The Federal Animal Welfare Act defines wolf hybrids as domestic dogs, and even though they are regulated like any other dog (according to USDA veterinary medical officer, Robert Willems), many states, counties and cities restrict or prohibit ownership of them. It pays to check where you live because each state has its own policy on the subject. That said, no permit is needed to own a Czechoslovakian Vlcak (also known as the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog) even though it was the result of an experimental study in 1955 that crossed German Shepherd Dogs with Carpathian wolves.  The majority of the progeny from both crossings (male-female/female-male) were found to be genetically suitable for breeding, and in 1965,  a systematic plan was designed to breed the new variety with the goal of selecting those dogs which exhibited the most useful qualities of the wolf couple with the best aptitudes of the dog.

The Vlcak was ultimately recognized as a domestic breed by the national committee of breed clubs in 1982 because (we speculate), enough generations had passed making it neither a hybrid nor “wolf dog” cross.  Consequently, there are no special permits required to own one. As a matter of interest, we came across a site that offered the following breakdown:

Generally, the amount of wolf content in a wolf-dog can be classified as follows:

• 1-49% low Wolf Content
• 50-74% mid Wolf Content
• +75% high Wolf Content (basically a wolf with some dog traits)

As a general classification, they are classified by their filial number, i.e the number of generations bred, which means that F1 will mean that it has been a wolf and wolf-dog or dog cross, F2 means that they are a second generation of wolf-dogs that have been inbred and so on.

That being said, the Vlcak’s behavior can be wolflike. It has a strong pack drive, high intelligence, and extraordinary stamina. It should be owned only by individuals who understand canine body language, and who are on board with positive motivational training.

The Vlcak (pronounced “veel-chuck”) has been recorded in the #AKC’s Foundation Stock Service since 2001 and will be in the Working Group when fully recognized.  The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2006, and the first UKC Championship Title for the breed was awarded in 2009, the same year the first litter was bred in the United States. As of the end of 2018, there were approximately 200 pedigreed Czechoslovakian Vlcaks living in the United States, and for the right owner, this is an exceptional breed. As you can see, they are also extraordinarily beautiful.

You can learn more at the Czechoslovakian Vlcak Club of America.