How to Find Reputable Wolf Dog Breeders (Tips to Avoid Scams + Puppy Mills)
You’ve done your research and have decided that you want to add a wolf dog puppy to your family. Congratulations! Wolf dogs are amazing, intelligent, and loyal companions.
But before you buy the first wolf dog puppy you find for sale, it’s important to do your due diligence and find a reputable breeder.
Unfortunately, there are many so-called “wolf dog breeders” out there who are nothing more than wolf dog puppy mills masquerading as responsible businesses.
These operations often keep their animals in cramped, unsanitary conditions and do not hesitate to breed wolves with any old dog, regardless of temperament or health concerns.
As you can imagine, this often leads to sickly, poorly socialized wolf puppies that are more trouble than they’re worth.
So how can you avoid falling victim to one of these unscrupulous breeders? In this blog post, we’ll give you the best tips for finding a reputable wolf dog breeder.
1. Breeders Pick the Families
A reputable breeder will want to make sure that their wolf dog puppies go to good homes.
This means they will be picky about who they sell their puppies to.They might ask you for references or even conduct an interview before they agree to sell you a puppy.
A breeder that doesn’t care who they sell their puppies to is not a reputable breeder.
2. One Wolf Dog Litter at a Time
A responsible dog breeder will only have one litter at a time so they can give each puppy the love and attention they need.
If a breeder has multiple litters or seems to be breeding constantly, that’s a red flag that they may not be taking proper care of the wolf dogs.
3. Wolf Dog Puppy Parents On-Site
When you visit a potential breeder’s home, be sure to ask to meet the puppy’s parents. This will give you an idea of what size your puppy will be when full grown as well as what temperament they may have.
A reputable breeder will have no problem letting you meet the puppy’s parents and should even encourage it.
4. Willing to Take Puppy Back (If Need Be)
Life happens and sometimes people aren’t able to keep their puppies for whatever reason.
A responsible breeder will be willing to take the puppy back if this happens and will work with you to find a good home for them.
They should also provide you with resources and advice on how best to take care of your new puppy so you can be prepared for everything that comes with owning a wolf dog.
5. Requires You to Live in An Area Where Wolfdogs are Legal
Many breeders require potential buyers to prove that they live in an area that is legal to own wolfdogs.
In legal terms, wolfdogs are often referred to as “wolf hybrids”—this term generally refers to all generations and percentages of wolf-mixed dogs unless specifically stated otherwise in a particular law.
It is important for prospective owners to do their research and make sure they are following the laws of their state or country before making any commitment with a breeder.
In addition, many breeders will also ask for proof of ownership of the property where the puppy will be kept; this is usually done through providing proof of address through utility bills.
6. Requires Proof Of Appropriate Fencing/Enclosure
Ensuring the safety of your wolf dog starts with having an appropriate enclosure that meets the necessary fencing requirements wolf dogs need. A breeder may require you to have the following fencing before considering you as a buyer:
8ft Tall Fence with Lean-Ins: The fence must be 8 feet tall and reinforced with a heavy gauge welded wire, such as 4-gauge cattle panels. Additionally, 2-4 ft lean-ins should be angled at 45 degrees for added security.
Dig Guards: Dig guards, which should be secured to the bottom of the fence and containment, and must be at minimum 4 ft wide if placed flat on the ground. This ensures that your wolf dog cannot dig underneath the fence and escape their enclosure.
Containment Size: All upper mid and high-content litters should have containment that is at least 2500 square feet in size—even if they are going to an active home—so make sure you take this into consideration when setting up your enclosure.
Proof of Completion: Lastly, many breeders may require photo or video proof that all fencing requirements have been fully completed before selling their puppy. This proof ensures that both breeder and buyer understand what is expected to keep the wolfdog secure upon purchase.
7. Long Waiting Lists
Another sign of a reputable breeder is a waiting list. Because they are picky about who they sell their puppies to, they usually have more people interested in buying a puppy than they have puppies available.
