Wolf Dogs and RVs - RV-Dreams Community Forum

MrToad · RV-Dreams Community Member

Wolf Dogs and RVs

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I know nothing of Wolf Dogs but I wonder why you would want to buy anything that is banned anywhere? There are thousands of wonderful animals just waiting for you to drop by your local shelter and give them a good home. Every make, brand, model and type. Take your time, have some fun and save a life.

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Very well said, Bill. We have had more success over the years (quite a few) rescuing wonderful dogs and cats. We currently have two Golden Doodles (half Standard Poodle and half Golden Retriever) and a Cornish Rex cat. All are rescues and they are the greatest friends we could have ever found.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think every park we have stayed at has dog restrictions, it's an insurance thing. Some mention breeds that are not welcome, and my guess is Wolf anything is not going to be welcome. I can't imagine living in a class C with such a big animal with adults and kids.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill,Charles and Dan all gave you good advise in my opinion.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

My wife's aunt had a very nice female wolf as long as you were an adult. It did not like children and did not play with dogs and the aunt made efforts to get the wolf to play. It was always obvious that small dogs and cats were looked at as food by this wolf. It had learned to avoid children and never made a real attempt to eat the cats or small dogs it encountered, but the cats instinctively kep their distance. She was a beautiful animal and though the aunt said it was a German Sheppard mix, anyone in the know could tell it was a wolf. Just one data point.

We also have done well with pets from shelters, though no rescues that we know of. When I was a kid about everyone had mutts.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

To be fair, I must admit that I do know what a Wolf Dog is. One of our customers owned one. I kid you not when I tell you that this beautiful animal had paws that were just slightly smaller (or larger) than Janet's hand. This is a BIG dog (if it's even a dog) and like any other animal I suspect that if properly trained it would also be an excellent pet. Unfortunately, there are way more bad owners than good owners so the campgrounds have to make rules based upon the majority of their visitors (the bad group). Buy a Wolf Dog and you will be doing a lot of dry camping in Wal-Mart parking lots!

On a side note, if you pay big money for a thoroughbred or "vanity dog" instead of buying a rescue (have you looked into a Greyhound rescue) you have likely wasted an enormous amount of money. If you are OK with that I cannot argue with you. If you are actually looking for a good companion, these vanity dogs are usually the worst choice compared to a mutt (or Greyhound).

-- Edited by Bill Adams on Friday 7th of October 2011 06:30:02 PM

MrToad · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the comments so far. Not sure if I agree with the comment "vanity dog" - bit of a slate against anyone who has a purebred dog. Some people want a particular breed with known traits, just like you wouldn't want to necessarily buy a kitset RV from someone not knowing how well it was built. There are in fact rescue wolf dogs, which are a cross with a Malamute and a timberwolf, or Huskie and a timberwolf, and come in a range of sizes. Maybe someone who owns a Malamute or Huskie could let me know how they find travelling with one of these guys in a RV. Thanks.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

My sister had Malamutes and they were mostly nice dogs but most liked to show they were still a bit on the wild side. Those dogs would take off just because they felt like it, eventually coming home. She also had one that looked at deer and goats as food or something to chase and she had to keep it chained up because it would run deer into the water where they might drown. She also had one very mellow Malamute that wouldn't hurt a fly, caused no problems and was very gentle. That mellow Malamute would be a great RV dog, but most of her Malamutes would be trouble. Each dog will be an individual and might not match the breed traits very well.

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

I can't comment specifically on the Wolf Dog hybrid but we have friends who fulltimed with a Husky dog. She was a beautiful dog and very well behaved/liked by everyone. One thing I can tell you is that dog sure knew how to SHED! They had hair everywhere!

As a side note we camped in an RV park near Chattanooga, TN a few years back and they had very strict county-mandated regulations on dog breeds that were allowed. As I recalled a lot of breeds were outlawed including Pit Bulls, Rottweilers or Chow Chows or mixes of those breeds. When we made our reservation we were asked about the breed of our dog (Golden/Aussie) and I was tempted to say she was a Pit/Rottie/Chow mix but thought they might not see the humor like I did!

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

A quick look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfdog tells me this bred is not for me.

OPINION: To give in to the flavor of the month does not sound like a good reason to pick one bred over another.

FACT: In reference to the size question, we will be traveling with a Golden Retriever, Standard Poodle and Calico cat. At time we stumble over dogs. The poodle believes she is a lap dog. Both dogs were rescues and are pure bred.

SUGGESTION: Take the kids to a local animal rescue shelter.

