What I NEVER told folks when Lobo and Cotton (my first cotton) was alive is they did have some wolf in them. The were called Low Content - so not a lot in them. However, their personalities were completely different. Cotton was very people friendly and Lobo didn't care for strangers at all. It took him a lot of introductions to get him used to anyone new and when someone did come in he would sit right next to me or in between me and them.
This did present a challenge. Lobo HATED going to the vet. So we ended up having a mobile vet for him - he ALWAYS had to be muzzled, except for his last day he was very calm - not enough energy. He also hated kennels. I know regular dogs that are like this too.
They did go to petsmart only a few times. I think when the little kid said, "Mom - look at the wolves!" We were like - time to go! I didn't know a lot about dog training at the time or who to go to and I really think with training that Lobo could have been less distrusting of people. And I didn't want too much attention to be brought towards them due to local laws that had changed in GA prior to us moving back to our house there from CA.
Cotton bonded with me as soon as he saw me and Lobo with my partner. When I walked out onto the porch to greet them Cotton came up to me and put my arm in his mouth and drew me closer to him and he sat in front of me to be hugged and then play. Lobo came up to my partner and put his jaw around his head like your are now my toy. He let him pet him. It was a very cool moment. We took Cotton first to get him used to the apartment. And after someone tried to break in (Cotton ran them off), we went back and got Lobo faster than we had planned.
They were a lot of work. Lobo could never go to a kennel for us to go to vacation because he would NOT behave. Again, I think training could have helped with this - we didn't know about training at the time and no one advised that training would help either.
At the end of the day they turned out to be great dogs. To me they were like mixed breed dogs. They did howl - but that could have just as well been the malamute in them as well. There are plenty of local laws that outlaw them because just having "wolf" in them means you now have a wild animal in the community.
I don't think that having wolf in them made them any more or less dangerous. Lobo, like many any dog breed had issues that with proper training could have helped. Around us he was completely fine - we were his pack.
With wolf-hybrids I think, just like any breed, takes the right owner. We lived in a 4 apartment unit in Vallejo CA - they went on LOTS of walks. And we did learn about crates after that one night we left them out when we were gone to a Halloween party. Of course - any breed can destroy sofas! I think I saw some GSD pics of beds destroyed on here
We also lived in a subdivision in GA where they had a backyard with a normal fence and again they were taken on walks.
They were not required to eat raw meats like so many of the wolf-hybrid folks say they must eat. They ate Pedigree most of their life. We were told NOT to feed them raw meat because it could make them go wild. We KNOW NOW that is so stupid. It is what is natural for them to eat so they may have just done better on raw meat...but I think 14 years, 45 days for Lobo is pretty darn good. Cotton died of Cancer in 2005.
I do believe they can be a part of society just like any breed of dog. Understanding the importance of training and how to get rid of bad behaviors if they show up would be very helpful! I can't speak for higher content wolf hybrids. I would think with proper training at the start could be helpful but I can't be for sure. I had a great experience with both Lobo and Cotton and wouldn't have given it up for the world.
moving day 1996 (lobo, me, cotton)