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, despite Preston City Council identifying them as a German shepherd-type breed.
- Can dogs crossbreed with wolves?
- Is there a wild wolf in your sitting room? How your pet dog might have more in common with its wolf ancestors than you might think...
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.
Oli Barrington, a trustee, said they are “comfortable, safe, and recovering from the ordeal.”
He added that the rescue center 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.”
- Wolf vs dog: what's the difference between man's best friend and its wild cousin?
- Can dog learn to use tools? Watch astonishing footage that shows wolf doing something that's never been seen before - staggering scientists
What is a wolf-dog?
Simply put, a wolf-dog is a domesticated breed of dog that has been crossbred with a wolf.
They often have a wolf-like appearance, but their behaviour can vary widely depending on how much wolf ancestry they have, with those closer to wolves generally being more challenging to train and manage.
A spokesperson from the RSPCA told BBC Countryfile Magazine:
“They are large, much more challenging animals who need highly experienced handlers who have not only worked with dogs, but also wolves, and fully understand their needs.
“Wolfdogs need to be able to display all their wild behaviours and require much more exercise and specialist care than a domestic dog. They are not a breed that can be left on their own in a house because they enjoy the company of a “pack”, and just like their wild ancestors, they can be very vocal."
Wolf-dogs are different from wolf-lookalike breeds such as huskies or malamutes, which have no wolf DNA, and because of welfare, safety and legal concerns, ownership of wolf-dogs is restricted or regulated in many countries, including the UK.
Is it legal to own a wolf-dog?
In the UK it isn’t simply illegal to breed wolf-dogs outright, but there are strict legal rules around breeding, selling and keeping them because of their wild ancestry. Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, wolf-dog hybrids that are closely related to pure wolves (for example first-generation or second-generation hybrids with recent wolf parents) are classed as 'dangerous wild animals' and require a special licence from the local council to own or sell.
Breeding animals in these early generations typically falls under the same controlled category and is tightly regulated.
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.”
If a wolf-dog is at least three generations removed from a pure wolf (F3 or later), UK law generally treats it more like a domestic dog rather than a wild animal – meaning it doesn’t automatically need a licence to be owned or bred.
Breeders still need to follow all normal animal welfare and commercial breeding regulations, and you should always check local council requirements before breeding or selling wolf-dogs.
The RSPCA added: “They do not make suitable family pets and are less likely to think of humans as their friend, so without an experienced handler to look after them, there is also a risk of aggression or injury.
“There are also legal restrictions on keeping some wolf-dog hybrids. Wolf-dog hybrids with a wolf as parent or grandparent require a licence from the local authority to be kept in captivity, unless in an establishment like a zoo.”
“If you are considering adding a dog to your family, please adopt a domestic breed of dog. We have hundreds of rescues at our centres and branches, each one unique, special and deserving of a second chance of happiness.”
In many other countries around the world the rules vary, with some banning wolf-dog breeding and ownership entirely or requiring permits – so legality depends heavily on local laws.
Read more:
