The connection between wolfdogs and the people who own them is deep—almost spiritual. So, when life circumstances forced Kim Renée Coté to surrender her three beloved wolfdogs to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in the Canadian province of Alberta, she knew the pain would follow her forever.

“I was sobbing so terribly and so grateful that the wolfdogs would be safe,” said Coté.

Coté is among the many wolfdog owners who step into a commitment to own these unique animals only to be confronted with circumstances beyond their control and forced to give them up. The distressing emotional loss and guilt that these owners experience is compounded by the lack of resources available to them and nowhere for the wolfdogs to go. This is why 90% of wolfdogs are euthanized by the age of two.

Wolfdogs are neither wild wolves nor domestic dogs. They are usually acquired as puppies, but the traits that make wolfdogs special are the same ones that make them unpredictable, especially as they age. 

Wolfdogs are the result of breeding between wild wolves or hybrid wolves and domestic dogs, most commonly Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes or German Shepards. The idea of mix-breeding originated in the 1880s when Canada’s fur trade industry began to wane. Fur farms turned to breeding their wolves with domestic dogs spurring a popular new industry—the exotic pet trade of wolfdogs.

As interest and curiosity grew for these exclusive breeds, so too did their populations. But information and resources about owning them did not keep up with the demand. 

Wolfdogs require specific care that is unlike that for domestic dogs when it comes to diet, secure enclosures, time and financial commitments and management of their instinctual behavior and socialization peculiarities. Coté’s wolfdogs are among the lucky ones that can call the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary home as there are a few other options for re-homing. Besides being a haven for wolfdogs to safely live out fulfilled lives with the space and care that they need, the sanctuary is a leading voice of education for potential owners. 

 Kim Renée Coté with her six-month old wolfdog Joey. (Photo: Kim Renée Coté)

The Reality of Wolfdog Ownership

Kim Renée Coté was no stranger to dog ownership when she decided after the death of the family German Shepard that her next dogs would be rescues. Not just any rescues, but specifically wolfdogs.

“The wish is that we would find a wolfdog in need of a family; in need of us. There was so much to learn; so many people to talk with and it was a remarkable journey,” said Coté.

After a search of U.S. and Canadian sanctuaries and private breeders, Coté got two sibling mid-content wolfdog puppies, Katahna and Sequoi. It wasn’t long before a third wolfdog, Joey—a high-content breed—was added to the pack. 

Coté was prepared for their arrival having done extensive research to understand the unique care requirements of wolfdogs and she had proper enclosures built on her property.   

“The challenges are very real owning a wolfdog. However, the level and depth of soul connection one can achieve with a wolfdog makes everything about owning wolfdogs a soulful blessing,” said Coté.

Kim Renée Coté’s three wolfdogs Katahna, Sequoi and Joey. (Photo: Kim Renée Coté)

Although Coté provided the wolfdogs a comfortable life she eventually felt like they needed more space than she could give them. As the wolfdogs got older socialization also became difficult when they no longer wanted to go for walks.

“My wolfdogs were set up wonderfully. However, I absolutely detested having them contained as they were. I would much rather have been able to raise the money to allow them to run freely on all three acres,” said Coté.

It was for these reasons and a change in personal circumstances that made turning to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary necessary but letting them go, even for the right reasons, is something that still grips her.

Georgina De Caigny with her first wolfdog Kuna. (Photo: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary)

The Yamnuska Sanctuary Story

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is home to 59 wolfdogs of varied wolf content levels that have the care, enclosures and adequate space on the 160-acre property just outside of Calgary. The sanctuary’s founder Georgina De Caigny recognized a need for such a resource after taking ownership of her first wolfdog, Kuna, in 2009. 

“I faced significant struggles when I first got Kuna, a high content wolfdog; feeling overwhelmed, unprepared, and unsure if I was doing the right thing. Having her as a companion animal left me questioning my motivations and my abilities to care for an animal like this,” said De Caigny.

