Memory has some strange SA

inhellseyes

I also chose get a wolf dog for the same reason someone would choose to own a terrier or a collie. 

 

I am not sure what you mean by this statement.  Terriers and Collies are dogs and will always be dogs.  Memory is 90 % wolf.  Not the same in my book and you should be cautious about thinking of her as a dog or even as a domestic animal.  It's obvious that you love her but I hope you never get too complacent.

Moderator request...

Let's keep this constructive and offer the OP, who is new to our forum...all the advice relative to their request, that we can. Thanks all.

Hanging head in shame......

Sorry OP I did get carried away and off topic. 

Hi Rain, I don't have any other advice to offer you and Memory except that you're right...vacations without her may not be in your chart.  I do think, however...if she is kenneled safely and someone were to come over and feed and water she would take the food.  She might not take it while they are watching...but she will eat.

I have to say that about 15 years ago, I met (by chance) a hybrid wolf/malamute, an intact male.  He came walking down my street one day while I was out and came right up to me.  No aggression, he was very friendly and wanted to meet and greet me.  It was love at first sight for me.  We hung out together in the front yard as I was trying to figure out where he came from and what to do with him.  I ended up putting him on a leash and walking him around the neighborhood knocking on random doors asking folks if they knew the dog.  I hit the jackpot about an hour after I started my search.  I knocked on the door of the owner.  The owner thanked me for bringing him home and told me that they are having a very tough time keeping him contained.  I had no idea what kind of "dog" he was.  Then, the owner told me he was 1/2 wolfe and 1/2 malamute.

I think it was love at first sight for "Wolf" too, because about half a dozen times, he showed up on my front porch.  Cutest thing...he wanted me to be his owner.  It took everything I had to walk him back home each and every time...boy did I want to keep him.  The owners finally got him neutered and spent more time money in keeping him contained.  What a sweetheart!  Thanks for letting me remember, brings a tiny tear to my eye, thinking about my Wolf.

 It would be a good idea to find some other folks who own wolves/ wolf moxes, and ask how they teach theirs to accept alternate caregivers, if it comes down to it. It sounds like they're *totally* different than a regular dog. My dog, even though she won't allow a stranger to remove her from a kennel, is extremely social with strangers of all shapes and sizes, and is handlable by multiple vets and their staff, as long as she isn't crated. That is typical DOG behavior.

 

Memory is stunningly beautiful. I hope that she continues to be as loved and socialized as she is, now, and that you can find some other (experienced) wolfdog owners to get more pertinant training advice from. 

 I would agree that perhaps finding people with experience in wolfdogs would be a big help, and if I might offer an opinion, it would be best I think to label it "aggression" when discussing the problem with them.  That's not any kind of slight, it's just that separation anxiety and aggression are two separate issues with different methods of management. 

 I think that with a 90% wolf, the people to contact would be those familiar with wolf behavior.  Too often, those who specialize in wolf dogs do what we are trying to advise you to avoid - complacency about her true genetic makeup.  There's a wolf center in Minnesota that's supposed to be pretty knowledgeable.  You should be able to find it by Googling, I should think.

'kay, I know that you are concerned for the safety of animals and people, but I want you to know that I would not have taken Memory in if I didn't believe we could handle her and keep her safe. I've already said that I'm willing to stay home, and she is so much more important to me than going on vacations... the only reason why I asked for help is to see IF it could be stopped. I'm not saying I'll just leave her alone in a dangerous situation. Wolf dogs are not illegal where I am, and she has been properly trained, socialized, and fed. She has never bitten anyone in her life (of course, her as a mouthy puppy doesn't count!), and has only snapped at someone once when she was younger. I know she is an "exotic pet" and has special needs, and I help satisfy those needs in every way I can. I think I'm allowed to confidently say she is happy living with me. If I'm making excuses, then I'm probably doing it subconsciously. All I know is that her behavior seems more defensive than aggressive, and she is easily provoked and scared. I'll try contacting some wolf centers to find out more - thanks for your advice!

 Benedict: that's a good thought - my initial thought just turned out to be seperation anxiety because we were seperated 

CoBuHe: you're probably right, no leaving her for vacations! That is so sweet, and yes, many wolf dogs are just big love bugs. Memory is part malamute, and has been spayed. She's so friendly with kids, it's hard to believe!

Jenny_c_d: thanks a bunch :))

 I don't think anyone meant to offend, but these guys are like Pit Bulls in the sense that if they do hurt someone, they don't get much sympathy, no matter whose fault it was, or if the animal was being defensive instead of overtly aggressive.  We just don't want to see anything bad happen to her that didn't have to happen.

 I understand! that's why I said I knew you were only worried for the safety of Memory and other people alike. The no biting or snapping rule has been stressed soo much with her, because I know the moment she does something wrong, everyone will find an excuse to put her down, and that's the last thing I would ever want to happen. Don't worry, I'm not really offended, I just wanted everyone to know that there isn't anything I won't do to keep her safe and happy, and I do think I can manage that. Everyone on the forum has been friendly and very helpful.

I would think what you're experiencing is very much natural wolf behavior - she doesn't know these strangers that come to feed her, doesn't trust them - they aren't part of her "pack" so it could well be that she's not showing active aggression as in attacking outright because of good temperment, training, and socialisation but also because these people are new and unfamiliar and don't stay long enough to actually sort out rank issues in her mind. Whom ever, if ever you have someone feed and water her while you're gone should go through an intensive program with your help to establish their dominance in her mind, and so you can make it clear that when you're gone she's still not alpha - other people, at least specificly that person/persons will still remain alpha because it sounds like a pack issue, not "aggression" Wolves are very different than dogs, they take pack structure and rank seriously and it's on their minds at all times, as you seem to know. To a wolf the pack is everything, half the battle will just be getting her to accept other people into her pack. I don't have specific instructions, only that following the advice of I think two different posters and talking with someone who deals with wolf behavior and wolfdogs would probably be wise, and if that fails she will get hungry enough to eat and it might be best not to have the pet sitter interact with her but rather feed, water, and check on her through a fence. Welcome to the forums, and I hope you get this sorted! Best Wishes.