Posted on 03 March 2010.
I spend so much time telling people about the bad points of my breed that sometimes I really have to think about why I love it so much — and why I have so many of them.
I guess for me, there are three reasons I adore my breed:
1. They are beautiful to watch in their element, working as a team in front of a sled.
2. They are primitive: Carved out of their native landscape to assist their people, designed for survival.
3. I worship the archetypal trickster (Loki, Anansi, Raven, Coyote, etc.), and they are trickster figures personified.
I guess my question is, do you find yourself talking more people out of your breed than into it and — if so — what about the breed makes you crazy enough to own it?
Yes, I must reply now after reading PURPLEP’s answer. OY VEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bear with me, I have a nice large puncture wound on my index finger, typing is just a *tad* difficult. Perfect timing, my wound comes from a ‘nice, playful wolf dog’ who decided to become a bit food-aggressive lastnight.
My scars are my storybook. They are proof that wolf dogs are not what people claim them to be; that is dogs for everyone.
Wolf dogs are NOT a breed. It’s a mix of dog and wolf, that’s it. A BREED has BREED STANDARDS. There are NO breed standards for a wolf dog… why? Cause it’s not a breed. It’s a MUTT.
They are NOT for everyone, in fact, they are hardly for anyone. Most people, and I mean up in the 90th percentile *think* they have a wolf dog, when in fact they have an extremely low, low content one – who makes a great pet. Sure, a low content wolf dog may make a great house-hold companion just as any other dog may.
But sadly, most wolf dog content is WIDELY misrepresented – I firmly believe that PurpleP is a great example. Those that misrepresent their animals, either due to the breeder misinforming them, or the owners lack of knowledge to accurately determine wolf content in their own animal poses a danger to ALL wolf dogs, their owners AND the public. One may think that they had or have a 75% wolf dog an it makes a wonderful pet… when in fact it’s probably 5 generations or more away fromt he wolf making it, virually, a DOG. Next dog this person gets may be truely a 75%, first generation wolf dog and this owner is in for a HUGE surprise!
True wolf dogs are an extremely dangerous mix. Anyone who argues this has not had the opportunity to involve themselves with TRUE, high content wolf dogs. Wolves have an extremly high prey drive. Naturally they will chase, attack and kill prey. Dogs naturally have no fear of people. Wolf and dog mixed = frequent attemps at chasing and attacking children. Wolf dogs have a never-ending desire to scent-mark and to dig. Due to their high intelligence, they are difficult – if not impossible – for most people to contain. They climb, dig, jump and chew through any enclosure if given a chance, and trust me, they succeed. No one, NO ONE, can contain a high content wolf dog behind a 4-6 foot fence w/o a 2 ft over-hang and 3ft of mesh burried underground. These dogs can easily jump 6 ft from a standstill.
My finger is killing me *waaaa*
and this is taking forever to type, lol!
And why would anyone WANT a wolf dog? There is definitely a status symbol one is trying to achieve, or a desire to be ‘in-touch with a part of nature’, or even to look ‘cool’. No one can giveme a good enough reason to have one. If they do, then they surely do not have a wolf dog.
As for me, the reasons I am crazy enough to be owned by this "breed" is due to people such as PurpleP. I am forced to take them, it’s not a choice that’s been fueled by greed. But it’s a choice that I make to try to better the wrong that ignorant people have done.
I am forever cleaning up people’s mess… and I will continue doing so. Probably until I die.
Must stop typing now
I have soo much more to say, though.
ADD: Ohhh I looked at the link PurpleP was kind enough to share. No wonder her dog is such a great dog! Because it’s ONLY a dog! Phew!!!! I rest my case