Utonagan (Wolfdog) is a dog breed

The Utonagan is a beautiful, large dog with wolf-like features. This relatively young breed, originally developed in Britain, is not yet recognized by major kennel clubs, but is becoming increasingly popular each year.

History of origin

The history of the Utonagan breed began in the 1980s, when several British breeders set out to create dogs resembling wolves. The result of their painstaking work was a new breed—the Northern Inuit Dog. Subsequently, disagreements arose among breeders regarding the breed's development, and they split into smaller groups. Thus, the Northern Inuit dogs gave rise to offshoot breed groups, including the Utonagan. Tamaskan, British Timber Dog.

The Utonagan is the result of crossing three breeds: the Alaskan Malamute, the German Shepherd, and the Siberian Husky.

To consolidate the desired traits and expand the gene pool, Utonagan breeders began an outcrossing program in 2009 (reintroducing blood from the foundation breeds). The results were excellent in both health and temperament.

Appearance

The Utonagan is a large, strong dog with a light build. It is well-balanced, reflecting its agility, speed, and power. At first glance, it resembles a wolf. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Males are noticeably stronger and larger.

• Height at withers: 61-84 cm.
• Weight: 25-50 kg.

The head is proportionate, never too wide. The eyes are almond-shaped, ranging from light amber to dark brown. The muzzle is fairly long. The earlobe is dark brown or black. The ears are set wide apart, with slightly rounded tips. The jaws are strong and well developed. The bite is scissor-like. The neck is long, strong, and appears heavy due to the abundant mane.

Although the Utonagan often looks like a wolf, it does not contain the blood of its wild relatives.

The chest is narrow, the shoulders are moderately sloping. The forelimbs are straight, long, and set slightly apart, with the elbows close to the body. The body is slightly elongated. The topline is level. The hindquarters are powerful, muscular, set wider than the front legs, and parallel. The paws are webbed, the front ones oval and large, the hind ones smaller. The tail is long, often with a thick feathering.

The coat is dense, thick, and straight. The coat in the summer months is very different from the winter, when a thick undercoat grows. The traditional color of the Utonagan is considered to be zonary.

Character and behavior

The British Wolfdog is intelligent and strong-willed, but not aggressive. It gets along well with children. It has a balanced temperament and is highly adaptable. With proper socialization, it makes an excellent family pet. However, it is not the best choice for an inexperienced dog owner.

The Utonagan was bred to look like a wolf, but not for any specific work.

These dogs are highly intelligent and people-oriented. They are highly trainable in experienced hands and learn quickly, but their size and tendency to become bored can be a problem. Utonagans require clear boundaries and a firm hand, but not harsh treatment.

The Utonagan loves company and suffers greatly from separation anxiety. They require daily physical and mental stimulation. They are not suitable for guard duty and are completely unsuited to bodyguard work.

Content Features

The Utonagan is a very energetic and resilient dog. It's an excellent choice for people with an active lifestyle. Like its parent breeds, it requires regular walks or free time to run in a well-fenced yard. Lack of exercise can lead to behavioral problems. It's suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Although it looks like utonagan, wolfHe's definitely not going to hunt prey. Like other dogs, he needs a balanced diet, either natural or commercially prepared.

Moderate shedding occurs almost year-round, with heavy shedding in the fall and spring. Grooming includes standard hygiene procedures as needed.

Health and life expectancy

The Utonagan is considered a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 12-14 years. Strict breeding controls over the past decade have minimized the incidence and frequency of hereditary diseases:

• hip dysplasia;
• epilepsy;
• Addison's disease;
• von Willebrand disease;
• various ophthalmological diseases.

Buying an Utonagan puppy, price

Given the breed's rarity and its limited availability in Europe, acquiring a puppy can be challenging. Potential owners line up for rare litters from reputable breeders. The average price of a Utonagan puppy in the UK is £1,000. Puppies with less of a wolf-like appearance are valued lower than dogs that meet the standard.

Photos and videos

You can see more photos of Utonagan (wolf dog) dogs in the gallery.

Video about the Utonagan breed

Read also:

• Moscow Watchdog
• Australian Shepherd (Aussie)
• Visigothic Spitz