Wolfdogs A-Z: Behavior, Training & More

by Nicole Wilde

Wolfdogs Behavior, Training & More is exactly what it implies; a comprehensive guide to living with a wolfdog. Wolfdog "owners" (or those who are owned by wolfdogs!) know that these canines can be a lot more of a challenge than the average dog. Nicole Wilde has worked with wolves and wolfdog mixes in a rescue, education and training capacity for over fifteen years, and generously shares her knowledge. Covered is everything from teaching basic behaviors to dealing with fear issues (see too "Help for Your Fearful Dog" by Wilde for a comprehensive guide to dealing with fear issues), dominance challenges, "Winter Wolf Syndrome," myths versus reality, and much more. No one who shares their life with a wolfdog should be without this excellent guide.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Reference

255 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

About the author

Nicole Wilde is an internationally recognized, award-winning author and lecturer, as well as a professional canine behavior specialist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Her twelve books include Help for Your Dog-Reactive Dog, Don’t Leave Me, Help for Your Fearful Dog, and Keeping the Peace: A Guide to Solving Dog-Dog Aggression in the Home. She is on the Advisory Board for the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, the Advisory Board for Victoria Stilwell’s Positively Academy, and the Advisory Board for Apex Protection Project. She is also the Behavior Consultant for Villalobos Rescue Center and has appeared as a trainer on the television show Pit Bulls & Parolees.
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Nicole has written training and behavior articles and blogs for various publications including the Huffington Post, as well as for her own blog, Wilde About Dogs, and is a regular contributor to Modern Dog Magazine. She co-stars in the DVD "Train Your Dog: The Positive Gentle Method," and co-hosted the Dog Talk radio show where her experience, humor and quick wit were put to good use. Nicole lectures worldwide at conferences and for training clubs, humane societies, and other groups.
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Always having had a special place in her heart for dogs in need, Nicole served as Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles’ Animal Services, where she instructed volunteers in handling and behavior, worked with hundreds of dogs, and acted as an adoption counselor. After moving to L.A. County, she volunteered for a County shelter. At both shelters, her efforts were instrumental in many dogs finding loving homes. In addition to working with dogs,

Nicole has worked with rescued wolves and wolfdogs for over twenty years and is considered an expert in the field. She was Executive Director for Villalobos Rescue Center, which was at the time a sanctuary for rescued wolves and wolfdogs, as well as pit bulls and exotic animals. Nicole’s specialty was socializing the fearful wolves who were to live out their lives at the center, and she ended up bringing home three of the especially needy residents to live out their lives with her and her husband. Nicole has presented wolfdog education seminars to animal control officers, schools and specialty groups. Her experience is rounded out by having supervised 40-50 off-leash dogs daily at a doggy daycare, working at a veterinarian’s office, serving as Editor/Chief Writer for Get-A-Pet magazine, and many years of teaching dog training group classes as well as private lessons.
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Nicole is also a photographer and digital artist who loves to use her talents to help animals in need. She photographs dogs to improve their chances of adoption, and donates artwork to various animal-related organizations to raise funds. Nicole owns and operates Gentle Guidance Dog Training in Santa Clarita, California. She lives with two rescued northern breed mixes, sled loads of dog hair, and one very understanding husband. Nicole continues to write books, teach seminars, train dogs, volunteer, assist in wolfdog rescue, and to help dogs in any way she can.
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You can find Nicole's books, seminar DVDs and Wilde About Dogs blog at www.nicolewilde.com, her pet portraits at www.goodmojopetportraits.com, and her artwork at www.photomagicalart.com.
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And you can find Nicole on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NicoleWildeA...) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/NicoleWilde)

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for a first time wolfdog owner such as myself. Ms. Wilde writes with a humorous yet knowledgeable tone, you can tell she knows her wolfdogs! I've used several of her techniques/suggestions so far, all with excellent results. A must-read for anyone considering adopting one of these amazing animals!

[Aleksandar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, fans say, the veritable bible on a rare subject matter, namely how to take good care of a rather exotic category of mixed breeds that all share one unusual trait in common: a more recent genetic connection to their ancient ancestor. My interest in the book was based on curiosity of the comparative study type - how dogs and wolf dogs differ, as it seemed to me that if one learned a little something about helping the latter, one would become more understanding of the former.And indeed, there are many ideas well worth knowing: such as filling a Konga ball with treats and learning to "trade" objects with a stubborn canine (when the canine has something expensive of fragile, give them something else to hold in their jaws, you can even "trade down" with increasingly worthless items so that something cheap and safe to chew end up getting chewed)

[SnowDevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information for anyone considering getting a wolfdog or wolf hybrid northern breed like a husky, malamute, etc. Especially good for those who have experience with other types of dogs - assumes the reader is at least familiar with owning/raising/training dogs. Best read in accompaniment with another more generic book for 1st-time puppy owners.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much more detailed and had more specific information than the other one. Still the same type of informal tone which bugs me a bit but the information was much more useful so it was easier to get through the writing style.

[Renn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hugely helpful and informative. It's full of helpful advices and good ideas to help making life with your wolfdog more peaceful.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for all who work with wolves and wolfdogs. Thank you Amelia W. for recommending this book to me.