De Caigny’s feelings of doubt and fear and questioning her capabilities to care for such a unique animal is precisely the turning point that many owners get to who reach out to the sanctuary for help.  

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Cochrane, Alberta. (Photo: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary)

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is a non-profit that started in 2011 dedicated to homing wolfdogs that are displaced, neglected or abandoned.  

“My involvement in wolfdog rescue work in those early days exposed me to a wide array of situations where wolfdogs needed better living conditions and how a lack of understanding and education was a direct cause for these animals being given up on,” said De Caigny. 

Today, with Kuna still by her side at the sanctuary, De Caigny’s vision has expanded. Her mission now includes being a leader in the education about ownership and rescue of wolfdogs and creating a supportive environment for both the animals and the people who care for them.

Animal Care Specialist Lindsay Horobin tosses a treat to a wolfdog in her care at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. (Photo: Anietra Hamper)

Wildly Domestic 

While wolfdogs appear calm within the sanctuary enclosures it takes a long time for those who work with them to gain their trust. Lindsay Horobin is an Interpreter and Animal Care Specialist at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary who works with the wolfdogs regularly and admits every interaction is on their terms.

“We need to remember these are not domestic dogs and they have different levels of wolf in them,” said Horobin. 

It does not take long for owners of wolfdogs to understand how wild their wild side can be and the higher the wolf-content, the more volatile they are.

Wolfdogs can have low, mid or high content which is the percentage of wolf in the animal. Low content wolfdogs are 20%-49% wolf, meaning they have some physical resemblance to wolves but behave more like dogs. These wolfdogs acclimate more readily as pets but still have challenges including a keen ability to escape, a higher prey drive, destructive nature and uncertainty towards new people.

High content means a wolfdog is more than 80-percent wolf with very little dog in them. These wolfdogs are not suitable pets as they are fearful towards people with physical and behavioral traits that nearly mimic wolves. These high-content wolfdogs require expansive space to roam and extensive fencing to keep them from escaping. 

Unfortunately, higher content breeds are more in demand.

“There isn't much of a difference between a high content wolfdog and a 100% wolf,” said Horobin. “I think for some people it's a bit of a status symbol and in other cases, it's just a love for the animals. But when it comes right down to it, most people, best of intentions aside, are not going to be able to look after these guys properly.”

The wolfdogs at the sanctuary are housed alongside companions of similar wolf content and personalities. To determine the level of wolf content in the wolfdogs that the sanctuary re-homes, they use a technique called phenotyping. This method is more accurate than DNA testing because it also compares physical, biological and behavioral traits to those of pure wolves. 

A surrendered wolfdog at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. (Photo: Tourism Calgary)

Challenges of Wolfdog Ownership

Some of the common challenges that wolfdog owners are unprepared to handle especially as the dogs age include destructiveness, the cost involved with the diet they require, possessiveness and their raw strength.

Wolfdogs are timid and shy with new situations and people, so they do not respond well to the kinds of cuddles and pets that domestic dogs crave. They have distinctive individual personalities, operate with fight or flight behavior and require regular exercise and mental stimulation. 

Meeting these needs is especially challenging when mid or high-content wolfdogs are kept in urban environments. The instinctual behavior makes them primal escape artists that can dig and jump masterfully even over a six-foot fence. 

“In high-content wolfdogs, their jaw strength is going to be about double that of a German Shepherd or Rottweiler. So, if they want to do some damage to stuff, they can do some damage to stuff,” said Horobin.

Wolves are divine hunters in the wild, but their natural prey drive is a trait that can be a dangerous mix if a home has other small pets or children. 

Another element that owners are not prepared for, or underestimate, is something called Winter Wolf Syndrome. It is a small window of the year when wolfdogs exhibit aggressive behavior tied to seasonal and hormonal changes during the colder months.“Owners of wolfdogs with significant wolf content should be prepared to manage and cope with the absolute extremes of challenging wolf behaviours such as territorial behaviour, same sex aggression and resource guarding,” said De Caigny.

