Wolfdog Rescue & Adoption

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How we support wolfdogs

The primary focus of the Sanctuary is to drive public awareness and education on wolfdogs. There are many misconceptions surrounding these animals, and backyard breeders take advantage of the misconceptions to create a market for wolfdogs as exotic pets. The majority of the wolfdogs at the Sanctuary are from people surrendering them after failing to have them as pets in their homes. 

While we do accept surrenders, we are at capacity based on the number of enclosures we currently have, and sadly have to turn many wolfdogs away. So we turn our attention to educating the public on the true nature of wolfdogs and the negative outcomes for the many intentionally bred high-content wolfdogs who end up being displaced. We do support rehoming low content wolfdogs that would do well in specific homes. 

Wolfdog ownership

Wolfdog ownership is not the same as dog ownership. It takes an educated and prepared individual/family to provide a good home for a wolfdog. Below are some things that people should be aware of as to what makes a good wolfdog owner:

• The ability to provide adequate containment (they are jumpers and diggers)
• The ability to provide ample physical and mental stimulation daily
• Always ensuring their wolfdog is setup for success and never putting them in a situation that could pose a risk to their wellbeing 
• Taking the time to understand a wolfdog’s specific challenges and behaviours and knowing how to manage them
• Have done extensive research on wolfdog behaviour and ownership prior to adopting or buying one

ADoption from Yamnuska

There are currently no wolfdogs available for adoption at YWS

It is not often that we have wolfdogs available for adoption. Most of the wolfdogs that arrive at the Sanctuary are not suitable for adoption. Wolfdogs are very challenging as pets, and it takes a lot of research to ensure your lifestyle is suitable to house a wolfdog successfully. Check out some helpful blog posts about wolfdog ownership below! 

There are currently no wolfdogs available for adoption.

Wolfdog Ownership BlogNo wolfdogs available

Independent Adoption

There are currently no wolfdogs AVAILABLE for adoption.

When owners are in need of new placement for their wolfdog, but we don't have the space to bring them into our care, we may assist them by posting them as a courtesy post. These adoptions are not through Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary.

Wolfdog Surrender

Before you surrender

If you are considering surrendering your wolfdog, please consider the following options:

1. Contact us for any behavioural advice with your wolfdog. We are happy to offer knowledgeable information and advice regarding containment, enrichment, and any behavioural questions.
2. Consult a trainer that is knowledgeable with wolfdog behaviour. If you require suggestions on trainers, please contact us.
3. If you purchased your wolfdog from a breeder, contact them in regards to returning the animal. Any reputable breeder should have a return policy in place if you are no longer able to care for the animal.

Surrender Process

If you need to surrender your wolfdog, here is some information regarding the surrender process.

1. We will require you to fill out the Surrender Application and include any photos of your wolfdog. This helps us gather the necessary information we need.
2. Once we have received the application, we will review it and discuss further options.
3. If it is determined that the wolfdog is able to come to Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, we will arrange a drop off date and surrender fee.
4. If it is determined that the animal cannot come to Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, we will discuss other options for the animal that will assist you in placing the animal.

Contact ussurrender application

The Yamnuska wolfdogs 

Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary currently has 55+ wolfdogs. Our wolfdog ambassadors are the wolfdogs that take front and center stage at events and Sanctuary interactions to help educate the public about their unique nature and the importance of wolf conservation.

Meet our wolfdogs

Top 10 wolfdog FAQ's

What is the average life span of a wolfdog?

A wolfdogs life expectancy can vary depending on how much wolf content is present. Often times wolfdogs with more wolf content tend to have a longer life expectancy. A wolfdog's life expectancy could be anywhere from 12-16+ years old! Given this longevity, a wolfdog is a very big commitment and you must be prepared to care for the animal for the duration of its lifetime regardless of the animal's challenges or any other factors, such as moving, having a family, or getting a new job. There are very minimal places for a wolfdog to go if you are no longer able to care for them and this can often result in euthanasia.

Will a wolfdog get along with a cat or other small animals?

Wolfdogs tend to have a higher than normal prey drive. For this reason, it is not recommended to have a wolfdog around cats or other small animals. Some lower content wolfdogs may be okay around cats if they have received socialization to them at a young age, however, they would always need to be supervised.

Are all wolfdogs suitable to be pets?

