Wolfdog - How I'd do it! General Chat

Its directed at the people who are on this thread discussing EARS!

Sort of triangular, with slightly pointed tips. Thats just going off some pics I've looked at, have no idea if that is typical of the mal.

And yes come on guys, let not argue, just agree to disagree ok.

With you there

I think they are triangular but not in a harsh way.

Standard states..

SO is that the type of ears you want for this wolfdog?

Triangular yes..but rounded too?

****** you beat me to it, was looking at some pic's and most look like they have rounded ears

ETA - it also depended on which direction the ear was pointed when the pic was taken, cos if the ear is even slightly pointed outward, it can appear to be pointed.

I think the wolfdog in question is being based on the tundra wolf. So yes, I'd say those ears would fit the bill.

Are the malamute ears not set too far apart to fit this virtual standard?

Been meaning to say, those pic are lovely. I just keep getting distracted lol.

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The Sibe standard also calls for "slightly rounded" ears:

Ears
Medium size, relatively close together, triangular in shape, the height slightly greater than width at base. Set high on head, strongly erect, the inner edges being quite close together at the base, when the dog is at attention carried practically parallel. Slightly arched at the back. Thick, well-furred outside and inside, tips slightly rounded.

If you look closely at the picture of Burt that I posted, his ear leathers are slightly rounded at the tips, but it is the furring of the ears that gives the appearance of a point:



If anything the Tundra Wolf's ears are larger and more widely set than the standard-fitting sibe - more like a Mal's ears but not quite so widely set.

Mick

Agree that sibes ears are smaller, and indeed the picture you have posted the ears are definately a lot smaller and certainly smaller than the sibes I've seen in the ring lol! However, as we also require a degree of trainability to include both the husky and the mal would not, in my opinion, be the wise thing to do.

Agree I did look at the BSD but thought they were too fine and ears too big!

I think the ears are far too big on that one as well!

This is where the problem arises. You cannot, with all the will in the world, create what you want in a few generations. It takes decades of work unless you get very lucky!

I did look at Euraisers as well as they incorporate some of the breeds I looked at but you then have the long coat to contend with as well!

I'm going to apologise in advance for whomever's dog this is as I've forgotten your name. It was submitted in the show a couple of years back! Hope you don't mind!

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Could peole please remember that this is hypothetical. The chances of it being achieved without considerable expense in both terms of money and time is very slim so there is no need to argue just put your point across and why and lets discuss it from there. You have to remember that I doubt anybody has the funds to purchase a minimum of 11 dogs in one go (and have the facilities to do so) to start the programme. Personally I think they only way this could be achieved is to have a large kennel and treat them as stock rather than pets, rehome those no longer suited for breeding and carry on that way. Something I could never do!
Becky

Mick now after saying you wouldn't give us a husky, your teasing us with piccies lol...
Liz yip I agree the mals ears are way too far apart for the virtual standard...
What about looking at adding in the Irish wolf hound, my friends have them and when they dip their heads down it seems to give that humphy look about the shoulders the wolf has, also it could bring in leg legnth, the piccies of the wolves posted are all quite leggy , the extint wolf is almost hyena shaped ?...
Hows our virtual wolf coming then...c'mon some one get clever with photo shop, we must have some super crosses by now !

ETA...I don't think the smaller photo shop ears make him look more wolfy...

Now there I can agree with you - too many of our breed specialist judges seem to believe that ears are merely cosmetic. All our dogs' ears are like Burts though.

I agree with you on the trainability as well. Sibes and Mals are much too independently intelligent to be unquestioningly obedient.

How about this though, for a wolfy looking sibe - this was a purebred sibe which came into rescue. I think the dark facial markings make him look much wolfier than those with white masks.



Mick

Hes lovely Mick...I have Mandy from Thurso in today...

That's very wolfy looking and if the eyes were lighter and more angled would be very close! Lovely dog.
Becky

Mahooli:This is where the problem arises. You cannot, with all the will in the world, create what you want in a few generations. It takes decades of work unless you get very lucky!

I recently interviewed a breeder who had spent 40 years trying to reduce the size of Saarloos ears without too much success (They had done other things as well as that in the last 40 years). Just shows how difficult it can be within a breed to change things. Another problem was the reocurance of the GSD saddle markings over the years.

Got to page 10 with no mention of foundation numbers, other than first post:

Becky, experts now agree than a foundation pool of 100-200 is necessary to preserve diversity....I appreciate this is only a virtual exercise and don't want to be a spoilsport but thread makes it look all to easy

Mary

What about these ears?

http://www.elbereth.co.uk/



MaryS FL have fab ears!!!

Good grief Mish, that made me sit up you only selected my girls' breeder's site

Of course FL have fabbie ickle furry ears...and not all have high tail set and carriage too.

If you get a chance click on the top drop down menu 'photo gallery'....
You will see my girlie Ilo has great ones, her brother (fabbie wolf sable) Norppa's are slightly on the large size but her sister Apina has great ones too.....

(This breeder produces some nice BCs too Mish LOL)

Mary (still laughing )