Wolfdog FAQ #2, How can I tell a good wolf hybrid breeder from a bad one?

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Reminder: The selected responses presented below are a reflection of the collaborative effort of Hybrid Wolf Mailing List aka. Wolfdoglist members to share opinions / information about wolf x dogs, responsible "ownership" and breeding practices. This FAQ is not a scientific or veterinary resource. Some responses have been edited for brevity.

Wolfdog FAQ - Question # 2
How can I tell a good wolf hybrid breeder from a bad one?

They should have a good reason for selecting the parents to produce the pups, such as breeding for disposition, color, size, etc. Never breeding this to that simply because it was convenient.

Good breeders don't consistently have accidental breedings year after year. They should have deposits on animals before producing them. Don't produce the pups first and hope to find homes for them later.

Rick

As in any other type of buisness, word of mouth advertising is by far the most far reaching, bar none. Ask the breeder you are talking with to provide a list of others he has sold animals to. Call these people and ask what their impression of the breeder was and is now. Did the breeder offer any help in housing requirements, feeding, socializing, publications to read. The breeder is providing or should be providing more than a cute, fuzzy wolfdog. As a provider, he/she should do just that....provide you with the information you will need to have a healthy, happy companion for you and for those around you.

Stargazer

A good wolfdog (or any other) breeder will attempt to ascertain your level of knowlege before selling you an animal. If your knowlege is lacking, s/he will attempt to add to your knowlege. The breeder will rarely have more than one litter available at a time. A good breeder will ask lots of questions, and very likely ask for solid proof of your containment facilities. A good breeder will have a contract, often with a spay/neuter policy, and a clause stating that they will take the animal back for any reason, should you have to give it up. S/he will provide you with support for the lifetime of the animal, and urge you to keep in contact. A good breeder cares about the animals they produce, and wants to know how the do over the long haul.

Val

A responsible breeder in one form or another will ask the following questions (not necessarily in this order) and more:

Why do you want a wolfdog?
What do you want to do with this animal (watchdog, companion, guard dog, obedience, etc.)
What is your experience with these animals? Have you ever owned a wolfdog or northern/primitive breed of dog? If so, what was it, what is/was its background? Do you still own it? If not, why not?
What type of enclosure do you have for this animal? Please provide photographs.
Where do you get my name? Why did you select my kennel? What do you know about my kennel? What do you know about other breeders?
Do you have a veterinarian willing to treat your pup? What is his/her experience? If none, are they willing to learn?
Do you own your own home? Do you rent? Do you have an adequate area for an enclosure? If you rent, does the landlord agree with your acquisition?
Do you have children, grandchildren, visting children? Do you plan on having children?
Descirbe your neighborhood? How close are your neighbors?
What are the state and local ordinances regarding wolfdogs? If special permits, etc., are required, do you have them?
Are you married? Do you plan on marrying or having a permament mate during the lifetime of this animal?
What is your profession? How long are you gone from home? How often?
What are your vacation schedules?
Who would care for your animal in your abscence?
Who else would regularly interact with the animal?
What is your goal for this animal?

All these will help the breeder understand if this person is sincere, ready and able to care for a wolfdog. It will also help the breeder know what generation, percentage, lineage the person is capable of handling.

A responsible breeder will...

will insist on meeting you in person (at least once) or have you meet with someone they know (if distance is a problem).
will require photos of your facility. And/or will inspect or have an agent inspect you facilities.
will work with you on finding an adequate source of food in your area and anough food to make the transition.
provide you with accurate lineage, health, temperament, and genetic history of your pup and its ancestors and siblings.
provide you with references and photographs of other offspring he/she produces at his/her kennel.
will have the pup up-to-date on all vaccinations and health checks and insist that you have a health exam by your vet within "XX" number of hours of receipt of your pup.
discuss spaying/neutering with you.
gives a health guarantee with his/her puppies, unless otherwise stated.
require a contract to be signed before the completion of the sale. This contract should cover the welfare of the animal should the buyer no longer be able to care for it. A responsible breeder will require that the animal be returned to him/her or that he/she approve the new home.
will refer you to another breeder so that you can be sure you are getting what you want, even if he/she has the content, generation and backgroudn you are looking at.
will refer you to another breeder if you and his/her offspring are not compatible (percentage, generation, etc.)
follows-up on sales.
will be readily be available for after sales questions, concerns, etc.
stand behind their animals.
require that you meet and interact (if possible) the parents of your pup. If this is not feasible due to season, etc - the breeder should be able to interact with the parents. If physical location is a problem, will provide a video with him/her interacting with the parents.
provide you with information on raising, training, disciplining, registering, containing your pup.
educate you on ownership of wolfdogs - we all have something to learn.

