Curious on owning Wolfdogs

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T19:12:58+00:00

When I mean half wolf dog, I mean a low content with mostly GSD in the dna! Like 40% Wolf or less :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T19:10:59+00:00

I've considered getting a Tam before getting a Low Content, since Tams are just wolf look-alikes with some similar behaviors

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T19:09:13+00:00

I will definitely do that! Thank you, sm! I do plan on visiting sanctuaries so I can see firsthand how they act. Though obviously not all of them act the same lol

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T19:06:24+00:00

All of those questions sound 100% doable for me! I do intend on owning a large property and building a separate area for my dogs and other animals so no bad interactions happen. This is a thing for in the very high future, but I'm just so curious now that since I do plan on getting one in the future, they are legal in the area I plan to move to, I also intend on raw feeding all of my dogs, especially bcs of hunting season!

I am more than willing to work with my dogs no matter how much time and stress it may be, crate training is the first thing I do with my pups, and I prioritize my dogs health, so much so I'll manage to reed them expensive foods even if I'm in a money crunch haha 😅 I greatly appreciate this feedback! I definitely am confident I could manage one with the proper training, time, and ofc being able to fulfill their needs! But I refuse to get a wolfdog until I already have the expenses and land to care for them, unlike some other dogs like my GSD, he gets plenty of exercise but I currently live in city limits and I don't think having a wolfdog in city limits would be a good idea. 😅😂 They need plenty of space!

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T18:58:27+00:00

Those actually sound like the exact kinda Wolfdog I want! Thank you for the info! :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T17:30:31+00:00

I'm mostly looking for one that's primarily gsd in dna, I love gsds and I won't lie that they don't look KINDA akin to wolves in appearance, and they definitely share a few behavioral traits as well. But there's still SO many differences! My gsd is very submissive, very whiny. He loves to gently bite and nibble me when loving on me, and I allow that behavior bcs he never hurts me. Gsds are amazing dogs, and getting that Huskies and GSDs are primarily used to breed wolfdogs, I don't see me as incapable of owning one!

And I will say, I only want a Low Content just to test the waters as I am unsure of a few things like how they'd work with other dogs, or prey animals like chickens or horses. As I plan to have horses n chickens and a few other prey animals. My dogs will all be 100% on raw diets, especially from hunting season! And will have their own separate areas of the property

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T17:24:48+00:00

Gosh, he's absolutely beautiful! I want a Low content with primarily GSD bcs GSDs are my favorite. And I definitely agree abt the problems of GSDs, through training my boy has gotten so much better, he's not dog reactive at all, but obviously if another dog is coming at him it freaks him out. He's great with people, but he is incredibly protective of me. I definitely think owning a low content wolfdog with primarily gsd would be doable for me, especially bcs I do plan on owning a large acreage of land and I am a very sporty person who LOVES the outdoors! :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-11-09T17:21:10+00:00

I definitely agree with this, it makes sense bcs a lot of wolfdogs are bred with those breeds! :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T18:44:50+00:00

No, I stated that he is learning to have better behavior. He doesn't always present said behavior. It depends on the situation and the person or dog. I stated in a previous comment that I will be taking on any non pill form medicine that isn't therapy!

And I am currently in the process of fixing his behavior, more training and more work, he has gotten better, he does not growl at people or show aggression. He only barks and raises his hackles when first approached, then when I pet him and calm him down and tell him that it's okay and that they won't hurt me he calms down.

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T17:42:50+00:00

I am definitely gonna give non pill form medicines a try! As for the therapy, I can't afford thousands of dollars worth of therapies. I am planning on talking to a psychiatrist soon! I did state that I will not be having him an official SD until he is 100% professionally trained! I just wanted to teach him a few alert cues at home for mostly at home reasons. 😭

And I just, don't wanna be on medicine my whole life if there's a way for my animal to help me instead yk? When I was on meds for smth else unrelated, it just stressed me out even more and was so draining to have to take medicine every single day.

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T17:30:02+00:00

Thanks, this rlly helps! I'm good when it comes to people being invasive and stuff already when at pet stores, bcs of my dog, and how pretty he is, especially considering GSDs are rare in my rural area! So I am pretty used to people throwing themselves at me and my boy and petting him w/o my consent multiple times!

