What is a wolf hybrid?

A wolf hybrid results from mating between a wolf and a domestic canine. The resulting animal technically is not a hybrid since dogs are a sub-species of wolves; however, the term "hybrid" is commonly used to refer to any mixed-breed dog.

Rescue organizations and shelters usually refer to wolf hybrids as wolfdogs. They classify any dog that has wolf heritage in its past five generations as a wolfdog. The animals do not make good pets because they tend to be fearful and very destructive. They are not effective watch dogs and retreat at the approach of a stranger. An estimated 300,000 wolfdogs were in the Unites States as of 1998.