There is so much more, but this is a start. Everyone has there own ideals and questions.

Hideawolf

A good breeder will screen potential buyers carefully, and educate in the process. A good breeder will discuss what to expect with a wolfdog, both pros and cons. They will explain the differences in wolfdogs and doggie-dogs, in areas such as diet, containment, obedience, destructive potential, need for companionship, and behaviors such as challenging for dominance and prey instinct, also legalities and the rabies issue. A good breeder, if satisfied with the answers to the questionnaire and the way the conversation has gone, will then do a home check. If the potential buyer lives in another state, the breeder will ask for photographs or preferably, videotape of where the wolfdog will be kept. If the buyer is in another state the breeder will be aware of the legalities of wolfdogs in that area and proceed accordingly. A good breeder will have a clause in their contract wherein if the person is unable to keep the wolfdog, the breeder will take it back. A good breeder should also be willing, within reason, to answer questions as they arise from the new owner. A good breeder should be willing to furnish the names of satisfied clients for the potential owner to check out. A good breeder will, upon payment, furnish the client with a contract signed by both breeder and client, and papers from the registry, if the wolfdog is registered with one. A very good breeder will also point the buyer toward further reading and information about wolfdogs.

I'm sure there's much more but this is what I've come up with on the spot...

Nicole

A good breeder would have no problems with inviting a potential buyer to visit and interact with their animals.
A good breeder would encourage questions and spend whatever time is necessary to answer the questions in a manner the potential buyer can understand.
A good breeder would make every effort to see that the potential buyer has the proper facilities to contain the pup comfortably and safely.
A good breeder would inquire of other breeders (when possible) concerning the potential buyer and encourage the buyer to inquire of other buyers concerning the breeder.
A good breeder is always "on call" (3am?) to answer questions as they arise. "My pup is doing this or that. Is it normal? What do I do now? Should I be worried?" on and on. The responsiblilty doesn't stop with the delivery of the pup and acceptance of money.
A good breeder should always have the potential buyer sign a contract (which should be given in advance of delivery of pup if possible) stating the responsibilities of seller and buyer, containment requirements, medical requirements, breeding requirements, spay/neuter agreement (if any), replacement policy, and any other pertinant information.
A good breeder should provide a true and accurate lineage and % of pup being purchased.
A good breeder should provide a list of reading material and addresses where such material may be obtained.
If the buyer wants a registered pup, the breeder should be willing to make every effort to obtain registration papers for the buyer from one of the few reputable registries in this country (not WWKC, UKC, etc.) and encourage participation by the buyer in the club with which the pup is registered as well as encourage them to participate in the ongoing battle to have these animals approved for the rabies vaccine.
This is not brief but neither is it complete.
As to bad breeders, there are too many places to start. Some that would be a warning signs (to me) would be:
1. "You don't need to register your pup. I have given you all you need. I gave you the lineage and that is enough."
2. "You can breed this animal and get your money back and then some."
3. "Why would you even want to go see their animals? My stock is just as good, if not better."
4. "These animals are great with kids."
5. "They will protect you and your family"
6. "It is a lot like owning any other large dog."
7. "There is no reason they wouldn't do well in your appartment."
8. "I hate it isn't working out but no, I can't take the animal back. Have you tried running an ad in the sale paper?"
Again, not brief but also not complete.
Christine