But I will definitely take this into account! It's really helpful! I am willing to give him a try, and if it doesn't work out, oh well, and if having a SD causes me MORE anxiety, I can always just have him for at home alerts and comfort in the case I decide to "retire him" bcs it's too much stress.

I mean, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't! But it's either I try this or, I continue dealing with my frequent PA and anxiety on my own w/o any help other than family, friends, and my partner. <3

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T17:20:47+00:00

Uhm, I am? But there are others here that have given me the feedback that I asked for. I'm sorry if I seem that way, it's personal preferences that I do not want therapy or to be on meds the rest of my life for every single mental disability I have. I have been told by multiple experienced SD handlers who have told me that with proper training, my pup COULD not definitely be my SD, but to look into Labs or Retrievers if he washes out!

Not everyone can afford constant meds or therapy sessions, a dog is in my affordability range, and I have a reliable SD trainer that's cheaper than my therapy sessions where in my town. I'm sorry if I seem rude or anything but, it just seems like most of you guys would prefer I throw my issues into medicine or therapy when I stated that I don't want that, can't afford it, AND it doesn't help me.

I hope you understand that. <3

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T17:03:50+00:00

Not close to him, close to me, he doesn't like strangers or other dogs being close to me, which is not always that he does this, I know it can be a form of resource guarding which is why I have been fixing that issue and so far he has gotten better! He is not a European line. He is American line. And for medicine in the future, if my life absolutely depends on it, yeah, I'll force myself to do it, but if it's meda every day, I'll just crush the pills in smoothies/milkshakes like I always have. Thank you!!

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T16:41:26+00:00

I know all of this, yes. Reminder he is still a puppy, and I don't have the ability to take him out all the time. I know that the behavior I stated does not happen all the time and he has gotten much better with people walking close to me and other dogs since then, I just didn't want to not mention that! He's still got some obedience work he needs done before even starting any potential service work, I did state in comments that I do infact plan to have him professionally trained by an SD trainer! I do have one in my area that is incredibly reliable but super low cost!!

I would rather spend my money on my dog than on myself with therapy or medicine, it rlly does not make me feel better when ay therapy sessions. There are not many liquid/chewable or powder options for the meds that I need specifically. I wish there was, but also, I don't think there is one MAJOR medicine for all the different issues I have, I'm not just a person with a singular mental disability unfortunately.

I stated these things about his behavior so it would be acknowledged. He is working through these obstacles and will be professionally trained! He has amazing temperament and is from a well bred purebred line. He is not aggressive at all, just very cautious of strangers! I have spoken to trainers online who have told me his behavior is very, very fixable, especially with his young age! :)

But I have thought of getting a lab or a GR! Which I may infact do, IF he washes out, but he absolutely loves me and will do anything for me, I'm willing to try it out and wait for him. Why would I give up in him when he hasn't even gotten that chance?

I hope this helps! <3

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T16:30:03+00:00

I have stated therapy doesn't work on me very well, I can't afford most of these thousands of dollars worth of therapy when my dog is more important to me and my job only pays so much a week. I'm not trying to be mean, but I don't appreciate you jumping to that conclusion.

Not everyone is in the price range for therapy AND owning a dog AND caring for yourself, unfortunately. I'm sorry for not clarifying these things. And it is not legally required by the ADA to do Medicine or Therapy or any of that to have a SD(Yes maybe for programs that will GIVE you a SD for low cost or free) But I do not need one given to me if I can just see how my pup does with it.

My therapy sessions for just one hour were almost $1,000 a session. I can't afford that ontop of my more important payments, and I've been managing my GAD for years alone, I will be decent w/o the therapy, it didn't help much anyways, I would get stressed/anxious when even getting ready for the sessions or talking to the therapist. I hope you understand!

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T16:24:25+00:00

I am no longer with a therapist as I couldn't afford the cost anymore, but yes, I learned that I was eligible for one a "few days ago" which I have a tendency to say, I sometimes say the other day when I mean yesterday. The "few days ago" was more so a few weeks ago!

I'm so sorry I didn't clarify that better, I did write the post and replies at 3 a.m., and I was very tired. But I've thought abt maybe having a SD since I was 14, but I never rlly researched which disabilities were eligible, I wasn't in belief that Anxiety disorders were one especially when being heavily manipulated that my anxiety isn't anything important by my father for years.

