are they good with children ?

[canadian wolfdog]

Hi there, Iam seriously considering having a wolfdog part of our family. But how are they with children? I would appriciate a reply from someone with a wolfdog and children. I know the are not a gaurd dog but can they protect you or your family if needed? anyone in canada with a wolfdog?

Thanks you...........

[michaelundinaeichhorn]

Hi,
as far as I know there is one in Canada.
Looking at our five wolfdogs and their offspring I can say for them that they are all good with children, several of them grew up with one and one of ours grew up in a home for abused children. Of course there are the same rules that should be obeyed with all dogs and children. Our dogs never showed any prey reaction, no matter if the children made funny noised, were running or falling.
And I can tell you for our dogs that they are very good guarding dogs and that they have protected.
But they normally won´t do that before the age of two and it is very important to socialise the dog very carefully to make it selfasure and confident.

Ina

[wolfdogs16]

not all wolfdogs are good with children. never ever leave a child alone with a wolfdog, or any large dog for that matter. why? because children do things to play......that hurt...and tease... and unlike a domestic dog (depending on content), a wolfdog will do what its instincts tell it to do....bite, and bite hard...

I know many folks in Canada with wolfdogs. if you email me, I will be glad to connect you with them [email protected]

Some wolfdogs are intimidated by children, why? because they simply dont understand them... and do not "fear them" or "respect" them...from a "pack" standpoint... one must be choosey getting a wolfdog with children in the house. a good breeder will know if its ok.

[michaelundinaeichhorn]

As Rona wrote you before you are a little bit mislead. CSV Wolfdogs are no hybrids. Of course you have to be careful with dogs and children no matter which kind or breed of dog but CSV behave like dogs to children not like some hybrids or wolves!

Ina

[Hanka]

In Canada lives my puppy Monkey od Uhoste. But he is not in breeding there...
I think, our breed (not wolfhybrids) is good for living in family with children. I have thousands fotos from daily living with children. If cz wolfdog has "normal" education, you will have not problems.

[wolfdogs16]

Thats good to know then, if so.. you are very lucky... golden retrievers, rots, german shepherds, dobermans, cocker spaniels, you name it, have mauled children here, ...... why? the child was left un attended and agitated the animal to the point of attack. It also boils down to how the dog/wofdog is treated.... if tethered for long period of times, it becomes "cranky"... lots of variables.......... its just not a good ideal to leave a child unattended with a dog.

[saschia]

Originally Posted by wolfdogs16

... golden retrievers, rots, german shepherds, dobermans, cocker spaniels, you name it, have mauled children here...

I think this is not a problem of a specific breed (or of hybrids), but a problem of leaving children unattended. Children have to be attended in any situation which can lead to injury, and that includes presence of any live animals (there might be exceptions of course), not because the situation is dangerous, but because child is unable to recognize danger and behave responsibly.
Therefore it might seem that wolfdogs are safer with children, because people don't tend to forget that this is a live, not stuffed animal ;o)

[wolfdogs16]

Originally Posted by saschia

I think this is not a problem of a specific breed (or of hybrids), but a problem of leaving children unattended. Children have to be attended in any situation which can lead to injury, and that includes presence of any live animals (there might be exceptions of course), not because the situation is dangerous, but because child is unable to recognize danger and behave responsibly.
Therefore it might seem that wolfdogs are safer with children, because people don't tend to forget that this is a live, not stuffed animal ;o)

that was exactly what i said in my first post, "never leave a child unattended with a dog, especially a large dog". And yes, responsible owners of GSD'S, Rots, Akita's, etc, and wolfdogs (U.S. type) here, are less apt to leave a child unattended with the animal.