Wolfdog in the House: Seeing My Muse Through Responsible Eyes

It’s easy to forget that this relationship could ever be anything but wonder-filled and fun. Kainan the wolfdog is out in the yard with my other teenager dogs, gallooping about in a silly, carefree morning melee that resembles tag-you’re-it.

Why yes, I did make that word up.  “Gallooping.” Just the way it bumps off your tongue perfectly describes Kainan’s unique gait as he works to control those gangly legs and big feet. Guh-LOOP-ing.  He is on the cusp of graceful…I give him a few more months.

I think it is fairly clear that Jim and I are completely in love with this boy as we help him live out his wags to riches story as a member of our family. He is so charming; he has become my most generous muse for story after story. His distinctive howl serving as my new morning alarm clock has been the most natural fit in the world.

However, as I tell stories about him, as Kainan gains a bit of a following, I have to wonder if I am painting a clear picture about life with a wolfdog. Have my stories to date have created an all-daisies-and-sunshine image of life with this boy? Do I even fully understand what the realities of life with a wolfdog may be? After all, Kainan kind of just dropped into our world. We didn’t exactly plan to acquire a wolfdog.

For many people, these wolfdogs are beloved companions and I totally understand it. There is something so amazing about having a creature living in your home that is beautiful, loyal, and, at the same time, inherently mystical.

Whether or not you agree with the concept of crossing a domestic dog with a wild animal to create a species that lives in the gray area between the two (and I actually don’t agree with the concept on many levels…but we’ll chat about that another time), there is no doubt that people are fascinated by wolfdogs. In the right hands, these animals can be incredible teachers and are undeniably appealing. Ah, but there is that tricky “in the right hands” thing.

It reminds me of the late 1980s/early 1990s when Disney started the Dalmatian frenzy. Now, for all of my friends who adore Disney, I am not taking the dear man’s name and namesake empire in vain. I’m just stating fact. The re-release of the original animated 101 Dalmatians, quickly followed by the live-action version, and then the make-Dalmatian-fanciers-pound-their-heads-against-a-wall 102 Dalmatians movie had everyone seeing spots. People rushed to own their own little cartoon puppy. Lots of people. In response, lots of people happily created supply to meet demand. It was a catastrophe.

The dogs in the movie were charming. The Dalmatians snoozing all around my desk right now are also charming, beautiful canine characters. I can’t imagine my life without it being full of spots. They are affectionate, smart, athletic, and…well…hysterically fun. If ever a dog was born with a sense of humor, it is the Dalmatian.

But are they the right dog for everyone?  Most definitely not. No breed of dog is right for everyone…just as wolfdogs aren’t right for everyone.

Despite what I would like to believe about my own popularity, truth be told, my stories about Kainan haven’t likely thrust wolfdogs into the spotlight (oh…I made a funny!) in a Disneyesque manner. My blog is just a few billion followers shy of Walt-status. However, I am speaking out…people are reading…asking questions…and a few have expressed a desire to live with a Kainan of their own. Who wouldn’t want one?  How cool is it to share your home with the big, not-so-bad wolf? Right? Right?

As I watch Kainan gallooping (you’re starting to like that word, aren’t you?) from the yard, through the dog door, and into the house to collapse in a happy, panting puddle at my feet, I wonder if I just might be Nancy Disney? (Ok, that does have a nice ring to it.)

Uh oh. Time for Responsible Nancy to put on her educational hat.

Admittedly, life with Kainan so far has been pretty smooth. Ah, but Jim and I are not average dog owners. We are Crazy Dog People. Yes, I’m going to own that and make it a formal title. We take in dogs of all shapes and sizes. We train dogs. My business is dog-centric. We have even helped rescue wolfdogs in the past. We are not rookies.

However, all the experience in the world does not a good, responsible decision make. Anytime anyone is thinking of adding an animal to their world there are many factors to be considered.  Homework must be done. Most importantly, you have to be willing to walk away if the animal in question is not a good fit for you.

I think anyone considering adopting a wolfdog should have to read Living with Wolfdogs, An Everyday Guide to a Lifetime Companionship by Nicole Wilde, author and canine behavior specialist. (Best last name EVER for someone who is a wolfdog expert.)

I have long admired Nicole Wilde as a dog trainer and I have been fortunate enough to attend dog training seminars she has conducted. She knows her stuff. Let’s pretend she is our retroactive adoption counselor.

