wolf dogs

Part wild, part domestic

Wolf dogs are hybrid canines bred from domestic dogs and wolves.

The term covers animals with varying percentages of wolf ancestry, from recent crosses to dogs with distant wolf heritage.

Wolf dogs occupy a legal gray area in many jurisdictions—too wild for typical pet ownership, too domesticated for wildlife classification.

The sanctuary took in abandoned wolf dogs whose owners couldn't handle them.

Related

howling · full moon · prey drive · interbreeding · crossbreed · hybrid · nose · hunters · companions · exotic pet · genetics · wild · bite · interspecies · socialization · territoriality · wildlife sanctuary · mating

Opposites
domestication level

wolf dogslap dogs

Small dogs bred for cuddling

house dogs · golden retrievers · pugs · companion dogs · show dogs

breeding heritage

wolf dogspurebred dogs

Dogs of unmixed lineage

Maltese · Shih Tzus · Pekingese · designer dogs

pet suitability/manageability

wolf dogstherapy dogs

Trained canines offering emotional aid

service dogs · Labrador retrievers · beagles

Family

wolf, dog, wolves, dogs, wolfish, wolflike, wolfhound, dogged, doggedly

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G