This means that you might have to wait months or even years to get the puppy that you want. But it’s worth the wait because you know that the breeder is being careful about who they sell their puppies to.
8. Expect High Prices
Reputable breeders also charge high prices for their puppies. The starting price of a wolf-dog puppy is $1500. This is because they have invested a lot of money in breeding and raising healthy puppies.
They also want to make sure that people who are buying their puppies are serious about taking care of them and are not just looking for a cheap pet.
9. A Deposit is Required
Another way that reputable breeders make sure that people are serious about buying one of their puppies is by requiring a deposit.
This deposit shows that you are committed to buying the puppy and gives the breeder some financial security in case something happens and you don’t follow through on your purchase.
10. Wolf Dog “Pet Only” Contracts
Once you’ve found a reputable breeder, it’s important to understand what type of contract they use if they sell wolf dogs.
These puppies are typically sold on a strict “pet only” contract which requires proof of spay/neuter between 18-30 months of age.
This ensures that pet owners will not be breeding these animals without permission from the breeder, which helps prevent puppy mills.
11. Willing to Answer Questions
Asking questions is one of the best ways to determine if a breeder is responsible or not.
A responsible breeder will be patient and answer your questions clearly, taking the time to ensure that you understand what they are telling you.
They also won’t pressure you into making a decision before you’re ready, so if you don’t feel comfortable with any part of their explanation or approach, it may be best to move on and find another breeder.
12. Allows you to Visit the Facility
A reputable breeder will be happy to show you around and introduce you to their wolf dogs. A good breeder will also keep up with vaccinations and deworming treatments, so ask about those as well before making your final decision.
13. Eager to Provide Guidance
When looking for a quality breeder, it is important that they are willing and able to provide plenty of guidance on caring for a wolf dog puppy.
They should provide details regarding diet, health care, and general training advice so that you can make sure your pet gets off on the right paw from day one.
14. Proven Lineage
Not only do responsible breeders provide lots of information regarding the breed itself, but they can also prove that their puppies do in fact have Gray Wolf in them, which is detectable by DNA testing and that they have been bred in accordance with strict standards.
This means ensuring that both parent dogs have passed thorough medical screenings and genetic testing prior to breeding.
In addition, good breeders will be able to verify that all relevant paperwork is up-to-date prior to sending any pups home with potential owners.
An Embark DNA test is simple to administer; the dog owner simply collects a sample of the dog’s saliva using the provided kit and mails it back to the company for analysis. The results are then returned in about two weeks.
Embark’s ancestry test is based on the world’s largest database of canine DNA, which includes over 250 breeds. This means that their results are highly accurate and backed by science.
In addition to revealing your dog’s genetic history, Embark’s test can also provide information about health conditions that your dog may be at risk for. This can help you to make informed decisions about your dog’s care and help them to stay healthy and happy.
Red Flags to Look out for in Wolf Dog Breeders
Craigslist and Supermarkets
Good breeders will never sell their puppies through Craigslist or other online marketplaces.
If you come across a breeder selling pups on Craigslist or in a supermarket, this could be an indication that they are not responsible and may not be well-informed about their breeding practices.
A good breeder will always have waiting lists for their puppies and will never use these types of outlets to find homes for them.
Puppies in Pairs
Any reputable breeder should only ever have one litter of puppies at a time.
Puppies should also never be sold in pairs as this can lead to behavioral problems further down the line.
The presence of multiple litters could indicate that the breeder is not following best practices and may not be experienced enough to handle such large numbers of puppies.
Furthermore, if multiple litters are present, it could mean that the breeder is simply running a puppy mill rather than responsibly raising each pup in their own home.
Unrealistic Promises
Be wary of any breeders who make unrealistic promises about their puppies’ behavior or temperament.
Responsible breeders will always emphasize the importance of socializing and training your pup properly so they can reach their full potential.
