Florida Lupine NEWS Volume 12, Issue 3 FALL 2010 The Social Wolfdog: Fear Issues Published Quarterly By Nicole Wilde for Members. Free to Veterinarians, Any canine, wolfdog or not, can be the human forced the issue, and a bite was fearful. Wolfdogs in particular often seem the end result. A better approach is to Shelters, Donors, to be more sensitive to stimuli than their diffuse the situation at that moment, then Sponsors, Rescues, non-lupine counterparts, and fear work on the cause of the problem when reactions may be more frequent and/or things aren't so stressful. and Animal Welfare more intense. The word "skittish" is often Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Human? & Control Agencies. used in wolfdog circles to describe a If your wolfdog is afraid of you, a family wolfdog who shows this type in sensitivity. member or visitors: Early socialization to other canines, Don'ts: Inside this issue: children, places and things can go a long * Don't hover over him. Wolfdogs are way in preventing fear of those things later especially fearful of things overhead. in life. But let's face it, not all of us have * Don't wear dark sunglasses or hats. The Social Wolfdog 1 well socialized wolfdogs. Some are adult Scary stuff to wolfdogs! rescues; some have been abused; and * Don't make fast movements or yell. We Want to Hear From You... 2 some wolfdogs (especially high contents), (That also means don't yell at your kids or FLA Acknowledgements 2 despite all the best socialization in the anyone else while your wolfdog is present.) world, still have fear issues. *Don't reach out for him. Allow him to From the Desks of ... 3 The Face of Fear approach and sniff you. Fear is a physiological, psychological Dos: Spooky Story 4 and emotional reaction to a stimulus. A * Crouch down; turn your body and wolfdog who is fearful will exhibit specific face slightly away from your wolfdog. Winter Wolf Syndrome 5 body language, which may include ears (Head-on is a more threatening posture.) pulled back, head lowered, and tail tucked. With an extremely fearful wolfdog Seasonal Aggression 5 * Additionally, he may yawn, lick his lips, or who you know to be no danger to you (i.e. sniff the ground (see Understanding Body a young pup), lay on the floor and let him Moments in Time: A Photo 7 Language and Signals). Pacing can also approach. Gallery be a sign of fear or anxiety. Strangely * Keep your voice soothing, your enough, fear can look a lot less like being Thunderstorm Phobia 8 movements slow and small. afraid and a lot more like aggression. * Let your wolfdog see that you have Ten Years of FLA Newsletters 8 Understandably, many people mistake the former for the latter. For example, a food treats, such as hot dogs. At any sign wolfdog who snarls or barks at another of him approaching, toss a treat (with a A Pet’s Ten Commandments 8 animal may actually be afraid of that small motion) low to the ground, a bit away animal, and that posturing is his way of from you. Work toward gradually tossing Ask Our Vet 9 trying to get the animal to back off. A them closer to you. Be patient. Do not toss wolfdog who is truly afraid may also try to treats if he shows fearfulness --- you don't Senior Dogs: Common Behav- want to reward that behavior. 10 hide or flee the situation. ior Changes Never force your presence on, or * Leave something with your scent on it, such as a t-shirt or sweatshirt you've just AKC German Shepherd Dogs pursue physical interaction with a fearful 12 worn (or a towel you've carried under your Are "Wolf Hybrids" wolfdog. Besides making the fear worse, it can be dangerous to you. Any animal that arm) in the area your wolfdog rests in. The Guessing Game 14 is afraid can be dangerous. Some wolfdogs are afraid of one For example, many people have been particular family member, often the man. If Remembering 9/11 15 bitten by their wolfdogs while trying to load this is the case, the person he is them into the car. The wolfdog was afraid, (Continued on page 4) FLA Membership Application 16 PAGE 2 FLORIDA LUPINE NEWS VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3 Florida Lupine Association We would like to hear from our members! What would you like to learn more about? Do you have an A Federal Non-Profit Organization animal with a specific medical condition and want to learn more about it? Do you have a puppy or a senior EIN: 59-3586075 and would like to learn more about behavior? Do you have specific questions you would like us to answer? We will try to address your questions or concerns. Letters, Advertisements & Pictures FLAFLA AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements should be sent to Special thanks to those who provided donations or contributed their services to FLA this quarter: Joan Ford, Editor ● Nicole Wilde and the National Wolfdog