Do you want a pet that is special and unique? Are you someone who will not settle for an average dog? If you love large, striking, exceptional canines, Great Danes or wolf hybrids are exclusive choices.
However, before bringing home a gigantic Great Dane or a wolf hybrid, there are some things to know.
The Great Dane is one of the largest dog breeds and requires special consideration.
Simultaneously, wolves and wolf-dog hybrids are not pets that should be adopted lightly. Either of these canines will require special care and plenty of space.
In many states, permits are required to own wolves. Great Danes and wolves both weigh upwards of 100 pounds and need special care. However, wolves are far more difficult to own than Great Danes.
Comparing the Great Dane to the Wolf at a Glance
Although Great Danes and wolves or wolf hybrids are both in the canine family, these animals are very different. Great Danes were developed to protect land and people for hundreds of years. Wolves have never been fully domesticated on their own.
Even though many dogs are descendants of wolves, today’s domestic dog is very different from a wild wolf. Wolves can be tamed and kept as pets, provided that they are bred with domesticated dogs like Malamutes or Huskies. Otherwise, they are not suitable for companionship in the same way that dogs are.
There are many different types of wolf hybrids, each type has unique traits. However, Great Danes are a type of purebred domestic dog. As such, the Great Dane breed standard is more predictable and uniform.
If you want to adopt a wolf hybrid, you will need to understand the responsibilities and care requirements that you are signing up for. Great Danes also require certain types of specialized care but are generally easier to adopt and own than wolves or wolf hybrids.
About the Great Dane Breed
Great Danes are known for being confident, calm, and collected. These dogs are tall, regal, and loyal. However, many Great Danes have a stubborn streak as well. For the most part, these dogs are loving and sweet, with an affectionate temperament and a goofy side.
There is no question, Great Danes are a powerful and elegant breed. They often do well with families, children, and other pets. Great Danes were originally bred to hunt wild boars. The powerful Great Dane was also used as a working dog and is likely a descendant of the ancient Mastiff.
Although many people assume that the Great Danes come from Denmark, they actually come from other locations in Europe. In the 1700s and 1800s, Great Danes were kept for protecting carriages, lands, and belongings of European nobility.
Great Danes have short single-layered coats that shed evenly throughout the year. Great Danes do have some guard dog traits but are generally comfortable around strangers and capable of adapting to new environments.
About the Wolves and Wolf Dog Hybrids
In many states in the United States of America, you can not own a pure wolf without a permit. However, wolf dogs are legal in many states. Wolf-dog hybrids have become more and more popular in recent years.
They are intelligent and interesting animals and make fascinating pets. Wolf-dog hybrids are part wolf and part domestic dog.
Many wolf-dog hybrids are created using Siberian Huskies, Akitas, German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, or other similar nordic breeds.
This type of breeding creates a blend of domestic and wild traits. Domestic dogs and wolves have a common ancestor, likely this ancestor was the Gray Wolf.
However, domestic dogs and wolves parted ways many centuries ago. Over the years, dogs became more and more domesticated. Wild wolves remained relatively the same.
Many breeders of wolf dogs use Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Huskies to create a slightly more domesticated version of the wild wolf.
Wolf dog breeds include the Saarlouis Wolfdog, the Native American Indian dog, and the Siberian wolf dog. What dogs are interesting and intelligent. Wolf dogs
Similarities Between Great Danes and Wolves
Great Danes and wolves share a few similarities when kept as pets. If you decide to bring a Great Dane or a wolf-dog home, you will first need to make sure that your house is prepared for these animals.
For a Great Dane, you will need to ensure that you have plenty of space so that they can lead comfortable lives. Wolf hybrids need large enclosures so that they can roam and enjoy the benefits of living in a spacious area. These hybrids do not do well when confined for long periods of time.
Great Danes and wolf dogs both also need special veterinary care. Great Danes are prone to many health issues and need check-ups to make sure that they are healthy. Wolf hybrids do not have many genetic issues but can suffer from arthritis and may also be aggressive toward strangers.
This makes it difficult to take them to a vet if they are not used to the experience.
Since both of these dogs are large in size, they will also both need to be fed diets that accommodate their weight and nutritional needs.
This can get expensive. Most wolf hybrids thrive on a diet consisting of raw, whole foods. Great Danes eat a lot, which can be expensive.
The wolf hybrid and the Great Dane are both loyal animals. So, they share this similarity as well.
However, the wolf-dog is likely to be very loyal to only one or two family members while the Great Dane will usually be accepting of the whole family.
Differences Between Great Danes and Wolves
The greatest differences between Great Danes and wolf hybrid dogs are in their temperament, appearance, size, trainability, adaptability, and social functionality.
Great Danes look different than wolf hybrids and have short coats. Wolf hybrids almost always have thick fur coats.