EDIT Typo

-- Edited by Waggin Tails on Saturday 8th of October 2011 07:33:58 PM

MrToad · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the comments regarding RV'ing with a dog. Not sure if I expected to be preached to regarding where I should get my dog.

Dina · RV-Dreams Community Member

So, not meaning to preach or offend. I have a shepard/huskey mix and a pitt/jack russell mix. My shepard /husky mix looks like a wolf. We actually got our camper to take our dogs with us on vacation since I hate putting them in kennels. We have found that there are many campgrounds that will not take us due to our animals. Especially in Florida. I guess due to insurance, I don't really know. They either won't take Lucy due to being a shepard mix, or won't take Bruno due to having pit in him. Both of my dogs are from a shelter and are not pure breeds, but we have been limited to where we can go, even though they are both extremely non aggressive. I am not preaching where or what kind of dog you get, just letting you know my personal experiences. Hope it helps!

Dina · RV-Dreams Community Member

Oh, also in my city (in Western NC) It is banned to have a wolf/hybrid and they can be seized. Also, our ignorant goverment officials here have stated that it is up to an officer of the law or animal control officer to determine what they see as a wolf/hybrid and can seize that animal even if you vet has determined that it is NOT a wolf/hybrid. Luckily, I know a lot of police officers who know my dog is not aggresive and not a wolf, so I am hoping I do not become affected by this.

MrToad · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks Dina, really appreciate your taking the time to share your experiences. Maybe we will have to look at another breed so as not to be limited where we can travel.

P.S. Love the photo of your dogs. They look beautiful.

-- Edited by MrToad on Sunday 9th of October 2011 12:14:01 PM

Class C Boondocker · RV-Dreams Community Member

MrToad wrote:
Also, I would be interested in hearing from members on their thoughts as to just how big is too big when it comes to dogs and RV'ing. Thanks.

We also struggle with this question. Currently we have three dogs. Two under 15 pounds one weighs in at 55 pounds. An awesome hunting dog mutt.

Our big dog loves to run, chase deer, rabbits and cats. He also loves to sit on my lap. When I rub his ears, his tail swings around like an airplane propeller. Very loving dog. Our local deer and rabbits have a much different opinion.

When we travel we keep him on a leash. I can tell he hates the leash, but obediently accepts it.

Regrettably, when we moved out of our house later this year and into our motorhome I plan to leave my hunting dog mutt behind with his new adopted family. If we fined one. Personally I can't take a 55 pound dog in a 30 foot motorhome.

Now if I was retired and planed on boondocking most of the time I would keep him. However, I need to work and do not have the freedom to pass up parks that do not welcome my big dumb mutt.
Also he needs to run, actually he loves to run. Currently he lives outside, guards our porch from all manor of creatures big and small.

Dina · RV-Dreams Community Member

Lucy is 70lbs and Bruno is 65lbs. We have a 30ft with a big slide so inside is not the problem. Since I still have to work for a living we only go 1 to 2 weeks at a time and by the end the dogs and us are pretty tired of getting up, dressed and going for a walk before I even get a cup of coffee. I am sure then don't like to be on a lead all the time too since they have over an acre at the homestead. Hair does get everywhere, but we are so used to it by now, we just bring a stick vac with us and a brush I got at Campingworld that is called the furmanator that is awesome. My dogs are still worth it too me and I would never give them up, they are more like our children. They bring so much joy and love!!!!

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Dina
What western NC town are you talking about?
There are several breeders in the Ashville area that breed hybrids to whatever level you desire. We want 1 but currently have 2 cats and a lab that travels with us. My shepard went to a loving home for his last few months, he was too heavy to lift in and out of the truck and 5'er. We work fulltime and travel every chance we get so hard decisions were made.
I think if you said you had a dog that has some shepard/husky/malmute/other and he just "Looks" like a wild animal, mabe it could pass.

Dina · RV-Dreams Community Member

Its Hendersonville.

BobandMichelle · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am not a full-timer, but we do plenty of traveling and camping with our four dogs. One of my dogs is a wolf shepherd. He gets along with everyone...from kids to adults to other dogs...and I've never had a problem with anyone telling us we couldn't camp somewhere because of him. I have had people turn us away for having too many dogs (up until the end of July we had five, now, sadly, we're down to four). And it also depends on the strictness of the campgrounds. Many of them have those rules, but, depending on the person accepting your reservation and your own personal attitude/behavior towards those around you, many of them are willing to overlook the rules (at least for short-term stays, probably not so much for long-term).