Doberman's
11-11-2007, 10:50 PM
I found this very interesting:
http://www.kc.net/~wolf2dog/wolfdog.htm
The Wolfdog; A factual overview
by Steve Masuch
Guardians of Wildlife
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction to the wolfdog
The wolfdog, also known as the wolf-dog hybrid and wolf hybrid, is a mix between a wolf and a dog. Genetically, the wolf and the dog are the same species. The wolf is classified as Canis lupus x, where x is the subspecies of wolf, such as arctos. The family dog is classified as Canis lupus familiaris, changed in 1993 from Canis familiaris.1 Currently, there are no genetic tests available to distinguish a wolf from a dog.3 While many people claim to be able to detect the wolf content in any particular animal based on physical appearance, this is purely the individual's subjective opinion. Because the family dog descended from the wolf, and are the same species, there are no definitive tests to detect wolf content in dogs. Many northern breeds of dogs carry many or all of the same physical attributes as the wolfdog.3
Are wolfdogs more vicious than other dog breeds?
Many people would mislead you to believe that wolfdogs are the most vicious dogs around. On the contrary, wolfdogs have far less fatal attacks than other large breeds of dogs. In a recent study conducted by Jeffrey J. Sacks MD, there were 109 dog bite fatalities in the years 1989 to 1994. The most commonly reported dog breeds involved were pit bulls (24 deaths), followed by rottweilers (16 deaths), and German shepherds (10 deaths).2 The authors point out that many breeds, however, are involved in the problem.
The wolfdog is 6th on the list of dog attack fatalities, with Pit bull terriers in the lead position. One should note the very conservative number of estimated wolfdog population. Estimates range from one hundred thousand (100,000) to two and a half (2.5) million, with three hundred thousand (300,000) being the most frequently quoted population estimate. With this in mind, combined with the AVMA estimated 52 million dogs in the US, if there were a breed specific problem, you would see a far greater amount of dog bite fatalities. The truth is, it’s just not the problem it’s reported to be, statistically speaking.
People would also have you believe that wolfdogs are kid killers. The sad fact is, most dog attack fatalities are children. Of the 157 fatalities between the years 1979 to 1988, 70% of the fatalities were children under 10 years of age. Only five (5) of the 157 fatalities involved wolfdog hybrids. Wolfdogs average less then one fatal attack incident per year over a 15 year period. There are on average 18 dog-bite fatalities per year.2 To contrast these numbers, 165 children drowned in bathtubs in 1991. Another 598 children drowned in swimming pools, and another 361 died from riding their bicycles.5 And yet another 237 children under the age of five (5) died in motor vehicle accidents in 1990 because of lack of appropriate restraining device.5
Although we have strict laws to prevent such fatalities, these things still happen. Why? Inadequate public education is one reason. Does anyone believe the parents would purposely risk their childrens' life if they knew of the dangers? Legislation and regulations can only go so far in protecting the public. Breed specific bans will not work, not only because of the unconstitutionality of them, but also because it’s not a breed specific problem. Most of the factors contributing to dog bites are related to the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners.2 Public education about dogs and dog ownership is key and recommended.6
Aggression
One cannot talk about wolfdog behavior without talking about standard canine behavior. Two recent reports by The Association of Pet Behavior Counselors state that, "Aggression towards people" was the most frequently recorded behavior problem in dogs. Although nuisance attention-seeking behaviors and training problems were frequently recorded, they were usually correlated with another behavior. For example, attention seeking behavior included, dominance aggression towards people, or separation problems. Training problems included, territorial aggression or dominance aggression towards people.7 These behaviors are all reported by anti-wolfdog people as being wolf and wolfdog behaviors, but in reality, they are standard canine behaviors.
Environment also plays a large role in canine behavior. Dominance aggression, learned nuisance behaviors, and separation problems due to owner attachment, are likely to occur in dogs from "domestic" environments. Fear aggression towards strangers and dogs, and fears/phobias are more prevalent in unsocialized dogs, particularly from a "kennel" environment.9 Socialized dogs will exhibit this behavior but the chance further decreases if the dog was from a "domestic" environment.9 Unsocialized dogs from either environment are more likely to be reported as showing this behavior than socialized dogs. The incidence in socialized dogs in either environment increases in line with age obtained.9 In essence, better socialization equals a more social dog or wolfdog, and less socialization presents more anti-social behavior. You cannot develop the same intimate social relationship within a "kennel" environment as you can from a "domestic" environment.