Nicole (I decided we are on a first name basis) would say something like, “So…you think you want a wolfdog? Let’s have a chat about that idea.”

Brave Kainan…who stands several inches taller than any dog in our house…falling to the ground and making himself very tiny when our two in-charge Dalmatian boys even look at him.

Nicole: Why do you want a wolfdog? Do you think you’re getting the ultimate watchdog?  Wolves are actually very shy by nature and would rather retreat than confront an intruder.

Nan/Jim answer: I can tell you first hand that when our dogs go charging into the yard to scare off what they would have us believe must be an eight foot tall cyclops, brave Kainan is more than happy to hang back with the humans…perhaps standing behind the humans. It’s not a problem. We feel certain we can protect Kainan from the boogeyman.

Nicole: Wolfdogs are highly social, pack-oriented animals that require a lot of time, attention, and socialization. Are you willing to make that commitment?

Nan/Jim answer: Party with the wolfdog! Yay! He will likely have a better social life than we do.

Nicole: Wolves are very social creatures and don’t care to spend a lot of time alone. If the humans can’t be home most of the time, the wolfdog will need a canine buddy. Can you provide adequate companionship for a wolfdog?

Nan/Jim answer: I’m sorry. Can you repeat that question? The 20-someodd dogs in this house all decided to lick a body part at the same time. Alone is not an issue here. Space on the bed is. Kainan is already tickled pink with his ready-made family.

Nicole: Do you have neighbors? Do you like them? Do you want them to like you? If the sight of something that resembles a wolf in your yard doesn’t put a strain on your relationship, then the wolfdog’s howling just might.

Nan/Jim answer: Neighbors? What neighbors? We live on 72.5 acres of country bliss. Ok, we do have some friends who live to the west of us. While they have been very patient about marauding donkeys and pigs, we do have a secure dog yard and will see to it that Kainan does not make any unscheduled visits to their home.  Any howling will just blend in with the resident coyotes.

Nicole: Wolfdogs are known to be amazing escape artists. Most require six foot fencing…and even a fence of that height may not do the trick. Just how secure is that secure dog yard?

Nan/Jim answer: We have indoor/outdoor runs in our house that keeps Kainan safe and comfy while we are away. We supervise him when we are home. So far he has shown no desire to test any physical boundaries because there are no couches visible on the other side of the fence. We will, however, modify our fencing if necessary. We hear that maximum security is the new landscaping chic.

Nicole: How do you feel about digging, chewing, and relentless curiosity? (Relentless curiosity…her words and they describe Kainan PERFECTLY.)

Nan/Jim answer: This one seems a bit redundant to the Crazy Dog People whose two darling Dalmatian girls have tunneled an underground condominium in the yard fit for the Royal family. “Curiosity” is not a problem. We have already been introduced to Kainan’s incredible ability to reach anything on any surface. Oh, and the wall in the upstairs hall is apparently quite tasty. As is the corner of one ottoman. And the magazine that just came in the mail today. And still, we wouldn’t trade him for all of the intact drywall in the world.

Nicole: Wolfdogs are very intelligent, can be quite independent, and do not respond to harsh training methods. Are you willing to learn about wolves’ vocalizations and body language? Will you explore alternative training methods essential for successfully living with and training a wolfdog?

Nan/Jim answer: We embrace the opportunity to learn more about our new friend. Obviously, your book is a great resource (no, we are not just sucking up!) and we are lucky to have great support from our friends at Freedom Song Wolf Rescue. Our training methods are already centered on reward-based techniques, so you are preaching to the choir on that front. Kainan already knows sit, down, shake hands, speak, and sit politely while I deliver your dinner. Our wolfdog is smarter than your honor student.

Nicole: Last, but not least, have you checked to see if it is legal for you to own a wolfdog in your area? They are illegal in many cities.

Nan/Jim answer: While wolfdogs are not legal in the city of Tulsa, out here in Creek County, just outside of Mounds, Oklahoma, pretty much anything goes. We’ve even seen a kangaroo in a nearby paddock. Yep. A kangaroo.

At this point in the interview, I envision Nicole Wilde dabbing tears from her eyes, hugging us, and telling us that we are perhaps the most perfect home in the world for Kainan. And I think we are. We are very committed to him.

