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Wolves and Wolfdog-hybrids
Zahradníková, Jitka ; Fiala Šebková, Naděžda (advisor) ; Chmelíková, Eva (referee)
This thesis focuses on interspecies crossbreeding of wolves with other canids, especially dogs. The canids can mate and produce a fertile offspring. If the local conditions and etological barriers do not hinder, the hybrids in this area can spread out and endanger the original wolf population, especially when an introgression into the wolf population appears. The Red wolf is especially threatened by mating with coyotes and the Ethiopian wolf especially threatened by mating with domesticated dogs.
The process of cross-breeding took place previously in the early days of domestication. This is not surprising, because dogs of this time and wolves were not morphologically different. In history people were involved in intentional cross-breeding of those species. Either in order to improve the former dogs or experimentally at the zoo in order to get any data about cross-breeds. The hybrids of F1 (first filial generation) were then described as unmanageable and inappropriate for breeding in domestic conditions.
Today there are only few experts that would pursue crossing wolves and dogs. Little is known of successful cases of cross-breeding wolf and dog in captivity in the current conditions in the Czech Republic. The specialist concludes from this that even in our wild nature, where the domestic dogs do not run free, the presence of hybrids is not very likely. Some ethological barriers, such as the process of estrus in wolves and dogs, significantly lower the probability of the presence of cross-breeding in the wild.
Most data about the process of the intentional cross-breeding of the wolf and dog in captivity in the conditions of the former Czechoslovakia are known from the beginning of creation of the breed Czechoslovakian wolfdog. This breed arose as a result of the original research obtaining data about cross-breeding wolves and dogs. Total number of matings of wolf and dog was only four and there was always shown to be a high non-uniformity of the F1 generation.
There are other dog breeds that arose from mating wolf and dog, but only the Czechoslovakian wolfdog and the Saarlooswolfdog are the only ones registered in the FCI. Their mutual morphological comparison is very interesting, together with comparing them with their ancestor, the Eurasian wolf.
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