Wolves As Pets
- Pet Wolves
- Wolfdogs
- Raising A Wolf
A wolf is for life. Better, if you want a wolf, get a dog.
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Raising A Wolf
 Wolf cubs at their den. Courtesy Gerald & Buff Corsi, California Academy of Sciences: CalPhoto. |
Deliberate well on the actualities of raising a wolf - which equally applies to raising wolfdogs - before you think of getting a wolf as a pet. Just a few considerations are:
Many countries, states and local regions have their own particular laws governing the keeping of wolves. Find out about the laws which relate to your area. You may need a licence.
Before you make a move it is a good idea to consult your neighbours. They may object strongly to howling and perceived danger.
You should raise at least two wolves as they need the company of their own species and may well develop behaviour problems if raised as singletons. Of course, two wolves doubles your costs and work load.
You should enlist helpers, of both sexes, because you cannot raise cubs alone. At least have a caring partner who is as much accepted by the cubs and as committed as you are. Your partner should take care of the wolves when you are around and also carry on if you are incapacitated or disappear (eg hospitalised, imprisoned, die) so that your wolves are not abandoned to fate.
You will have to take your cubs from their mother at two weeks of age (cruel for the mother if these are her only cubs). Later than this is too late as the wolves will never socialise properly to human society.
You must constantly swab your cubs' bottoms to empty their anal sacs and to stimulate them to relieve themselves. At their age they cannot relieve themselves without help. There mother would naturally do this herself by licking them.
Exotic animals have special nutritional needs that are difficult for the average pet owner to meet. Your cubs must be bottle fed around the clock for two weeks, then weaned on a diet of high quality meat. An adult wolf needs 1 to 2.5 kg (2 to 5 lbs) of quality meat daily along with bones, skin and fur. Ordinary pet food is inadequate.
You have to know the proper way to handle a wolf cub. Doing the wrong thing can make incurable problems in later life. For example:
- Dogs
Organise well controlled meetings with dogs a few times a week. This will help prevent your cubs fearing dogs when adult. Having dogs as company will also help prevent them completely imprinting on humans. If they imprint on humans they will tend to devote their attention to people instead of their own kind. - People
Organise people of both genders and different ages to be with your cubs so that the cubs can approach and inspect them (not the other way around). This must be on the cubs' home ground so that they are not afraid and can withdraw to a refuge to get away from people if necessary. - Leash & Muzzle
Train your cubs at the right time to wear a leash and muzzle - and make the experience pleasurable for them. Always use a pleasant experience as a reward when they do what you want. (Never use punishment - this applies to any dog or animal.) Whether cub or adult, never let your wolves run about without a leash or they may grow to hate restraint and control. You never know if you may need to use a muzzle some time.
The minimum housing recommend by the American Zoological Association (modified by any local law) for one large canid is an enclosure of 4m x 4m (12 x 12 ft), ie 16 sq metres (150 square ft), increased by 50% for each additional canid. Fences must be at least 2m (6 ft) high and need an overhang at the top, to prevent jumping out, and an inside skirt buried below ground, to prevent tunnelling.
You should use chain link or equivalent and may need a pair of gates (so that one gate is always closed for security). You may also need an outer perimeter fence at least 2m (6 ft) high and about that distance from the main fence to prevent people, especially children, getting a shock if they try poking their fingers through the primary fence.
You cannot duplicate the wolf's territorial needs; nevertheless your wolves will need abundant exercise that exceeds the average dog's demand. Do not keep your wolf in a village, town or city; you both need room for manoeuvre.
Keep in mind what (you think) your wolves are learning and that wolves never stop leaning. You must always ensure that your wolves know they are subordinate to you when they are adult. Should your adult wolves seriously attack and injure you (eg if they try to be dominant), you must carry on your relationship; if you think you cannot then you should not consider getting a wolf in the first place.
Your commitment has to last up to fifteen years, for that is how long wolves can live in captivity. Remember: a wolf is for life.
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For more about raising wolves and wolfdogs:
Wolf Park
Wolfdogs - also has lots of links to wolfdog sites.
 Page revised 11.04 |