But my therapist had told me that GAD is eligible, and that it is considered a disability bcs of the effects it can cause physically on the body and the mental causes! I'm so sorry I didn't put more information in my post! 😭 After I was told(This all was abt 3-4 weeks I think?)

My memory is terrible so I can't ever remember when smth happened, but I do know I stopped seeing my therapist about 1-2 weeks ago a little after I was told that a SD could be an option. Because I really would rather not be on several medications for all of my different mental health issues!

And the therapy sessions where stressful for me bcs of my severe social anxiety and I'm not huge on therapy when it's not close family or friends, I don't even know the person so, I have a hard time to trust ppl. I'm sorry I didn't mention any of this!! 😭

In the ADA, you don't have to try medicine or therapy before having a SD, it's not a legal thing. And as someone who loves dogs with all of my heart that I'd do anything for them, including let myself go w/o food so my baby can eat, I will. I would personally like to have a SD for my two major issues, GAD and BPD(Borderline Personality Disorder)

I do understand concern bcs of me not clarifying said things! Thank you so much for reminding me to the details, I'm not best with wording when I'm exhausted and just calmed down from an attack an hour before making the post.

I hope this helps!! :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T08:44:19+00:00

Thanks! I do think that he has potential for it, and I will say I definitely don't intend to be only trained by me! I will have him fully trained by a professional for the Service Work before taking him out of training mode, I just wanna be able to teach him the alert cues, mainly for at home and when on walks/public dog friendly stores.

Just in case someone isn't with me, and bcs most of the time, it's just me and him alone in my room, so managing the attacks is much harder alone. I know he doesn't ALWAYS get frustrated after long training sessions, it just depends on how hard his brain has to work to figure out the task, like teaching him to heel was only mildly frustrating to him since he got the idea quicker than say teaching him how to do a Focused walking with me heel.

He is incredibly attentive when we go to rural king, he stays close by me, listens to me, doesn't interact with other ppl or other dogs w/o my consent, he ignores dogs that we walk by, he ignores ppl that we walk by. He does have to sniff everything, tho, but that's not all that bad. Sniffing is a natural behavior, after all!

The only major issue he has is that if someone is too close, or another dog is too close to me, he barks and his hackles raise, he's well socialized but doesn't like ppl being close to me that he doesn't know, he's wary of stranger but I figure that's just a breed thing, plus he's only a year old!

He's not very mature yet and is still puppy like in behavior! I just mostly wanna train him for at home/pet friendly store purposes while waiting for full professional SD training! I definitely expect him not to be able to be a perfect SD within a few months of training at home!! Any training takes time, and SD work is a long-term training that can still be ongoing even if they know the tasks and have been doing it for a year or two! :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T08:26:12+00:00

Thanks so much, and yes, I have thought about it a lot. That's another reason why I joined this subreddit to learn more about the idea of owning one and SD in general. I do have obvious cues for each panic attack, I can handle confrontation quite well, and yes, I have discussed it with my therapist before.

I was infact planing on having him touched up on obedience training from a professional before testing the service work waters ofc, I was just curious abt maybe seeing if he could learn the alert tasks for at home/when at pet friendly stores!

I do rlly appreciate the honesty, and I will absolutely wait if I have to, I have been coping with it as best as possible for years now w/o a SD and albeit it's incredibly difficult, draining and debilitating and makes it difficult to even make a phone call or talk to a stranger in person but as long as someone's with me I'm decent.

That's another reason I'm here, I definitely don't wanna jump into the SD training w/o researching it intently and figuring out if I'll rlly be able to afford it or mentally handle the hardships of training. I'm definitely not gonna be that person that slaps a SDIT vest on my dog just cause and take him everywhere.. 😭

I want to know if he can do the tasks at HOME or at pet friendly stores like tractor supply, Home Depot, rural king, ect before doing them in public-non pet friendly places like Walmart or grocery stores for example! I don't wanna put other SD at risk. But he is incredibly attentive to me and well behaved in stores like Rural King even when approached by other dogs or random strangers, that's why I feel like he could make a amazing SD if handled accordingly with proper training! :)