Alliance for reprinted permission of Nicole Wilde's article "The Social Wolfdog" 7217 SW 85 Terrace ● The National Wolfdog Alliance for reprint permission of Paul Ferrari article "Winter Wolf Syndrome" Gainesville, FL 32608 ● Pam for her article "Seasonal Aggression" ● Monty Sloan for his January — March Photo Gallery and his 9/11 Phone: (352) 376-2083 United To Heal photo E-Mail: [email protected] ● Dr. Jim for his column "Ask Our Vet" ● Drs. Foster & Smith’s Veterinary Service Dept. for reprint permission of the article "Senior Dogs: Common Behavior Changes" ● Ann Dresselhaus for her article "AKC German Shepherd Dogs Are All submissions will become property of 'Wolf Hybrids'" ● Deeanna Croasmun for her Spooky Story Florida Lupine unless accompanied by a SASE. ● All who submitted pictures for The Guessing Game ● Alexander Theodore and the National Wolfdog Alliance for reprint permission of Welcome at the Rainbow Bridge ● The Staff at Oaks Veterinary Hospital for their Thunderstorm Phobia article ● Christine Burkett for giving reprint permission for the articles from the National Wolfdog Alliance Newsletter All original art, photos, drawings, articles and other material Florida Lupine Association within this newsletter are Copyright © and are the property of FLA, Inc., except where otherwise indicated and credited. Directors & Officers Mayo Wetterberg, President Kim Miles, Vice President ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION Andrea Bannon, Treasurer 1/8 Page: $5.00 1/4 Page: $10.00 Jill Parker, Secretary 1/2 Page: $20.00 Full Page: $50.00 Joan Ford, Editor Jody Haynes, Webmaster No Breeder Advertisements Allowed; Kennels May be Advertised Letters, ads, and articles may not reflect the views of FLA. (All submissions will become property of We welcome all comments, ads, and articles but require that they are signed and include a phone number and address. FLA and the Editor reserve the right to edit any material submitted VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3 FLORIDA LUPINE NEWS PAGE 3 From the Desk of the President From the Desk of the Treasurer By Mayo Wetterberg By Andrea Bannon This column’s news is not good. During the month We have closed another fiscal year, and I would of August, two incidents occurred involving wolfdog like to thank all of you who have kept your dues owners and Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) current and to all who have donated to the FLA officers. Both were dismal events, and, unfortunately, General Fund and/or to the Disaster Relief Fund indicate a serious shift in the interpretation of the new wolfdog rules by field officers. The newly adopted rules I specifically. We have been able to help some of our am referring to concern a cross between a "wild" animal members in the past with your generous donations. and a domestic animal — in our case a wolf and a The following is our income statement for our fiscal domestic dog. The rule states that if the resulting cross year. (wolfdog) is not distinguishable from the wild parent, it Income will be treated (i.e. licensed) the same as the wild parent. Auction Proceeds 484.50 The intent of the rule change was to get away from Disaster Funds 250.00 the unenforceable 75% rule, and only require class II General Relief Fund 55.00 licenses for those animals truly indistinguishable from the Dues 1131.00 wild parent. This intent was good. Execution has been a failure. Untrained field officers have “identified” as wolves Misc. Income 352.00 animals that are no more than 70-75% (MAX!) wolf, and Total Income 2,272.50 in some cases are closer to 60% wolf. Worse, Expense identification was made based on looks, and no behavior Direct Costs 240.00 traits (which in these two cases were doggie traits) were Total Cost of Goods Sold 240.00 considered. Those of you with “wolfy” looking or line bred Bank Charges 204.00 animals are at risk of having animals confiscated under Copies 188.07 this misidentification. Disaster Relief 250.00 I have talked to the law enforcement staff in Fees - Pay Pal 2.65 Tallahassee several times about this situation, and I am Fl Corp Registration Fee 61.25 having copies of the incident report concerning the animal which was taken and relocated sent to me. While Licenses / Fees 28.00 the headquarters staff insists they are not changing the Miscellaneous 146.97 way they enforce the hybrid rule, the evidence from the Office Expenses 218.20 field does NOT coincide with or support this message. I Postal Expenses 307.65 have voiced an objection and complained that the Printers 293.20 officers have no clue what they are looking at because Rendezvous Expenses 128.49 they have no training, certainly no documented, formal Supplies 42.25 training with an exam, or certification that they can Trophies & Ribbons 196.33 phenotype wolfdogs.