Great Danes are comparatively easy to train and highly social. Wolf hybrids can be willful, independent, and stubborn when you are training them. Really, these are two entirely different animals that each need to be cared for in different ways.
Great Dane vs Wolf Care, Feeding, Exercise, and Ownership
Great Danes have medium to low energy levels and can usually be kept inside of your home most of the time.
They do fine on wet or dry dog food and will adjust to the environment that they are raised in. Wolf hybrids are more temperamental and will require a special living situation.
With a wolf-dog hybrid, you will need to prepare your home by building an enclosure or fencing in lots of space for them. These dogs like to roam, run, and explore. A wolf-dog will also prefer to have companionship on-demand.
This means devoting lots of time to training and working with your canine companion from a young age.
Also, wolf hybrids are less sociable than Great Danes. They will need continuous positive exposure to strangers and other animals when they are young if you want them to get along well in new environments when they are adults.
In short, wolf dogs are likely to be more difficult to own than Great Danes when it comes to training and socialization.
On the other hand, Wolf hybrids are generally healthier than Great Danes. They suffer from fewer health issues because they have more genetic diversity. So, if you want a unique dog hybrid that is relatively healthy, the wolf hybrid might be for you.
Temperament and Personality of a Great Dane vs Wolf or Wolf-Dog Hybrid
If you think that the Great Danes are intimidating, don’t be fooled! These large canines are actually very loving. They are affectionate and loyal to their families. Great Danes are also known for doing very well with children.
In most cases, Great Danes prefer to keep close to their families. So, you can forget about trying to cook or eat a meal alone. This is the kind of dog that will follow you everywhere you go!
Sometimes, Great Danes come across as shy. However, these dogs are actually very affectionate. If you have been looking for a cuddly big dog, Great Danes are a safe bet!
However, Wolf hybrids are very different. Wolf hybrids are usually aloof and reserved. These hybrids are often suspicious of strangers and new people. In fact, they may even be aggressive toward newcomers.
The fact is, when domestic dogs and wild wolves are bred, the result is usually unpredictable. Even breeding domesticated wolves can have mixed results.
Because of this, you may have a hard time trying to determine what the temperament of your wolf hybrid will be.
Wolf hybrids are usually very complex psychologically and sociologically. This makes them very different from Great Danes and from dogs in general.
Training a Great Dane vs Wolf Dog
Training a Great Dane will involve patience and consistency. If you want to ensure that your Great Dane is easy to own when it reaches its final, large size, you will need to really put in the time and energy needed for proper training. Start training your Great Dane when they are still a puppy.
Basic obedience training can be very helpful. Remember to keep your training activities fun and positive. Great Danes can be very sensitive and may become stubborn if not trained with care.
Wolf mixes are much harder to train than purebred dogs in many ways. They are very smart and will likely have independent personalities. The more wolf that a hybrid contains, the wilder it will behave. This is simply a fact of nature.
Since training a wolf dog is so different from training a regular dog, it is necessary that you do plenty of research first.
Wolf dogs need to be treated as individuals. Dogs that are greater than 50% wolf will need to be treated with care and understood well.
These dogs may naturally have a fear of man. This can make training a difficult endeavor.
The main thing will be to foster a close bond with your wolf hybrid when they are still a puppy. This will ensure that they trust you enough for training to go well.
Great Dane vs Wolf Dog and Owning Other Pets
Great Danes can get along easily with other pets like cats and other dogs. They get along best with other pets if they are raised alongside them as puppies. Wolf hybrids do not usually do well with other animals. They have high prey drives, meaning that they will want to hunt, catch, and kill other animals.
Because of this, you should think hard before adopting a wolf-dog hybrid if you have cats and other animals. Even with lots of training, the natural instincts of a wolf are hard to eliminate.
However, Great Danes can be trained to get along wonderfully with just about any other animal. They even do well with horses because of their history as land and carriage guardians.
Great Dane vs Wolf Dog and Families
The Great Dane does wonderfully in a family setting. In fact, Great Danes are one of the best dogs for families with older children.
As gentle giants who are very affectionate, your Great Dane will love the attention of children.
Just be sure to supervise Great Danes with young children. Because Great Danes are so big, they might accidentally overpower little kids.
Wolf Dog hybrids are not known for doing well in a busy family setting. They get nervous around chaotic movements and loud noises. So, if you want a dog that will do great with your family, a wolf hybrid might not be the best option. While these hybrids can be socialized and trained to fit in with your family, it will take a lot of work.
Coat Types and Grooming a Great Dane vs Wolf Dog
Wolf hybrids have thick coats that shed seasonally. They are very fluffy and this can make quite a mess in the home. Great Danes shed minimally throughout the year.
They have short coats that are easier to manage. Most would agree that grooming a Great Dane is easier than grooming a wolf hybrid
