Are wolf dogs easy to train? Let’s Explore

How to Care for a Wolf Mix Puppy

Wolf mixes mature a lot slower than domesticated dog breeds and dont fully mature for about three years. They also have senses that are a little more heightened with an amazing sense of sight, smell, and hearing. They are extremely athletic with great endurance.

On top of all that awesomeness, wolfdogs are extremely loyal. They tend to bond to one person only and stick to them faithfully. At times they can even be protective, as they tend to be uncertain about strangers. Dezzy has definitely bonded with me, waiting outside the bathroom door as I shower and following me literally at my heels everywhere I go. Shes yet to get protective around strangers and is more curious and eager to play instead but its possible that that is just because she is still a puppy and that may change when she gets older. Keeping her in contact with people whenever possible will help her be more trusting later on when she finally matures.

Wolf mixes are also known for having separation anxiety. Unfortunately for Dezzy, whenever we leave, weve had to tie her up to prevent her from literally destroying everything she can get her paws on, which is a lot considering her height. Slowly, weve been giving her more time to roam and weve also worked at keeping things hidden so that eventually she can roam just like her buddy Bailey.

While were gone, she will not only tear and gnaw at everything, but she will also howl for the first twenty minutes to a half hour. Leaving for short periods of time and then coming back has helped because shes learning that we arent just abandoning her. Also, making sure not to make leaving a big deal by ignoring her rather than saying goodbyes before walking out the door is essential to letting her know that when I leave it shouldnt be a big deal.

When training your puppy, make sure and be nice. No hitting or anything harsh. Keep in mind that theyre idea of submission when in trouble involves squatting and urinating. This is especially frustrating but just remember that they are just a puppy and still learning. It takes a lot of time and patience but they are smart and will understand what they need to do soon enough. Repetition is key and providing treats for good behavior may help.

Other than giving them plenty of exercise and training, wolf mixes have a diet thats a little different than your regular puppy. They need a higher amount of protein and may actually go on binges, especially in September when the weather gets a little colder. Monitor their intake and feed them throughout the day rather than giving large amounts only once or twice a day.

House Training A Wolf Hybrid Puppy

House training a wolfdog can be challenging because they have a natural instinct to roam and explore their surroundings. It is important to begin house training as soon as possible so that your wolfdog knows where they are supposed to relieve themselves. The best way to house train a wolfdog is through crate training. Crate training involves confining your wolfdog to a small space (crate) when they are not being supervised so that they can learn to “hold it” until they are given the opportunity to go outside.

Obedience Training for a Wolf Hybrid Puppy

If youve ever trained a dog, the same learning principles apply when training a wolf hybrid to do typical obedience behaviors such as sit, stay, coming when called and more. However, you will probably experience issues related to the hybrids instinctual behavior that will make this more challenging.

If you have a wolf hybrid that is very shy, he may be easily distracted learning in outside environments.

  • Work on training him in quiet, low distraction places such as inside of your home.
  • Only move toward going outside in your yard or even to a class when hes doing well with training at home.
  • Note that this applies to training only, and only at the beginning. You do want to take him out for socialization as much as you can and as much as hes comfortable with.
  • Unlike the domestic dog, wolves have no instinctual behaviors related to working alongside humans. Your wolf hybrid is therefore much less likely to be as focused on you during training and you will have to do more work to convince him to respond to training.

  • Use “high value” treats to keep his focus on being reinforced, such as cut up chicken, hot dogs, or pieces of cheese. Regular dry dog biscuits will likely not be enough to sustain his interest.
  • Work in small increments of time to keep your sessions short. This helps your wolf hybrid puppy from becoming stressed and frustrated.
  • You should always use positive reinforcement and refrain from punishment when working with an animal. This is definitely true with a wolf hybrid that will need the extra reinforcement to be successful whether he is shy or less interested in people.

  • Clicker training is a great option as it allows you to let the puppy know quickly when hes doing something right.
  • Clicker training is also great for a shyer dog as you can give him more space and reward him from farther away. Click him for doing something right and toss the treat to him and work on moving in closer at his own comfort level.
  • Because working with a wolf hybrid puppy on training can be harder than you may imagine, dont hesitate to reach out for help from a qualified training professional. The foundation you lay for your puppys behavior now will be a big help when they reach adolescence and their behavior changes. Working with a professional who can coach you will make a big difference.

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