Many good points have been suggested by Wolfdoglist members, discussing containments issues, children, trainablility , diet, social needs, education, etc.
An area of discussion I find very important is the percentage of wolf in the pups, for this will determine whether they can be reliable house pets, or, if (wolfish animals) whether they will most likely need a suitable outdoor environment with a companion canine.
Newbies to wolfdogs are often not aware of the vast differences of low to high percenters..People often hear "wolfdog, or wolf-hybrid" ) and visualize a half dog , half wolf.
Many first time buyers are unfamiliar with the varying degrees of dominant and submissive behaviour that these dogs wil exhibit with an owner or with one another dog. The buyer needs to learn about these behaviours and how they will apply . As was mentioned in another post, they need to learn about appropriate discipline techniques and the behaviours which are unique to some wofldogs that d-dogs may not exhibit.
Containment needs will be different with a low percenter and many mid range and very wolfy dogs.
For a first time buyer, I would only recomend a low, or low-medium percentage of wolf.
For a buyer with small children, I would only suggest a lower percentage of wolf.
*And even then I would be more likely to recomend that if the kids are really small, the buyer first get another breed of dog. If the buyers still insists they want a wolfdog, the seller should discuss that this will be a large, and possibly headstrong adult dog, and if, for example, the parents want a dog that their child can take to the park to play "fetch" with , run about with and trust it to placidly follow his bike when he leaves home to play, then I would not suggest a wolfdog. Stress that the dog will not be a "babysitter", or "Lassie" companion, and make sure they understand the uniqueness of a wolfdog.
**Many parents/adults do have the image of "White Fang" or other movie wolfdogs.
As others have mentioned, I suggest required reading before a breeder accepts a deposit (or sale) on a pup. Taking a "quiz", either written or orally is a very good idea, and a few sample questionairs have been put forth by list people. There also should be a lengthy dialogue with the breeder, using written materials as part of the process. Again, I do stress educating the potential buyer about the differences with low, low meduim, med-high, high percenters and "near pures"
***Being educated and honest means that a breeder will send away the majority of prospective buyers. This in turn means that the breeder will spend far more money on advertising pups. A breeder who passes of wolfdogs as "just like any large "Northern breed pup" is either ignorant , dishonest or greedy to make a sale, and buyers must be aware of this..
Good breeders do ask if the buyer wants to breed, and may deny that request and have a spay/neuter clause in their contract. ((Again, this will make the sale of a litter take longer and be more costly regards any advertising).
If a caller is under 21, ask if he/she lives at home. I suggest asking to speak with a parent if the caller is under 18 years of age. Discuss with the parent who will keep the dog once the young person goes off to college or moves away from home. Even if a caller is a young adult, (say 18-26) I would insist (if they live at home) that the parent/s come with them when they are scheduled to view the pups. *This is a courtesy to any parent , and important for a pup who must be acepted by all householders. *Also, a young person is not legally or financilally accountable in many cases. I suggest, too, that when showing the pups , a seller require that each spouse ((or fiancee or partner, etc)) come to the home along with any children. Too often, a wife or husband may have differing thoughts on getting a wolfdog, and it is very important that all adult members of the household are in agreement of a purchase. By the same token , if a person lives with a sibling or any other relative or friend, the process of againincluding ALL adult householders in this process is very important.
Good breeders ask whether the buyer wants an indoor or outdoor dog (again percentage factor will figure in). IF a dog is to be outdoors the majority , or all of the time, a companion dog should be a requirement - not after, but before the pup goes to the new home. **Too many owners make "promises" which are not kept, and this includes getting a companion dog.
If, upon the initial pre screening ( over the phone) a seller feels that the caller should not have a wolfdog, the breeder should tell this to the caller, but still offer to assit the caller in learning more about wolfdogs. ***Offer to mail the caller a list of wolfdog organizations, and literature. Perhaps include an article about wolfdogs, and ask the prospective buyer to please read the material before calling on another ad for WDs. This is part of what a concerned breeder will do -even though he/she will not make a dime for the effort. Another option is to invite the caller to observe your pups and the parents , and take time during this visit to to teach the person. If you do not breed, but have wolfdogs, you can still be a superb teacher. *** There are many dedicated people who gladly teach other people with no financial reward to be held.

***This may digress a bit (from this topic) but it is important ***
Look in the ads of your local papers. Consider calling those people (advertising wolfdogs) and ask if they would like a list of wolfdog literature or an article or two that they can photocopy for their puppy buyers. Do realize that although most folks will let you send them info, they may still not give it to buyers, or if the literature is strict in guidelines, they may even toss it out! You may find one good egg in a a dozen and a half! If you do this , you will also find many dogs misrepresented in wolf content, and very few people will be receptive ( especially initially) to changing information of the pups. But - you WILL find a few good folks and that makes it all worth while.
Eva

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