The tamaskan wolf dog was developed through a project by a group of British breeders in the 1980s. Their primary aim was to achieve a wolf like dog. It was developed through the cross-breeding between the German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, and Alaskan Malamutes. Well, this project was proved to be successful. Today, we will learn the basics and some amazing facts about these dogs.
Basics About The Tamaskan Wolf Dog
These dogs are very easily trainable and can be excellent working dogs because they have wolf-like intelligence and strength. But they are not recommended for first-time dog owners. Because these dogs have high energy levels and require daily exercise regularly and your complete attention to be trained. Also, these dogs require proper socialization to be healthy and happy.
Tamaskan wolf dogs are very loyal to their owners and they respond best to positive reinforcement. These dogs suffer from high separation anxiety which makes them suitable for active single people.
Size and Weight
They are known to be a large dog breed. The male dogs are larger than the female dogs as they weigh between 66 and 99 pounds and are 25 to 28 inches tall. While the female dogs weigh between 50 and 84 pounds and are 24 to 17 inches tall.
Temperament and Behaviour
They are very loyal and devoted to their owners and families. They love to romp and play outside for hours in the daytime, also they are tolerant of the children. If they are not properly socialized, they can be wary of strangers.
These dogs need to be kept busy as they have high energy levels. If they don’t have any task to do they can become bored and destructive. They do well with athletic activities like obedience trials and working trials.
Maintenance and Grooming
These dogs are low maintenance as far as grooming goes. They have a thick fur but it only sheds twice per year. Their coat has a natural oil that helps to bead water and keep them clean, which means there isn’t any need to bathe them besides when they get muddy or overly dirty while playing outside. More baths will remove their natural oil and as a result, their cat will be damaged.
They only need an average of 60 to 90 minutes of outdoor exercise per day. If your dog gets less physical activity or runs on grass you may need to cut its claws. But the nail should be minimal. If it gets proper outside activities then it naturally wears down its nails.
Training
These dogs love to learn and do outside exercises as they have higher energy levels. They aim to please and have a gentle temperament. If someone uses positive reinforcements, they respond best to them. Yelling at them and punishing them can have negative effects on them as they will be harsh and destructive to you. If they don’t get properly trained as puppies they can become stubborn. Most importantly, being a highly energetic breed they are much difficult to handle as they get older.
Food
If they are balanced properly they tend to eat most diets. If you prefer a more natural approach they will also eat the raw food. Some of the tamaskans have more dominant and destructive wolf genes and they are best suited to the raw diet. To help prevent hip dysplasia in them adequate nutrition can prove to be essential.
The tamaskan puppies should be given multiple smaller meals per day until they get 8 weeks old. Puppies between the ages of 5 to 8 months should be given meals three times a day.
Famous Tamaskans
These dogs had some famous roles on television and in theaters in the recent past due to their wolf-like appearance. They were used to portray dire wolves throughout the series Game of Thrones. In the recent Broadway Production of The Crucible, a tamaskan dog played the role of a wolf.
Popular Names for the Tamaskan
Many people give simple names to these dogs despite their fierce wolf-like appearance. The most common names include:
- Toby
- Jack
- Buddy
- Lucy
- Coco
- Abbie
- Leo
- Lulu
- Oliver
Owning a Tamaskan: 3 Pros and Cons
| Pros! | Cons! |
| Great Companion for Kids: Tamaskans are very loyal and gentle dogs. They are a good choice for active families with kids who want a running or hiking companion. | Daily Exercise Requirements: Tamaskans, like their Husky and German Shepherd ancestors, are working dogs. They generally need 90 minutes of running, playing, or other forms of exercise every day. Without this physical activity, your dog may become bored and destructive in your house or yard. |
| Highly Intelligent: This breed is very smart and likes to have a job to do every day. Tamaskan dogs are great workers and have also done well with agility training and other sporting events. | House with a Yard: Some Tamaskans can weigh close to 100 pounds. Due to their large size and exercise needs, these dogs do best in a house with a large, fenced-in yard. They may struggle in an apartment or other confined spaces unless they can spend significant time outside burning off their energy. |
| Minimal Grooming: Other than its daily exercise needs, this dog is relatively low maintenance. It goes through heavy periods of shedding two times each year and may require periodic brushing during those times to remove dead hair. Weekly brushing throughout the rest of the year will keep your pup’s coat shiny. | Wary of Strangers: Tamaskan dogs become extremely attached to their families and can be wary of strangers. While they are friendly and are not an aggressive breed, they will need proper socialization with other dogs and people. Exposing your dog to different people and situations will help them be more accepting of people and animals that they do not know as they grow up. |
Tamaskan Wolf Dog Puppies
They often have large litters of puppies. Each litter contains between six and ten puppies is common. These puppies have one of these three colors when they are born 1) light gray 2) red gray 3) black gray.
Each puppy has different designs on their faces, known as the masks. Some puppies have more white fur around their cheeks, eyes, and snout which is known as the minimal mask. Some of them have solid coloring around their neck, eyes, and nose areas with only a little white on their cheeks and this one is known as the middle mask. In the end, a full mask is the one with only a small amount of white around the cheeks. The face coloring goes all the way down to the nose in all three cases.
Dogs Similar To The Tamskans
These dogs are very closely related to the large North American sledding and working breeds of dogs. Some of them are:
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan malamute was aimed to be a working dog. Like the other wolf dogs, they are also very energetic, intelligent, and loyal. They are large dogs as they weigh between 75 and 100 pounds and are 23 to 25 inches tall.
German Shepherds
Like the other wolf dogs, this one is intelligent and loyal but more energetic than the others. They can prove to be an excellent choice as guard dogs, also they are used to working as police and military dogs as well. They can reach a maximum of 95 pounds of weight and are 22 to 27 inches tall.
Siberian Husky
These dogs are smaller than tamaskan ones. They have a very thick coat which helps them to survive in the striking cold weather of below zero degrees Fahrenheit. They are considered to be sledding dogs and work in any cold environment. The Siberian huskies weigh between 35 and 60 pounds and stand between 20 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder.
FAQs
Is It a Good Decision to Own a Tamaskan Wolf Dog?
If you are an experienced dog owner then yes. Otherwise no, because they are highly energetic, they require proper attention and caring as they grow.
Can a Tamaskan Eats a Dog Food?
Being half wolf and half dog, they can eat dog food if it’s provided to them. Remember that you should feed them twice a day.
Why Tamaskans Are Difficult To Train?
They are difficult to train because they have wolf-like behavior which means they are stubborn, destructive, and energetic. So, they require special effort to be trained.
Is Tamaskan a Newly Developed Breed?
This breed was developed back in the 1980s so you can consider them not a much older breed but this one isn’t newly developed because about 40 years have passed since their development.
Can a Tamaskan Work as a Working Dog?
As their ancestors were considered to be the best working dogs, they can also serve you as the working dog. But they are best suited as the pet in the house.
Are Tamaskans Loyal to their Owner?
Yes, they are very loyal and gentle to their owner if he or she uses positive reinforcements. The non-socialized tamaskans are wary of strangers.
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