Of course a little warning from our friends at Freedom Song keeps bouncing around in my head and it’s the one thing that keeps me from getting too complacent about Kainan. Wolves and some higher content wolfdogs do not really mature until 22 months or older. That means we really don’t yet know how wolfie our wolfdog is going to be. His temperament could change as he matures. It could.

But I also know that Jim and I are prepared for whatever may come. Sweet wolfdog (my bet) or eventual big, bad wolf (hard to imagine)—we’ll stick with our boy.

For now?  Well, Kainan is wonderful, sweet, funny, affectionate, and seemingly quite happy to be with us.  Honestly, it is all sunshine and daisies right now. Well, mostly sunshine and daisies. There is the issue of that one last piece of pink-frosted vanilla birthday cake goodness that, instead of being MY treat, went into Mr. Hey-Look-What-I-Can-Do’s belly.

Still…he’s totally worth it.

Wolfdog in the House, Day Nine.Five: Let the Training Begin!

It’s breakfast time and with the first empty bowl I pick up in preparation, I am greeted with a huge display of loud, frantic growling.

Oh no, it’s not Big-Bad the wolfdog. He’s standing quietly in the middle of the eager-to-eat pack of dogs, patiently waiting for the chef (that would be me—these are the only creatures on the planet who consider me an excellent cook) to dish up another delectable meal.

The ruckus is coming from Robby, another of my foster dogs. I have no idea what breeds came together to create Robby, but whatever they are, they are demanding and vocal. Frankly, though he really is a sweet boy, he can be a tad rude at times. Ninety-nine.nine percent of the time mealtimes are “those” times.

“Robby,” I say calmly, but firmly, “Go sort.”

Upon hearing the cue “sort,” Robby turns and scrambles toward the bedroom where he will wait for his breakfast quietly—blissfully quietly—in a crate. Yes, he will stand there, door wide open and wait. This is the resolution we have arrived at for his feeding time frenzies.  It’s my favorite dog training rule: If your dog displays a behavior you don’t like, teach a behavior you do like that can replace it.

Robby in the dog room doing a rather impressive impression of the Looney Tunes Tazmanian Devil falls in the Don’t Like column. Robby turning and racing off on cue to wait calmly in his crate for his morning meal? Do Like column with a gold star—and most days he does it without me even asking. This also means that I have stopped cursing his name and not-so-secretly wanting to strangle him.

And this is what dog training should be. It should be creative. Every dog should be a puzzle to be solved. Problems should not be met with anger, force, punishment, or aggression; they should be met from the viewpoint of a teacher.

I wish I could tell you that I always approach every “opportunity” my dogs throw my way with such zen-like patience, but I’m human. Oh-so-human. My first reaction to Robby’s canine tirades was to scold him and try to have him stay in the dog room in a calm fashion. It was a huge fail and in trying to deal with Robby right then and there, I was frustrating the other dogs.

Ok, Nancy. Step back, look at the situation, come up with a plan that reduces stress instead of increasing it. That’s how we arrived at the “go wait in your crate” plan and it works like a charm. Robby knows his job. He knows I will arrive with his food and I will get to praise him for being such a good, good boy. A+++ for both of us.

So back to Big-Bad and the integration of the wolfdog into our home. It’s gone well. Really well, in fact. It would be easy, at this point, to be lulled into a false sense of what’s-all-the-fuss-about-wolfdogs attitude.

Big-Bad is calm and friendly. He gets along amazingly well with our dogs. His primary play-buddies of choice are Cinder and Gretel, the two German shepherd mix girls that we found and are fostering. His body language is a joy to watch as he plays with his new BFFs.

He displays clear, easy communication. His body stays loose in play, with lots of soft curves as he dances with the other dogs in the give-and-take wrestling match of good, appropriate play. His tail stays relaxed and wags lazily from side to side. He places his large mouth across their backs, their necks, or reaches up to take hold of a leg, just as they do to him, and he is always gentle, displaying perfect restraint.  If one of his friends tells him to back off, he does so, immediately bouncing backwards with his head held low, tossing it from side to side in a playful, good-natured display.

In the yard, he is starting to join in their games of tag, though we have yet to see him really run. The sores on the large pads of each of his feet are healing, but they are still tender. He currently joins in these games by trotting smaller circles inside their large, looping race track around the perimeter of the yard. As they spiral inward around him he waits for his chance to jump in the action as they all fall into a jumble of panting, sparring silliness. Soon I know he will likely lead the race and Jim and I sure look forward to seeing this boy in a full gallop. It will no doubt be a thing of beauty.

