If you want to train a Wolf Dog, you’re signing up for quite the challenge. While it’s possible to train one, it will take a lot more work and dedication than it would for a typical dog. So, keep reading, and we’ll highlight some tips and tricks you should follow when trying to train your Wolf Dog.
If you’re new to dogs or haven’t had a dog before, a Wolf Dog might be the best pet for you. They are more difficult to train than beginner-friendly breeds.
The 10 Tips on How to Train a Wolf Dog
1. Stay Positive
Wolves are incredibly independent creatures, and it’s best to convince them to want to do what you want. You don’t want to get into a battle of wills. Instead, you want to stick solely with positive reinforcement.
Treats and giving them your attention are the best rewards. Avoid all forms of negative reinforcement since it can lead to serious behavioral problems in the future.
2. Stay Consistent
You don’t need long training sessions with a wolf hybrid, but you should have at least two sessions a day. Each session should last about 10 to 15 minutes, so they can really focus on training. Most importantly, you need to have these training sessions every day. Not only are you taking the time to train them, but you’re also bonding with them. You need your wolf hybrid to respect you, and the only way it will happen is if you consistently dedicate time to them.
3. Stay Patient
Dogs don’t learn everything overnight, and while a wolf hybrid is just as smart as a dog, they’re far more independent. You need to give them plenty of time to adjust to you, which means you can’t expect instant results.
You might need to wait a few weeks or even months to get the desired results. But if you stick with it, there’s no reason you can’t train a Wolf Dog into a great pet.
4. Use Treats
While praise is great, you’ll need treats to entice a wolf hybrid. There are healthy treats available, but for the best results, we recommend a brand primarily consisting of meat.
High-protein treats will entice them to do what you want. You can wean off the treats as they start to learn, but in the beginning, treats go a long way in helping them learn commands.
5. Start Early
One of the most important things you can do when raising a wolf hybrid is to start the training process early. Ideally, you want to start bonding with the pup when they’re just 2 or 3 weeks old. While it is possible to wait a bit longer, the longer you wait, the more challenging it will be. This is especially true if the hybrid takes more after their wolf parent.
6. Be Confident
Your pup can pick up on your emotions, and if you’re nervous, they’ll feel it. You need to go into each training session feeling confident. That way, the pup understands that you know what you’re doing and that you’re in charge.
If you can’t go into a training session feeling confident, a wolf hybrid will be more difficult to train.
7. Build Up in Stages
If you’re expecting your Wolf Dog to go from untrained to doing everything you say in just a training session or two, they will disappoint you. You need to start with small tasks and slowly build your way up.
Teach them their name, then teach them to sit and stay. Eventually, you can show them other commands and tricks. You can’t get them to do the more complicated commands until they already mastered the easier tasks.
8. Minimize Distractions
While a wolf hybrid puppy isn’t the same as a typical puppy, one area where they’re incredibly similar is their attention span. If there are too many distractions around, you’ll find it impossible to hold their attention.
During your training sessions, do everything you can to eliminate any distractions that might pull their attention from you.
9. Have Fun!
Your pup can sense your mood, and if they feel that you’re frustrated or miserable, they won’t want to be there. However, having fun with them is far more enjoyable for both parties, making it easier to train them.
10. Seek Professional Help
Wolves are not dogs, and depending on how much your wolf hybrid takes after the wolf, training them can be extremely difficult and dangerous. If you don’t feel up to the task, there’s nothing wrong with seeking professional help.
However, you’ll need to find someone who specifically specializes in training these hybrids, and finding someone who does isn’t always easy. Don’t seek out a regular dog trainer because they don’t have the necessary skill set to deal with a hybrid breed.
Final Thoughts
You’re not going to start seeing results overnight, but if you stay consistent and keep training your Wolf Dog, you can have a well-adjusted pet before too long. Remember that while wolves and dogs are similar in many ways, they’re two distinctly different breeds, and your Wolf Dog will take after both of them.
Don’t take their mild and loving appearance for granted. You need to maintain a steady hand throughout their life if you want to keep them in check!
Featured Image Credit: Best dog photo, Shutterstock