Unlike domestic dogs that live to please humans, wolfdogs have no such desire, and their behavior is impossible to change through training.

Sylen is one of 59 wolfdogs rehomed at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. (Photo: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary)

A Growing Issue

The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is the only wolfdog-specific sanctuary in Canada, and while it fills a niche, the need for such a place is bigger than most people think. The sanctuary is at capacity and in just the first six months of 2024 it has taken in 22 new wolfdogs. 

“There are many, many more emails and phone calls for assistance that we aren’t able to offer help with,” said De Caigny. “As our connection to one another increases via technologies, and as humans our desire for approval and attention increases, wolfdogs are becoming much more accessible to the average person. In other words, the barriers to getting a wolfdog have dramatically decreased and our desire for novelty and attention have increased.” 

This increase in demand has resulted in the prolific breeding of wolfdogs in private or backyard operations, with money and profits being a driving factor.

“We have seen a dramatic rise in the number of wolfdogs requiring placement over the last 6+ years, as well as the amount of people expressing interest in owning one. This is where I am hopeful, education will play a key role in empowering people with the knowledge and information needed to make smart decisions about whether a wolfdog is truly right for them, rather than an impulsive, egoic decision,” said De Caigny.

Guests at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary learn about wolfdogs from a staff member inside the enclosures. (Photo: Tourism Calgary)

A common question at the sanctuary is why unwanted wolfdogs can’t be released into the wild. This is an opportunity to educate guests about why wolfdogs cannot survive on their own. 

“If a wolfdog breeds with a wild wolf, this would be contaminating the wild wolf genetics with dog genes. So based on a combination of not having the skills or adaptations to survive in the wild and being conditioned to humans, it would be cruel to release them into the wild,” said De Caigny.

The sanctuary opens its doors for tours five days a week so those who are curious about wolfdogs can ask these kinds of questions and learn about them through first-hand experiences. 

Georgina De Caigny with her wolfdog Kuna at the sanctuary. (Photo: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary) 

A Fine Line 

While there is concern about the increase of wolfdog ownership and accessibility there’s a double-edge sword to consider.There are many wolfdog owners who do have suitable homes for them, and it is not illegal in many Canadian Provinces and U.S. states to own or breed them. De Caigny struggles with where to draw the line on wolfdog ownership, worrying that an outright ban would only drive the industry underground and leave even more owners with even fewer resources. 

“Are we punishing the good owners for the faults and negligence of the bad owners? What about wolfdogs that only have a very small amount of wolf content in them? Should we have to ban wolfdogs that essentially behave mainly like dogs and happen to be good companion animals in the right home? What if we ban high content wolfdogs but allow low content wolfdogs to be kept as pets? But then what about mid content wolfdogs? Where do you draw the line?” said De Caigny. 

A permit process that is not uncommon for other types of exotic animal ownership is one option, but that too becomes a slippery slope with questions like who would be responsible for enforcement and who pays for the oversight.

 

Kim Renée Coté when she got her wolfdog puppy Joey. (Photo: Kim Renée Coté)

The issue of wolfdog ownership is a fine line no matter which way you view it. 

Despite having to give up her wolfdogs, Coté does not regret a moment of sharing part of her life with them.

“Sitting with the wolfdogs or walking them when they allowed me to, brought me the meaning of life. I don’t have any regrets and knowing what I know, I would never tell anyone not to get a wolfdog,” said Coté.

Even De Caigny who understands the continued need for wolfdog rescue has a difficult time pondering a world without them.

“For now, I know I can make my impact by providing wolfdogs with a high quality, enriching home that need it,” said De Caigny. “I can educate as many people as possible in hopes that less wolfdogs end up in homes that aren’t suitable for them. I can advocate for the needs of wolfdogs and how us humans can be better guardians for them. I have to believe that that is truly making a difference. Whether it is enough? I do not know.”