Any promises that seem too good to be true should raise some suspicion, as this indicates that the breeder has little knowledge about how to properly raise pups and may be trying to deceive buyers into purchasing one of their animals without fully understanding what they are getting into.
Wolf Dog Puppies For Sale from Reputable Wolf Dog Breeders
Wolfdogs of the Ebon Blade and Southern Oregon Wolfdogs are our top picks if you’re looking for wolf dog puppies for sale from reputable breeders.
Both of these professional Wolfdog Breeders have a long history, with years of experience in providing healthy and safe Wolfdog puppy litters of carefully selected parents.
Not only do buyers get access to well-socialized, healthy puppies, but they also offer comprehensive health information about the litter including genetic testing and detailed parental histories.
The Bottom Line
Before making the commitment to own a wolf dog, potential owners should do their research to ensure that they are prepared to provide the animal with the care and attention it needs. Wolf dogs are a high-maintenance breed, and they require a dedicated owner who is willing to invest the time and energy necessary to meet their needs.
We feel fortunate to be able to give our wolf dog a fulfilling life. We’ve had our challenges raising him, but it has been worth it. He is a beautiful animal and we are grateful to have him in our lives.
Do you have any questions about wolf dogs? Leave us a comment, or check out our other wolf dog resources. We are happy to help educate people about these amazing animals.
Hi Nicoll, I love yours and Jakes amazing stories and adventurous RV living, and your abundant love and care of your 3- 4 legged children, what a Blessed life! Both of you have been great researchers and advisors for future Cargo/RV lifers! I read about your monthly expenses and variable costs, however, I didn’t see Pet Insurance in your monthly costs, hopefully, you have pet insurance on all of your fur babies, if not, please get it, it can save you so much money, plus if something serious happened to one of them you’ll have pet insurance to help! I highly recommend Nationwide Pet Insurance, formerly VIP Pet Insurance. I have used them since 2003 and saved so much money. They have different coverage plans, I have the premier + cancer coverage on both my current fur babies. You get about 75-90% reimbursed on flea, tick, heartworm meds, spade & nuturing, surgeries, almost everything! I just email copies of my Vet bills & they send me a reimbursement check! Plus if you have a big Vet bill over $200, which is easy to do, if you have CareCredit you can have the bill divided into 3, 6, 12 months and interest free payments! I hope you will at least research it.
I have read how you and Jake met, how he bought the Cargo trailer for $6000 and started renovating it and it is amazing! However, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I wish you would tell us what you and Jake both did before you were able to start Cargo/RV livingtinywithawolf! How did you get money to buy the Cargo trailer, pay for renovations and buy everything you needed to first start out? Were you both employed, saved money, quit work, or did either of you get an inheritance? Per your montly expenses and varibles it costs you about $4500-$5000 per month. Do you earn incomes ftom your blog, youtube channel, or did you win the lottery? I hope its all 3!
I look forward to hearing more adventures and about your 3 fur babies, especially Cruze, your Wolfdog! God Bless you all.
Vickie~
Hey Vickie!
Thanks so much for your kind words and for following along with our adventures! We’re thrilled to share our journey, including the love we have for our pups!
Regarding pet insurance, it’s definitely something we’ve considered. We’ll look into Nationwide Pet Insurance per your recommendation—it sounds like it could really come in handy, especially with the coverage you mentioned.
As for how we got started with RV living, Jake actually bought the Cargo trailer before we met. He saved up for it and started renovating it himself. Before we hit the road, I worked a regular job, while Jake ran an online lead generation business and saved as much as we could. No inheritance or lottery wins here, just a lot of hard work and determination!
Regarding income, we do generate some revenue from our blog, but it’s not our main source of income. We also pick up odd jobs here and there along the way to supplement our finances.
Thanks again for your support, and we’ll be sure to keep sharing our adventures, including plenty of updates about Cruze, our beloved Wolfdog!
Take care,
Nicoll & Jake