imported_Margo

I think we have to clear two things: 1) [quote]However, dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years. Wolves have not. [/quote] It's not true. Some of the shepherds which origin is Europe have a lot of wolfsblood (if you will get the photos made about 1900 you will see some of them look exactly like wolfdogs). Even in the beginning of last century wolfdogs were used for breeding by German Shepherd Dogs. Just take a look on the Breed Books... Don't forget also some nordic breeds or for example Laikas. "Thousands of years of domestification" is in some cases just a fairy tale... 8) 2)[quote] lot of times its not the potential dominance problems which makes wolfdogs/wolves the WRONG choice of pet for someone who doesn't know anything about them. [/quote] Please don't mix two concepts: recognized breeds and "typical" wolfdogs. "Wolfdogs" are mostly F1 or F2 crossing and there is huge difference between Wolfdogs and CzW/Saarloos acording the character. Especially when we are talking about "Czechs". Saarloos and Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs are recognized breeds by F.C.I. (by the way Saarloos is almost as old as German Shepherd Dog... ;)) - in the most cases they have wolves in the 12-15 generation.... Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs as breed was made in 1955 for the Czech Army. For over 30 years the only aim was to breed working dogs that can be used for protecting the state borders. The soldiers had no scruples: they eliminated all shy and aggresive dogs and left only these which passed the working exams. Sure these dogs look like wolves. There are two reasons for it: the genes responsible for exterier are stronger by wolves than by dogs and the offspring were looking exactly like wolves. 2nd: as you can read in the standard: Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs is "In body shape, movement, coat texture, colour of coat and mask, similar to the wolf". It means the breeders try to breed dogs which look exactly like wolves...but with character of a dog. I own three Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs. The male is a pet dog. With both females we passed 9 working exams within 2 years (obedience, tracking, exams for rescue dogs, aso.). And we are just starting (and training just for fun) and we are also not the best. I don't want to advertise this breed - like all true working dog breeds also Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs require very experienced owners. But an experienced owner can make a lot with them... :) Because they are not more dominant/shy/agressive than other dogs I know...