HONIAHAKA NORTHERN INUIT DOGS

A Wolfalike can be large and athletic - or Giant and 

robust, some are similar in height and weight to the 

German Shepherd, others tower above the German 

shepherd and take on the Timberwolf stance. He or 

she should have a wolf-like appearance with a dense 

coat in the winter and a sleeker coat in the summer. 

The head should bear medium-sized ears and a 

characteristic “wolfish” mask. The tail should be 

straight and bushy. Everyone’s perspective of a wolf is 

different but the more similarities the individual has to 

a “standard” wolf in looks and movement the better.

Wolfalikes are intelligent dogs, but, on occasion, might

like to come across as less clever than they actually 

are- they love to learn and are really willing to please 

you, but they do lose interest and get bored easily, at 

which point they are likely to feign stupidity and 

forgetfulness! They are loyal and lovable companions 

with a wonderful temperament and make fantastic 

family pets. They get along well in a home 

environment with children and other animals but its always best to introduce them when your dog is a puppy, so they will grow up together. 

Wolfalikes are, as a rule, pack animals and 

are therefore at their best kept together in a group. 

They can, however, be an only dog if you have the 

huge amount of time required to commit to their not 

inconsiderable needs. In an only-dog situation, you 

will become your dog’s pack and he or she will want 

to do everything they can with you. You will need to 

entertain him/her as otherwise he/she will become 

bored and potentially extremely destructive. Prey 

drive (which may include small pets such as cats or 

rabbits…) varies from dog to dog depending on which 

breeds have been added into their makeup. If you find

you have a puppy with higher prey drive, then we 

suggest plenty of training on a long line lead and that 

you do not let your dog off lead if it is anywhere near 

animals unless you have full control with recall.

As with many double coated breeds, Wolfalikes moult 

twice a year, usually in Spring and Autumn. During 

their moults, their soft undercoat will fall out gently 

and painlessly in tufts for weeks. This process is known 

as "blowing their coat”. At this time, they will need 

brushing a few times a day. Your house will 

resemble a snow storm and you will have 

tumbleweeds of fur rolling around, so investing in a 

good vacuum cleaner is a must. Sometimes you will 

wonder where all the fur has come from – it seems 

impossible that one dog can be hiding so much. 

Occasionally they will also lose their guard hairs (top 

coat) and when they do, they tend to look very untidy 

and unkempt until their full coat grows back. When 

they have finished moulting, daily grooming of 

Wolfalikes is good practice as it keeps them clean and

knot free. It also gives you chance to check for lumps, 

bumps and any injuries or ticks they may have picked 

up on a walk.

As puppies, Wolfalikes are very quick to learn and 

willing to please. It is recommended that as soon as 

they are allowed out in public, you should take them 

along to an approved training school where they can 

begin to learn not only some basic manners, but also 

how to mix with other breeds. Some puppies can be 

very outgoing and bold, whilst others are more 

reserved and need extra coaxing to join in. Wolfalike 

dogs need plenty of early socialisation and positive 

training experiences as they grow. They can be very 

stubborn at times as they get older, so extra 

encouragement and patience is needed. They do go 

through different life stages, just like human beings, 

and if they are left untrained, habits formed at these 

times can cause issues as the dogs grow into 

adulthood. If you start from an early age, most 

Wolfalike dogs can be successfully let off lead, and 

with plenty of training will come back to their owner 

on command. Training is a lifetime commitment with a 

Wolfalike dog.

Exercise

As with any large breed dog, care should be taken 

with the amount of on lead exercise you give a puppy. 

A good rule of thumb is a ratio of five 

minutes exercise per month of age (up to twice a day) 

until the puppy is fully grown, i.e. 15 minutes (up to 

twice a day). When three months old, 20 minutes 

when four months old etc. Once they are fully grown, 

they can go out for much longer. As Wolfalikes are a 

large or Giant breed you really need to be cautious 

with what you allow them to do at a young age, 

absolutely no agility, mushing or continuous running 

until they are past 18 months old, an then it will 

depend on how the growth of each individual dog is 

going.

Housing

Wolfalike Dogs love to be part of the family and cuddle

up on the sofa with you, just remember when allowing 

that cute 10kg puppy up on the sofa or your bed for 

cuddles, that that 55kg Adult will also still think its ok 

to come up for cuddles, set boundaries from the start. 

A safe area for when you are out is great to have, as 

they can get up to mischief as soon as they know you 

are not around. Crate Training is a sensible thing to do

with these dogs if done correctly as it keeps them safe

and out of harm’s way.

Some Wolfalikes prefer to be cooler and may want the

door open to the outside all day, a nice outdoor area

is always a good idea, where they can be dry but still 

lay out in the fresh air. A fair size garden is idea for 

these dogs, remember to check you have no plants 

that are poisonous to dogs, as Wolfalikes do like to 

help with the gardening. A secure Garden with a 6-

foot fence is a must with these dogs, as some can be 

climbers or jumpers.