For now, as his body heals and gains strength, it appears that our wolfdog is very pleased with his new lot in life. He is very content. He seems relaxed. He has a happy light in his eyes. He does not get frantic about anything. When the other dogs erupt in one of their “We are sure there is a tiger in the back pasture” rampaging sprints through the dog door, Big-Bad just watches them with an amused expression. It’s as if he has some internal sense for when a situation truly merits a reaction…and when it’s really just our donkeys trotting across the field.

It would be easy to assume that we won the wolfdog lottery and that our boy is just going to be easy-peazy. It would be simple to just sit back and watch this new relationship unfold. But that would also be irresponsible.

Jim and I are not rookies in the dog world and we do have some experience around wolfdogs. We also have the benefit of counsel from our friends at Freedom Song Wolf Rescue. Our chats with them combined with our own knowledge help me remember that the wolfdog we have today, may be a very different animal from the healthier, stronger, older wolfdog we will have in the days, weeks, and months to come.

So as we enjoy seeing every play bow, as we help him settle into our home and lives, it would be foolish of us to play “wait and see” with this growing boy. Now Nancy and Jim the trainers get to step forward to embrace this amazing opportunity.

I have officially started testing the waters a bit with this guy. He is, after all, only eight to 10 months old—a puppy that won’t see full maturity for another year or more. And we have to remember, there are two voices sharing the conversation inside Big-Bad’s beautiful head. One voice is that of a playful, silly adolescent dog. The other voice is his more primal side; the voice of his wolf heritage.

Right now I imagine that the voices in his head sound something like this:

Dog: This place is GREAT! Food, fun, friends…what more could a guy want?

Wolf: Yes, this place is great. But those friends…are they going to try to steal your food? Grrrrr.

Dog: Oh no! Those are my friends! Plus, She-human makes sure we all have food. There is more than enough.

Wolf: Really? But don’t you want a little more? That small spotted dog over there…bet you could take hers.

Dog: Well, no…I can’t. I shouldn’t. I won’t. Plus, it’s time for us all to go into the yard to play!

Wolf: Yeah, about that yard. It’s ok, but have you looked beyond the fence? There is all that open room, and all of those trees in the back. Don’t you want to go out there to explore?

Dog: Dude!  There’s no couch out there. Plus it gets really dark at night…and the food and belly rubs are inside. The yard is fine. I love the yard.

Wolf: Ok. Fine. You enjoy your fancy-pants life here. We’ll talk again in a month or two.

So far dog seems to be winning over wolf, but that can change. There are reminders every day of the wolf within. First, one look at Big-Bad says wolf. Anyone can see it. And then there is his bark, or lack thereof.

Big-Bad doesn’t bark, but boy does he talk. He says arrrr, and raaah, and harrumph, all in a deep, James-Earl-Jones-esque timbre. And then, in an easy leap up the scale to a new octave, he throws his head back to let loose a joyful AR-ROOOOOOOO. Dogs and humans like try to imitate his song, but he is the master. He doesn’t sing the song, he lives it.

As we continue to get to know each other, I have starting testing Big-Bad’s limits a bit. I have examined his teeth. I have handled his feet and doctored the sore spots on each. I have trimmed his toenails.  He accepted this attention better than certain dogs I know (glances accusingly at several dogs in the room…).

Jim has taken him for rides in the car. He has introduced him to new people and even kids. Beyond being a bit unnerved by some squealing kids running toward him in the park (they unnerved me too), he has been flawlessly friendly to everyone.

We have asked him to sleep in his secure run in the dog room. We have asked him to sleep in a large crate in our bedroom. We have allowed him to sleep loose in the house. He has complied with all of these arrangements…though being shut away in the dog room was initially met with some plaintiff wails…”I’m soooooo lonely back here. Hellllooooooo? I don’t want to be aloooooone.”

I hear you on that one buddy…you are a pack animal through and through. That lobo-solo crap is a bunch of bunk. In fact, the night we did ask you to sleep off in the run, I believe I awoke a few hours later to find you snuggled on the couch with the He-human. Yeah, he didn’t think you should be alone either.

