[draggar]

Originally Posted by GalomyOak

IVerbally representing a dog as a wolf mix could get you in trouble in some places, so I never do, unless I know it is a person I trust. "Wolf Hybrid" has been beaten down (since the dogs are not "technically" hybrids) to become synonymous with wolfdog. Good publicity, and very careful communication will be key to the slow and steady progression of the breed, the fact that the AKC recognizes them as a dog breed period, is an advantage. Negative publicity is what really scares me - one child getting bitten, or animal getting attacked here and making it to the news - and it will be a dark day for our breed in the US...

I try my hardest to call her a vlcak and then if people ask about the breed, I get into the history.

Originally Posted by soniakanavle

Well, but the breed IS a wolf/dog cross.....

Which doesn't mean it's dangerous of course, but I don't think trying to cover up the fact isn't the best idea, then inexperienced people will end up buying them thinking it'll act just like a GSD or another normal dog then end up with a crazy wild animal in their home when they don't know how to train it right. [I used to work at the SPCA and see lots of wolf hybrids get abandoned cause people didn't know what to expect and they would usually euthanize them because they couldn't adopt them out again. So sad. ]

And anyway, 'Vlcak' just means 'Wolfdog' in Czech, so any Czech-Americans will still know what they truly are.

I'm sure most Czech-Americans or Slovak-Americans will also know about the breed, in some way. I'm not saying hide the truth, I'm saying tell people what they are - vlcak. That doesn't matter if it means wolfdog in the language or not. Many dogs have names in other languages that people don't know the name from it (heck, most don't even know what the names mean!).

As for people getting the wrong dog - that will happen with any breed. People see schutzhund and police videos thinking they want a dog like that (working like GSD or Belgian) and don't realize it takes a hell of a lot of work to get a dog like that *and* constant training and supervision. I've seen people who aren't even suited for a newfie or a lab want (and sometimes get) a working line shepherd.

Funny story actually, German Shepherds are on the 'Breed ban list' here in Portland OR, [for some stupid reason] so I had a way harder time finding a place to rent with my GSD than my 'Czech Wolfdog' lol.

Belgian shepherds are rarely on those lists, too.

Originally Posted by yukidomari

All dogs are technically wolf hybrids down to the littlest Chihuahua or the biggest Mastiff. They just lost count of what generation it is. I personally don't think it does the breed any favors by emphasizing it, though IMHO.

More like some long-lost common "wolf like" ancestor, but yes (this thought is continued below...)

Originally Posted by soniakanavle

Czech Vlcak had pure wolf introduced as late as the 1970's, and into a wolf/GSD cross so I think 40 years is a bit closer to the temperment of a real wolf rather than the hundreds [or thousands] of years with most breeds of dogs. Even 'wolfy' acting Siberians are years and years away from any wolf, though I don't deny they're hard to handle, a husky was my first dog and I learned a lot about what I know about dogs from her and it's sad to see them go into the wrong hands as well. .

I don't think it is the number of generations that will make a dog less wolfy as opposed to how they are bred. Luna is a lot like a malinois or a working like GSD puppy which, even though bratty and wild looking, she is nothing like the litter of Finnish spitz puppies we had whom were extremely wolf-like in temperament yet that is one of the oldest breeds in existence (almost extinct for a while, too).

I think the biggest difference in the tempeaments is that the more "working line' breeds show a lot of play drive while the wolf-like temperament breeds show more "hunting" drive while growing up.