[yukidomari]

Vicky, no experience in the vlcak category yet, but asides from the roughly spitz look of a Vlcak, I think the temperaments are very different.

I've experience with GSDs and Spitz.. if the vlcak is roughly compared to a DDR GSD or Malinois, then no, a husky temperament it is not.

In general, spitz have the infamous 'spitz attitude', especially if you talk about dogs such as Sibes, the native Japanese spitz (shikoku, shiba, akita et al), Laikas. OB is not their strong point and it's not that they aren't smart.. it's just that their head works differently when it comes to training. They are free spirited and independent in nature, as is apparent from the work they were bred for (sledding and drafting require a lot of judgment on the dogs' part), hunting, etc. For the same reasons many of them are completely unreliable off lead and most have high prey drive.

In comparison to GSDs, a well rounded working line GSD isn't SUPPOSED to have high prey drive, for one. A well bred GSD is a level headed animal. GSDs have been used in a variety of work including OB, SchH, rally, therapy work, etc., pretty much a complete opposite spectrum of what spitz typically are used for.

It was with these considerations in mind that I have chosen to have a vlcak instead of another spitz - namely the Shikoku-ken - although looks wise they are roughly 'wolf like'.

I do not like to use the word 'primitive' because the meaning is so vague. It has nothing to do with human breeding interference nor age of the breed.. it has more to do with specific drives..

I do think from my reading that vlcaks differ significantly from spitz temperament.. at the very least, I hope so, since this is one of the reasons I've based my decision on. I think the motivations for biddability differs between the two. JMHO.

ETA: Also, if you're into precision work... spitze would not be your cup of tea.. I don't know how well vlcaks fit into doing precision work but if from the comparisons to Malis hold true, they do that pretty darn well. I have exceedingly rarely seen a few spitz title in SchH, and even rarer as a service animal (most being ESAs or TDs instead if in the field) - Draggar, your wife would probably be a better authority on this - I just don't think that is their forte.