Ever since dog sledding during my birthday last January, I’ve been researching which big dog we can adopt/purchase for our home. Then two weeks ago, I was googling other activities in Canmore and came across this link about the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary and saw that they have wolfdogs up for adoption. What?! I can actually have a half wolf in my family?! Of course, I started imagining being a Stark and having my own wolf to defend me just in case those White Walkers attack. When I finally realized I’m not fiction, I got in touch with one of the founders, Georgina, and booked a visit.
A visit to the sanctuary costs 20/head and all proceeds go towards rescuing more wolfdogs. Aside from rescuing wolfdogs, YWS also aims to correct myths about wolves and wolfdogs and provide educational programs regarding caring for wolfdogs and the importance of preserving wild wolves in their natural environment.
Upon entering, we were told to sit so as not to intimidate the wolfdogs and encourage them to approach us. The first dogs to welcome us were Nikki and Kaya the puppy.
Nikki and Kaya being friendly
The others wolfdogs in the pack are Zeus – the alpha male, Kuna – the alpha female and Nova
Zeus and Nova watching us from afar
Kuna showing off her long legs
Nikki is a low content wolfdog which means that she exhibits more dog traits. She’s very friendly and even allowed us to pet her when we first got to the sanctuary and came closer every time she’s called. Kaya is a high content wolfdog who’s very playful and even had her paws on Sherlock’s laps the moment she saw him.
Nikki (L) and Kaya (R)
Georgina explained that contrary to how they are presented in movies/books, wolves are not known to attack humans and will most likely run when approached. In over a century, only two attacks on humans have been recorded. The adult high content dogs, Zeus, Kuna and Nova, never came close to us and even stepped back when we moved on our seats.
Zeus (L) and Nova (R)
Zeus the alpha male of the pack is responsible for keeping everybody safe. Don’t you just love those piercing yellow eyes?
Zeus
Kuna is the alpha female or the diva of the pack. She is such a beautiful animal and has legs of a supermodel.
Kuna
Nova is a one year old half-arctic wolf. He’s only year old but he already looks so big!
Nova
Wolfdogs, especially high content ones, do not live to please humans. Unlike other dogs, they do not welcome and wag their tails at you when you get home. Most likely, they will not approach when you call them. It’s not that they don’t know their names, it’s just that they do whatever pleases them. Georgina tried calling Kuna who looked at us with one eye then went back to her nap on her throne the picnic table.
Kuna sleeping and cannot be bothered even by treats
They can be very expensive pets eating up to 10 lbs of food per day. With all those food, they also require a lot of exercise which means walks/runs three times a day or else they’ll be bored and do crazy things like chew on random things and dig. If you have an 8-hour job, it may not be a good idea to have them as pets.
Nova checking out the perimeter
They are also very territorial animals. Say you take them out to a dog park and they decide that they are the alpha of the pack in the park, when a new dog comes to that park, chances are the wolfdog will see the new guy as a threat to his current pack and attack it.
After our visit, we’ve decided that a high content wolfdog may not be the best match for us. Sherlock and I both have 8-hour jobs, we don’t have a fence that can contain these strong animals, and we lack the proper knowledge to care for and train them. My dream of having a wolf in our family may have been crushed but I am still grateful that we live less than an hour away from this sanctuary and we can visit again to see these beautiful creatures.
I love Kuna!!
Manjoo Ramblings 