Copyright dailypost
The owner of a wolfdog has described life with her "adorable" pet - but warns potential owners about the risks of getting one if unprepared. Jayne Walmsley-Hunter takes her Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, nicknamed Wolfie, to her local pub. And she insists he never howls at the moon. "That's an old wives' tale," she laughs. But Jayne, who has trained dogs professionally for 40 years, advises people to be careful before considering buying a wolf breed as they are very "territorial". She said: "This beautiful animal is called Wolfie. He is the closest you can get to owning a pure wolf. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here’s how to sign up "Originally bred in 1955 by the Czechoslovakian Army as a military border control dog, they crossed a German Shepherd dog to a Carpathian Grey Wolf. “They didn’t take to having different handlers so the experiment was ended. They were reintroduced in the Eighties by a few dedicated breeders and were finally recognised by the American Kennel Club in 2011." Jayne has owned Wolfie - real name Dakota - since he was eight weeks old. He’s now two and won’t be fully grown for another year. She insists he is a loving and loyal companion. And she takes him to her local pub. "I was lucky enough to have a wonderful landlady at the Wings Club in Denbigh, where he has been socialised since he was a puppy, sitting at the bar and playing with ice cubes." But Jayne is keen to educate potential owners of such dogs. "They require patience and understanding. Aloof and wary of strangers, they form a very strong bond with their owners. "They are not recommended for homes with young children or other pets. They need 24 hours' attention and hate to be left alone. They will howl if unhappy, lonely or bored - but never at the moon. That's an old wives' tale. "They also require a raw meat diet including fur and feather." Jayne cautions potential owners that in the wrong home wolfdogs can be very destructive and are escape artists, easily capable of jumping over eight feet, or digging under a fence. "If you can’t give this beautiful, sensitive dog the home it requires then settle on a Northern Inuit dog or a husky," she advises. The canine expert has trained many breeds over four decades but the toughest nut to crack may surprise people. She said: "German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermanns are gorgeous. They want to learn. Cross breeds, like Cockapoos, are lovely to train. "But the worst is the Dachshund. They're really stubborn."
