“They are much more challenging animals.” What is a wolf-dog and how are they different to domestic dogs?
BBC Wildlife Magazine • • world
Key Points:
- In 2025, three large dogs with wolf-like features were found roaming Preston, Lancashire, later identified through DNA testing as 49.1% grey wolf and 50.9% Czechoslovakian wolfdog.
- The trio, named Little Timmy, Boo, and Brooke, are now housed at Wolves of Wiltshire, an exotic animal charity, where they are safe and recovering without plans for rehabilitation as pets.
- Wolf-dogs are domesticated dogs crossbred with wolves, legal in the UK if at least three generations removed from a wolf, while first and second generation wolf-dogs require a license and are classified as exotic animals.
- Caring for wolf-dogs is challenging due to their strong instincts
