From: srlee@beta.lanl.gov (Stephen R Lee)
Subject: Re: response to rec.pets.dogs FAQ
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Distribution: alt
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 23:12:46 GMT

In article <nr3ugnc@zuni.esd.sgi.com> jegm@esd.sgi.com writes:
>In article <1992Jul27.173930.6258@newshost.lanl.gov>, srlee@beta.lanl.gov (Stephen R Lee) writes:
>|> 
>|> I disagree.  I think the warning is fine the way it is.  They are a bad idea.  
>
>Why are they a bad idea? I'm curious to know your reasons for this statement.

Reasons were in my original post.  Also, my follow-up post to another person.

>
>|> Leave the wolves in the wild (or, to be more correct, *return* wolves to the
>|> wild, don't place them in backyards).
>|> 
>
>I agree totally about the wolves.
>But why ban Wolf-Hybrids, they are just another breed of dog.

Again, read my original and follow-up posts.  I do not think they should be banned.
I think it is a matter of personal choice.

>
>|> 
>|> I maintain that wolf hybrids are a bad idea.  I'm not trying to be insulting,
>|> it is just how I feel.  Dogs have been domesticated for a long, long time.
>|> I fail to see the rationale behind trying to put a wild animal, or some 
>|> higher "proportion" of a wild animal in our backyards.  Does'nt this strike
>|> anyone as just a little cruel?  Instead of this, why not help out the many
>
>To take your argument a little further, if we never cross-bred wolves in
>the first place we wouldn't have Domestic Dogs today. I see nothing wrong with breeding a "better" dog. (Better being completely in the eye of the beholder)
>

Exactly.  As I said, we have had domesticated dogs for a long, long time.  Are you
trying to produce a new domesticated breed, begining with wolbes and some other
breed?  What characteristics will this new breed posses? I guess it will take a 
long, long time to produce an entirely new breed.
>And yes putting any dog in the backyard could be considered cruel, unless
>it had some companionship, or you spend some time with it. Just leaving
>it there would be a travesty, but then no-one is suggesting that is what you
>do with your WH.

Again, I am speaking figuratively.  I did not mean to imply neglect.  Just
the placement of a diluted wild animal in ones backyard.

>
>|> efforts around the country that are trying to re-introduce the wolf into
>|> the wild?  There are several attempts underway right now, the mexican wolf
>|> to Big Bend and the grey wolf to Yellowstone are just a couple efforts that
>|> spring to mind.  The public has a very narrow minded view of wolves, and
>|> *every time* a wolf-hybrid injures someone, it sets back wolf re-introduction
>|> efforts, because it re-inforces the public's negative images of wolves.  In
>|> addition, the public cannot tell the difference between a WH and an Alaskan
>|> Malamute or a Siberian Husky or a few other dogs, and as incidents between
>|> WH and humans rise (and I guarantee they will), they have a negative impact on 
>|> these breeds as well.  I think that it is far better to get the wolf back in 
>|> the wild where it belongs, and stop trying to get it in our backyards.
>
>On the other hand it is amazing what a "Good" WH can do for public awareness.
>I have read many accounts (In Wolf Hybrid Times) about owners taking their
>WH's to schools and public events, and having people see what a loving animal
>they can be. This is one way that the WH can be an ambassador for the real 
>wolves. If the public is educated they won't confuse WH's with Wolves, or
>with Malamutes or Siberian huskys.

Ah, but that is the problem, isn't it.  The public tends towards histeria.  I
think that the capitive wolves can serve nicely as ambassadors for wolves.  There
are several places around the country that have such education programs, all of
which are quite sucessful.

>
>And again *WE* are not trying to put the wolves in our backyards, *WE* are just
>trying to KEEP, what we consider, a superior breed of dog that make excellent

Superior in what way?  Read my other post (the one in response to yet *another*
poster) before responding.

>companions. Also (the Royal) *WE* also tend to make far more donations to the
>various wolf organizations than other dog owners.

I think a contest as to who donates more is useless.  In my own defense, I am 
quite well aquanted and involved with wolf re-introduction efforts around the 
country, which includes the donation of time as well as money.  I am not some 
crackpot that does not know anything about wolf biology and behavior either.

>
>Your views a very welcome, and I enjoy the opportunity to try to convince
>you that WH's make *excellent* companions. Have you tried sledding with a
>WH, I am told they make good sled Dogs!!

Actually, WH probably would make reasonably good sled dogs, particularly since
Alaskan Malamutes are often used in the cross.  Most sprint and endurance racers
cross breed a variety of dogs for various reasons anyway.

>
>-- 
>Jim Morris, Email: jegm@esd.sgi.com  Voice: (415) 390-5136

By the way, I really do not want to get into a flame war over WH (so far, I would
not consider this a flame war, but it could easily break out), and I am sure that
the rest of the net would prefer not to have to wade through one either.  If you
like, we can continue this discussion offline.  You can of course post if you
prefer (or e-mail bounces).

-- 
============================================================
Stephen R. Lee                 | 
OooWoo Racing Kennel           | I'd rather be driving sled
E-Mail: srlee@beta.lanl.gov    | dogs.
Xref: sparky alt.wolves:29 rec.pets.dogs:9155