HSUS President Paul G. Irwin states; "Dog bites are not caused by "bad dogs," but by irresponsible owners. Dogs that haven't been properly "socialized," that receive little attention or handling, that are left tied-up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters."
Destructive Behavior
The wolfdog is accused of having a propensity toward destructive behavior. Such as digging, shredding and chewing furniture. This is true in some cases. The destructive behavior is also apparent in other canines as well. Separation from the owners often results in separation problems in other dogs, with destructive behavior being the leading problem at forty-seven percent of the time.7 "The regular occurrence of separation problems in a "domestic" environment highlights the need for adequate training to ensure puppies can tolerate periods of separation from the owners." Separation anxiety is treatable in older dogs as well. Boredom can also result in destructive behavior.
Are wolfdogs wild or exotic animals?
Not according to the United States Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations (CRF). The CFR defines "dog" as any live or dead dog or any dog-hybrid cross. It also defines animal as any live or dead dog, cat, etc.
"Exotic" animal means any animal not identified in the definition of "animal" provided in this part that is native to a foreign country or of foreign origin or character, is not native to the United States, or was introduced from abroad.11
"Hybrid cross" means an animal resulting from the crossbreeding between two different species or types of animals. Crosses between wild animal species, such as lions and tigers, are considered to be wild animals. Crosses between wild animal species and domestic animals, such as dogs and wolves or buffalo and domestic cattle, are considered to be domestic animals. 11
"Pet animal" means any animal that has commonly been kept as a pet in family households in the United States, such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters. This term excludes exotic animals and wild animals.11
"Wild animal" means any animal which is now or historically has been found in the wild, or in the wild state, within the boundaries of the United States, its territories, or possessions. This term includes, but is not limited to, animals such as: Deer, skunk, opossum, raccoon, mink, armadillo, coyote, squirrel, fox, wolf.
http://www.kc.net/~wolf2dog/wolfdog.htm
The Wolfdog; A factual overview
by Steve Masuch
Guardians of Wildlife
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction to the wolfdog
The wolfdog, also known as the wolf-dog hybrid and wolf hybrid, is a mix between a wolf and a dog. Genetically, the wolf and the dog are the same species. The wolf is classified as Canis lupus x, where x is the subspecies of wolf, such as arctos. The family dog is classified as Canis lupus familiaris, changed in 1993 from Canis familiaris.1 Currently, there are no genetic tests available to distinguish a wolf from a dog.3 While many people claim to be able to detect the wolf content in any particular animal based on physical appearance, this is purely the individual's subjective opinion. Because the family dog descended from the wolf, and are the same species, there are no definitive tests to detect wolf content in dogs. Many northern breeds of dogs carry many or all of the same physical attributes as the wolfdog.3
Are wolfdogs more vicious than other dog breeds?
Many people would mislead you to believe that wolfdogs are the most vicious dogs around. On the contrary, wolfdogs have far less fatal attacks than other large breeds of dogs. In a recent study conducted by Jeffrey J. Sacks MD, there were 109 dog bite fatalities in the years 1989 to 1994. The most commonly reported dog breeds involved were pit bulls (24 deaths), followed by rottweilers (16 deaths), and German shepherds (10 deaths).2 The authors point out that many breeds, however, are involved in the problem.
The wolfdog is 6th on the list of dog attack fatalities, with Pit bull terriers in the lead position. One should note the very conservative number of estimated wolfdog population. Estimates range from one hundred thousand (100,000) to two and a half (2.5) million, with three hundred thousand (300,000) being the most frequently quoted population estimate. With this in mind, combined with the AVMA estimated 52 million dogs in the US, if there were a breed specific problem, you would see a far greater amount of dog bite fatalities. The truth is, it’s just not the problem it’s reported to be, statistically speaking.