As a general rule of thumb, we would typically consider a well socialized low content wolfdog suitable to be a pet. Low content wolfdogs still tend to be much more challenging than a regular dog and previous experience with northern breeds or other challenging breeds is highly recommended. Most mid and high content wolfdogs are not suitable as a pet. Lower content wolfdogs have much more dog content than they have wolf content, so their behaviour tends to be more dog-like. Wolfdogs with more significant amounts of wolf content are much more instinctual, which often means they may be uncomfortable and destructive indoors, unable to be fully housebroken, and cannot be left unsupervised. Higher content wolfdogs are often outdoors animals that also need adequate, spacious containment with a minimum fence height of 8 feet.

How are wolfdogs around young kids?

Wolfdogs and young kids generally are not a good fit. Kids tend to make fast movements that can excite or spook a wolfdog. This can result in nipping and/or biting in certain situations. A wolfdog that is comfortable to be pet and receive attention from humans may only be comfortable to be pet in certain areas and can be very particular. Young kids will not have the understanding needed to listen to a wolfdog's cues and body language and therefore puts all parties in a risky situation. Wolfdogs are also quite large and commonly have heightened prey drives and tend to be resource guarders. While each wolfdog is an individual with their own unique set of challenges, it is not recommended to consider wolfdog ownership if you plan on having kids, or have kids that are under the age of 12 years old.

Do wolfdogs make good guard dogs?

Wolfdogs are generally very shy of people they are unfamiliar with. Having wolf content does not make them more likely to guard your home or protect you and in fact, it makes it much more likely that they will do the exact opposite. Wolves tend to take a flight response rather than fight response in any moments of fear or uncertainty, and therefore wolfdogs are much more likely to flee from these types of situations. As well, wolfdogs don’t have the same affinity towards humans; Instinctual behaviour will kick in to keep themselves safe rather than protecting you.

Are wolfdogs legal?

Wolfdog legalities vary province to province and state to state. There are even some cities that have their own legislation even though there may not be a restriction within that province or state. It is always best to contact your local animal bylaw to check if owning a wolfdog is legal or not in your area.

Can you own a wolfdog in the city?

If it is legal to own a wolfdog in a province or city, generally speaking it would also be legal to own a wolfdog within city limits in a house, condo, downtown apartment etc. In most areas where wolfdogs are legal to own, there are no regulations in place to ensure they are in suitable environments. Most wolfdogs can easily scale a 6-foot fence, which oftentimes is the maximum fence height allowed within a city limits or counties, so while it may be legal to own a wolfdog in your area, the containment necessary to keep them safe may not be.

Do wolfdogs get along with other dogs?

Whether a wolfdog will get along with other dogs is dependent on the amount of wolf content that is in them as well as the socialization they received at a young age. There is a much better chance that a low content wolfdog with proper socialization will be appropriate meeting new dogs than a high content wolfdog. Same sex aggression and territorial behaviour are common in wolfdogs; especially wolfdogs with a significant amount of wolf content. Many wolfdogs will need slow introduction to a new dog or can be dog selective. This means dog parks or off-leash areas are oftentimes not suitable for a wolfdog.

How much exercise do they need?

Wolfdogs tend to have a lot of energy and need appropriate outlets to expel it. Wolfdogs require both physical exercise and mental stimulation on a daily basis. The exact amount of physical and mental exercise is very much dependent on each individual animal, however, it is important to note that a 30 minute walk around the neighbourhood will likely not cut it for a wolfdog. If a wolfdog does not get enough exercise, they will likely become much more destructive and mischievous and let you know that they still have lots of excess energy.

What do wolfdogs eat?

Wolfdogs tend to do best on a high protein diet. While some low content wolfdogs can do well on a good quality, high protein kibble, most mid and high content wolfdogs do best eating a raw meat based diet.

Get in Touch with us!

587-890-WOLF (9653)

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263156 Range Rd 53, Rocky View County, Alberta, Canada

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Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is a non-profit dedicated to public awareness and education about wolfdogs and wolves in the wild. We are located east of the Rocky Mountains near Cochrane, Alberta on 160 acres of land with a current pack of 55+ resident wolfdogs. Learn more about wolfdogs through Wolfdog Awareness, whose mission is to offer the most comprehensive and accurate information on everything you want to know about wolfdogs.Charity Number: 829169689

Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary honours that we are located on the traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney Nations, the Blackfoot Confederacy including Piikani, Kainai and Siksika Nations, and the Tsuut'ina Nation, within Treaty 7 territory and that we walk the path of reconciliation together. Respectfully, we also recognize that we are within Rockyview District #4 of the Metis Nation of Alberta and share the lands with the Metis Peoples.Copyright © 2024 Yamnuska Wolfdog SanctuaryAll RIghts ReservedPrivacy PolicySite by StudioForum.ca