Back in 2025, the day before Halloween, three large dogs were discovered roaming the streets of Preston, Lancashire. Their wolf-like features made the trio go viral, dispute Preston City Council identifying them as a German shepherd-type breed.
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After DNA testing was ordered by specialists at 8 Below Husky Rescue, siblings Little Timmy, Boo and Brooke were discovered to be 49.1% grey wolf, and 50.9% Czechoslovakian wolfdog. The trio are now at Wolves of Wiltshire, an specialist exotic animal charity, where Oli Barrington, a trustee, said they are “comfortable, safe, and recovering from the ordeal.”
He added that the rescue centre was not planning on rehabilitating the animals or to make them pets. ”They will be whatever they want to be here,” he said. ”If they want a life with minimal human contact, then that's what they'll have.”
What is a wolf-dog?
Simply put, a wolf-dog is a domesticated breed of dog that has been crossbred with a wolf. They are legal to own in the UK, as long as they are at least three generations away from the original wolf parent. First or second generation wolf dogs need a license to own, and are classified as exotic animals.
Oli Barrington has said that the laws around wolf-dogs is a tricky one, as it concerns the number of generations away from a wolf, rather than the percentage of wolf DNA, adding that the problem is the irresponsible breeding of high DNA content animals that were “perfectly legal on paper.”
“There are very few people out there who could actually provide a decent home for a high content wolf-dog,” he said. ”You really have to give up your life.”
The difference between wolves and dogs
While it was once believed that domesticated dogs were descended from grey wolves, modern genetic studies have shown that domesticated dogs are descended from a now-extinct wolf lineage.
While domesticated dogs and grey wolves are now named as if they are a different species, Canis familiaris and Canis lupus, respectively, they are capable of producing fertile offspring.
What is it like looking after a wolf-dog?
While it might seem like an attractive idea to keep a wolf-dog – and they have been increasing in popularity in recent years – many people might not know what they are getting themselves into.
“They are much more challenging animals that aren’t really meant to be pets. They need a lot of space and should never be left on their own,” says the PDSA (The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals).
“They are large dogs and often need very experienced handlers, who have worked not only with dogs but also with wolves to understand their needs.”
Not only do they need lots of space and training, their strong instincts mean they can be difficult to contain, and might crave the company of a “pack” and cannot be left alone at home.
“The body language of wolves can be quite different to that of domestic dogs and they don’t react to people in the same ways,” adds the PDSA. “Wolfdogs are less inclined to think of humans as friendly or to try to please them compared to normal dogs, so without an experienced handler there is a real risk of aggression or injury as well.”
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