by you and by the wolf-dog
I love how tolerant and well behaved she was but at the same time, when you crossed her boundaries, she REALLY let you know it...
Had a part wolf dog malamute as a kid. He was the best dog ever. Super smart. He loved to watch me as a baby, fetching my mom if he thought I needed her. An excellent guard dog, but also your new best friend once invited into our home. ❤ And he never bit a soul btw.
This is an INSANELY well behaved wolfdog.
When I worked for a petstore a long time ago we had a regular with a wolfdog. He was absolutely massive, and also the biggest baby. Once when they were in the store one of my coworkers accidentally dropped a can and the dog was ready to LEAVE NOW lol. We always gave them their space because the wolfdog was so skittish, but man he was beautiful to look at.
What a beautiful floof! I love the lil grey mouth. And so well behaved! 💚
The shine on her coat was out of this world.....absolutely beautiful ❤
Absolutely....does the shampoo work on humans?
If you hadn't told us what Akele was, breed wise, you'd have never guessed her breed. She is sooooo incredible calm, and chill AF!!!! Her owners have done an awesome job with her!!!!!
What a magnificent girl! Her owners obviously put a lot of time and effort in her training. Hope she lives a long and healthy best life.
Akela is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! And she’s so well behaved during her first grooming. Kudos to her owner!
Whenever I see a well socialized dog, I remember how my mother socialized our Chow, Smokey.
When he was still a lil puppy and welcoming of attention, she would take him for walks where he would encounter a LOT of people, and while get was getting pet and loved on she would tell him "You be nicey dog" over and over again. Later, as he entered his adolescent phase, she began giving treats to strangers who wanted to pet him and having him Heel and Sit before she'd say You Be Nicey Dog and he got treats and pets and love.
As an adult, he was bonded to mom 1000% and did not seek affection or even attention from others in the house. Most days he'd growl if approached during his nap while mom was at work... but if mom was there to say You Be Nicey Dog, suddenly he was all wagging tail and yes please scratch my ears and back yes I will lick you I will Lick The Crap Out Of You
He lived to the ripe age of 14, and passed on a few years ago. I still remember the grumpy old dog fondly 😊
The fact that she's better behaved than most usual breeds who you've worked on, and this is her first groom, is a testament to her owners. They've done a remarkable job with her. She's beautiful.
She has such a beautiful coat, you did a wonderful groom on her. She had a nice personality, lovely girl 💜🐾💜
She was the bestest girl ever. This was her first professional groom???? And no singing the song of her people, only snapped once (although that was very close) but didn't struggle with the muzzle when you did put in on her. The biggest of props to her humans. To get her to that point could not have been easy.
Oh, she's GORGEOUS. And I imagine she was also quite a handful to train, but it was worth the owner's effort. Can't believe how cool she was being groomed apart from that one snap.
My parents and I had a cleaning business and our one client had two wolf hybrids they kept outside (fenced in yard, lots of livestock) and a really tiny mutt (probably a lot of chihuaua). Those were some of the sweetest, most intelligent dogs I've ever met, and they protected that little one and their goats and ducks so well
Talking about food guarding reminds me of a video about feeding a tiger at a zoo. The handler mentioned letting the tiger be thorough about cleaning his bowl, so he knows it's definitely empty before taking it away.
That last pic of her. With her head turned is amazing. Even the way her eyes stared ahead. Can see in her little soul she is very wise!! And clever gal!!! She is beautiful as ever!! My eldest daughter had a wolf dog someone kidnapped her or rather dog napped her she never got over losing her ! But yes her coat is stunning the way Sunshine's on it as well!! And ty for all the very honest info on wolf dogs!!
Her tongue curled over her nose got me in the last pic!
Yamunuska Wolfdog Sanctaury is the only wolfdog sanctuary in Canada. They provide care for rescued wolf dogs, all content levels, and education to the public about these beautiful animals. They also have a YT channel.
I grew up with hybrid wolf dogs and know several ppl who raise them. They are amazing dogs ❤ but you are right they are not for the NOVICE owner in any way. Mine as a child guarded me as their own. I was sickly as a child I had one who slept with me and another that guarded me at all times. They take hours and hours of quiet patience and a firm but gentle hand. Their maintenance and care is not cheap but very necessary.
Absolutely awesome video today 😊
I love how you research each animal and give all of us the possible good, bad, and ugly! Thank you for always making great videos! Much love to you, camera man, and your four legged babies!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I adore you and your channel! You are respectful of the beautiful animals and l have learned so much about the breeds and their unique traits. Just saw the sweet young dog and his support rat, loved the matching bandanas! Thank you for all you do.
She’s so calm. Her humans did a great job with her!
Edit: well I just got to the nip😮 she’s still a good girl tho
Considering her domesticated side is a husky-malamute, her training is amazing!
Even the nip wasn't super aggressive, clearly intended simply as a show of their displeasure as opposed to an attack. It was also directed at the trimmer, not her.
Thank you for mentioning the whole-prey diet necessity; so many people don't consider hide, bones and organ tissues, and so their animal (wolfdog, full dog, or feline) ends up missing out on a lot of crucial nutrients~
WOOWWWW her coat looks PHENOMENAL at the end! I’ve never seen anything like that!
Absolutely amazed at Akela's excellent behaviour! What a good girl, she was so patient (until she wasn't, but toes are a touchy subject with a lot of dogs as far as I know, so glad she didn't actually nip you). She's such a pretty girl but wolfdogs are definitely one of those critters I know are best for me to admire from afar.
Very impressed with their behavior. And, yes, they were done with you touching their paws. Lol. Bravo to the owner and to the wolf. Thanks for all the information you provided on the hybrid. As majestic as they are, they're not for me. Be blessed.
She's gorgeous, absolutely stunning! You did a fantastic job as usual.
A fantastic name for a Wolf Hybrid. Her owners obviously have lots of experience and put in time patience and effort to help her become this calm. She must have had lots of grooming from them. Loved seeing her in the garden and moving, so sleek, so very shiny. I hope Akela returns to you. Maybe her owners would be nice and either do her feet for you or help you by staying while you did them. Thank you for sharing Akela with us.... Such a privilege to see.
I'm amazed at just how well behaved she was.. Massive kudos to the pup parents(owners) for such socializing and situation training..❤
First time I have seen a dog on leash in your yard. As always, you are more than a dog whisperer. Thank you for your great patience, love and skill with these beautiful animals.
This owner has done a phenomenal job and clearly knew exactly what they were getting into.
Good on them for taking such wonderful care of this pup.
I love how you are explaining all the risks with a wolf dog and Akela stares lovingly into the camera
What a beautiful animal. I am glad she handled the groom so well and left you injury free despite not being happy about the pedicure.
What a beautiful wolf-dog. And the behavior is awesome! I’m sure having her paws messed with was new and a scary feeling for her.
it's why when they are young you touch their paws as much as the rest of them, to get them use to their paws being touched. as also training the command paw can be helpful as well.