So the one remaining test for me was his attitude about mealtime. Many dogs are prone to guarding high-value resources and food certainly ranks at the top of the resource list. For the first week here, I let Big-Bad eat in his run without being disturbed.

Once he had a chance to settle in, I decided it was time to test the waters a bit. We had already been asking him to sit for food treats, as well as prior to having his food bowl placed on the floor. Two days ago, I did that routine at feeding time, but then took it a step further and stayed with him, reaching out to lightly stroke his back while he ate.

Ah-hah! First challenge revealed. As I ran my hand along the soft fur of his back, Big-Bad froze. His body became rigid. He kept his head low, over his bowl, but stopped eating. His ears pinned back. His eyes took on a glassy look as he rolled them to look up at me, exposing little moons of white on the sides.

There it is. I found my first “opportunity” with my wolfdog. It wasn’t extreme, he did not growl, or try to snap at me, but I also did not press him. I gave him one more pat and then calmly left the run to let him eat in peace. Though he has gained 12 pounds in his first 10 days in our care, he is still quite emaciated and each meal is a big deal. I didn’t want to confront him, or exacerbate things by snatching his food away. I wanted to develop a training plan.

He displays no ill temper during food prep time. He does not get grumpy with the other dogs; he waits patiently for me to dish meals up. He has already learned to run into his dog run where he sits before I will serve him. Now he will find a few new steps added into his mealtime routine. I will work with him gradually, while keeping things fair and easy as we learn to trust each other. He will learn to trust that I won’t steal his food, and I, through training, will learn to trust that he won’t react badly to my presence during mealtimes.

My first step in the teaching process has been to simply stroke the length of his back two or three times right after I let him have his meal. It’s very casual, it’s as I turn to leave the run. I pet him a few times with my back to his head and bowl, I praise, I walk out. He has accepted this attention beautifully, with no stiffening, no adverse reaction.

Next, I am going to introduce him to clicker training (Today! We will start today!). I’m very excited to start this method with him because I know he’s going to respond so well.

If you are not familiar with clicker training, here is a really, really condensed explanation of the theory behind it. Basically, the animal learns that the click sound is a bridge between the display of a specific, desired behavior, and a reward to come. So, for example, if a dog who has been properly introduced to the clicker comes and sits in front of a person instead of jumping up in greeting, he would get a click and a reward (generally a food treat in the training process, but it can be anything that the dog finds rewarding).  The trainer is capturing and marking the desired behavior at the precise moment it is offered and rewarding it, thereby increasing the likelihood that the dog will offer the behavior again.

With Big-Bad, I plan to introduce the clicker and then use it at mealtime. I will have him sit, I will click, and I will give him his food bowl. We will do that a few times. Then I will stay while he eats and I will pet him lightly. Each time he displays relaxed behavior when I pet him, I will click and then drop a higher value food treat into his bowl. He will find that my attention is not only non-threatening, but that it also earns him something even yummier.

The next step will involve a wonderful tool called the Assess-A-Hand, developed by renowned trainer Sue Sternberg. This is a great tool that is used by shelters and trainers across the nation. Basically, it is a fake hand that allows you to test and train with a dog that has resource guarding issues without putting any of your own digits at risk. I am a big fan. BIG.

Information on Assess-A-Hand is visible ON the Assess-A-Hand. This doggy looks like he might bite it. Poor A-A-H!

In a few days, a bit further down the training trail, I will have Assess-A-Hand touch Big-Bad lightly on the face while he is eating. Brave little Assess-A-Hand will also reach into the bowl, perhaps even sliding it a bit away. Each time Big-Bad accepts this attention appropriately, I will click and add a higher value food treat into his bowl. I won’t push him too hard, I will teach him gradually. I’m so excited to start this process.

The important thing here is that we are not going to wait for him to possibly develop serious resource guarding issues; we are going to preemptively teach him that such behaviors are not necessary.  There is no need for him to act out aggressively, and there is certainly no need for me to respond in kind. It’s a line of thinking and methodology I have learned from amazing mentors in my never-ending, always-evolving journey as a certified professional dog trainer and it works.

I think I’ll also get some M&Ms so I can click and treat myself too. Fair is fair, after all.

Oh, and his name! I bet you’re dying to find out what we finally decided for his real name…yeah, us too. Sigh.

Photo proof of a relaxed wolfdog…as well a proof that I really need to clean the dog snobbers off of my windows.