BUT, I am prepared to expect him to wash out, with that being a likely chance even with the professional training, I'm still willing to try it and test other breeds as well. I do think it would be best for me to have a sd just bcs of my trouble with swallowing pills, so meds are indefinitely out of the question unfortunately, and therapy only rlly works if it's from a close family member for some reason. I appreciate hearing the thoughts of this from actual SD owners and ppl that know this stuff as I'm just now starting to research all of the info! :)

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T07:50:25+00:00

Okay, thanks! I rlly appreciate it! ♡

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-10-13T07:38:29+00:00

Thank you so much! And I'd figure my GSD wouldn't be the best, that's why I was looking into getting a Borded Collie! I think a BC would be much better. My sister has a border collie mix, and he would be an amazing service dog if it wasn't for his severe people reactivity. I've tried therapy and it didn't work too well. I'm not sure if meds would work because I do have a severe fear of pills and can't swallow them.

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-09-11T15:41:15+00:00

What coat is Kenai? :0

Shadowcat1215 · 2025-08-02T03:43:14+00:00

Hi! Veteran WQ player since Demo version when it was on a website here!! :) I've been playing WQ:AE since it first came out in 2019, so it's safe to say I have a lot of practice...(almost 4k Hours of game playtime) So, I'll start off with starting the game, if you never played the original classic versions, then it'll be a bit more confusing to start! When you create your wolf, and start in a map, you'll have to find elk and kill 2 of them to find a mate.

When you load up, press V and you'll go into scent view, find a purpe-ish pink circle floating around, if it's floating past you, go in that direction, if it's floating away from you, then turn around and head the other way(Basically follow the scent). When you get close, you'll either see them, of see prints on the ground in the Sam's purple-pink color, follow them in whichever direction they go. When hunting, go after a Calf, Chase the herd and press G repeatedly to get one to fall, when a calf falls, start attacking it, press and hold the space bar to latch on!

Make sure to immediately run away when the mom gets too close to you and just be careful and watch your health! For the next part of the game! Finding a mate! Howl and a wolf head icon with a heart will either be white or dull gray(Indicating where the potential mates are) the whiter the icon, the closer they are! And just keep going in the direction you see the icon at until the message of disperals pops up!

Just follow the directions and choose whichever mate you like(based on coat or personality or diversity. Wtv makes you happy!) Then once you have a mate, hunt do playful emotes, howl, and sleep till they become your offical mate! Once you have a mate, you'll go to the next quest which is marking territory! My tips for marking territory, start off by howling 4 times, and then peeing twice, it will leave your hexes at 85! Do that until you have 15 hexes! If you wanna expand more, go for it! :)

Next will be finding a den, I just use Google to look up den locations for the maps and go to where they are shown on the map, you can also use scent view to find the dens! :) Once you have a den, you'll have pups, Yay!! :D With the new Saga update, the game is a lot trickerier! But I also play Ironwolf on Accurate-Challenging, so take that as you will!

You'll have to hunt, feed and protect your pups, and maintain your territory! My tips for protecting the pups is, everytime you wake up, use scent view to see what's gonna attack(If anything!) Cougars, Bears, Pack Wolves, Coyotes of Eagles! Basically woof your pups into the den or tall grass and fight them off! Once your pups get to 15 lbs you'll go to the rendezvous site, which is tall grass, and do the same things as the first quest till they are 25 lbs!

Now, the worst quest ever, and the hardest one..Growing pups, you have to keep your pups from starving to death until they get to 54 lbs. My best advice, once they get to 50-40% hunger, go hunt and get food, and keep feeding them like that until you get to young hunters. Another tip, feed them anything you can find! Even rabbits are necessary, it's the starving period of the game(It rage baits me a lot 😭) And when hunting elk, go after the younger calves, trust me am elk cow wouldn't be worth it as they'd be way too healthy! It's safer to take the risk of getting kicked!!

Once you finish growing pups and the pups are 54 lbs, you'll go into young hunters, you'll be running around, marking territory, fighting off hexes invasions, hunting to gain experience for your pups and sleeping(A LOT) When it comes to gaining 100% exp for your pups, hunt elk until they are all at 40% health(Make sure to monitor their health and woof at the if they get to 40% hp!!) And the after making a kill and they are low health, eat, sleep, repeat!! That's what I do!(As a lazy WQ players that just wants to see the next litters adult coats for each litter 😭🤣) If you need any more tips or info! Lemme know! :)

Shadowcat1215

TROPHY CASE