People would also have you believe that wolfdogs are kid killers. The sad fact is, most dog attack fatalities are children. Of the 157 fatalities between the years 1979 to 1988, 70% of the fatalities were children under 10 years of age. Only five (5) of the 157 fatalities involved wolfdog hybrids. Wolfdogs average less then one fatal attack incident per year over a 15 year period. There are on average 18 dog-bite fatalities per year.2 To contrast these numbers, 165 children drowned in bathtubs in 1991. Another 598 children drowned in swimming pools, and another 361 died from riding their bicycles.5 And yet another 237 children under the age of five (5) died in motor vehicle accidents in 1990 because of lack of appropriate restraining device.5
Although we have strict laws to prevent such fatalities, these things still happen. Why? Inadequate public education is one reason. Does anyone believe the parents would purposely risk their childrens' life if they knew of the dangers? Legislation and regulations can only go so far in protecting the public. Breed specific bans will not work, not only because of the unconstitutionality of them, but also because it’s not a breed specific problem. Most of the factors contributing to dog bites are related to the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners.2 Public education about dogs and dog ownership is key and recommended.6
Aggression
One cannot talk about wolfdog behavior without talking about standard canine behavior. Two recent reports by The Association of Pet Behavior Counselors state that, "Aggression towards people" was the most frequently recorded behavior problem in dogs. Although nuisance attention-seeking behaviors and training problems were frequently recorded, they were usually correlated with another behavior. For example, attention seeking behavior included, dominance aggression towards people, or separation problems. Training problems included, territorial aggression or dominance aggression towards people.7 These behaviors are all reported by anti-wolfdog people as being wolf and wolfdog behaviors, but in reality, they are standard canine behaviors.
Environment also plays a large role in canine behavior. Dominance aggression, learned nuisance behaviors, and separation problems due to owner attachment, are likely to occur in dogs from "domestic" environments. Fear aggression towards strangers and dogs, and fears/phobias are more prevalent in unsocialized dogs, particularly from a "kennel" environment.9 Socialized dogs will exhibit this behavior but the chance further decreases if the dog was from a "domestic" environment.9 Unsocialized dogs from either environment are more likely to be reported as showing this behavior than socialized dogs. The incidence in socialized dogs in either environment increases in line with age obtained.9 In essence, better socialization equals a more social dog or wolfdog, and less socialization presents more anti-social behavior. You cannot develop the same intimate social relationship within a "kennel" environment as you can from a "domestic" environment.
HSUS President Paul G. Irwin states; "Dog bites are not caused by "bad dogs," but by irresponsible owners. Dogs that haven't been properly "socialized," that receive little attention or handling, that are left tied-up for long periods of time, frequently turn into biters."
Destructive Behavior
The wolfdog is accused of having a propensity toward destructive behavior. Such as digging, shredding and chewing furniture. This is true in some cases. The destructive behavior is also apparent in other canines as well. Separation from the owners often results in separation problems in other dogs, with destructive behavior being the leading problem at forty-seven percent of the time.7 "The regular occurrence of separation problems in a "domestic" environment highlights the need for adequate training to ensure puppies can tolerate periods of separation from the owners." Separation anxiety is treatable in older dogs as well. Boredom can also result in destructive behavior.
Are wolfdogs wild or exotic animals?
Not according to the United States Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations (CRF). The CFR defines "dog" as any live or dead dog or any dog-hybrid cross. It also defines animal as any live or dead dog, cat, etc.
"Exotic" animal means any animal not identified in the definition of "animal" provided in this part that is native to a foreign country or of foreign origin or character, is not native to the United States, or was introduced from abroad.11
"Hybrid cross" means an animal resulting from the crossbreeding between two different species or types of animals. Crosses between wild animal species, such as lions and tigers, are considered to be wild animals. Crosses between wild animal species and domestic animals, such as dogs and wolves or buffalo and domestic cattle, are considered to be domestic animals. 11
"Pet animal" means any animal that has commonly been kept as a pet in family households in the United States, such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters. This term excludes exotic animals and wild animals.11
"Wild animal" means any animal which is now or historically has been found in the wild, or in the wild state, within the boundaries of the United States, its territories, or possessions. This term includes, but is not limited to, animals such as: Deer, skunk, opossum, raccoon, mink, armadillo, coyote, squirrel, fox, wolf.