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The designation Wolfdog is given to those fertile individuals of a crossing between a wolf (canis lupus) and a dog (canis lupus familiaris). A wolfdog may also be an animal with wolf and dog ancestry within the past ten generations.
The wolfdog has been the center of much controversy for the past few decades, with laws in many states, if not outlawing the animal altogether, putting restrictions on ownership. This pattern of legislation is due to a mainstream belief that the animal is in some way dangerous. In fact, however, it is quite the opposite; many wolfdogs are terribly shy of people. The danger is only present when the individual wolfdog is put into extreme situations - such as abuse, harassement, etc - situations which would cause almost any "normal" dog to act in a violent manner.
In former times, wolfdogs sometimes were bred accidentally when a domestic dog bitch in oestrus escaped and was mated by a wolf.
The frequent production of fertile offspring from the mating of the dog and the wolf has suggested to many that the two animals are, in fact, the same species. Dogs have been assigned the scientific designation Canis lupus familiaris and wolves the designation Canis lupus. Others, who persist in the belief that there are really two seperate species, designate the dog as only Canis familiaris.
This also gives grounds to the fact that the term wolf hybrid is incorrect. The word hybrid usually dictates that the form in question is a result of cross-breeding two seperate species and is usually not able to reproduce. Such is not the case when "crossing" a wolf with a dog, since the offspring are quite capable of carrying on the blood line. The term wolfdog is much more preferred and causes less confusion.
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