Wolves were once widespread, but now there are less than 20,000 wild wolves in the United States. Still, these majestic animals are highly sought after as pets, particularly as puppies. But where can you get free wolf puppies as pets?
If you’re curious to know where to find wolf puppies for free, we’re here to help. Read on for information on how to obtain a wolf puppy and what not to do during your search.
Before you scroll further down this guide, “Where Can You Get Free Wolf Puppies” check out: Where Do Goldendoodles Come From? (2023) and How to Deworm a Puppy Naturally (2023).
Wolf Puppy Growth
As the name suggests, a wolf puppy is a young or newborn wolf cub. Mother wolves carry their pups for only roughly two months, making them born smaller than many other mammals. Wolf puppies are born weighing only one pound, commonly with deep blue eyes.
When born, a wolf puppy can’t yet see or hear, relying on its mother and pack mates for defense and navigation. As they age, they gain their senses, and their eyes change colors.
From birth, wolf puppies grow extremely quickly! They’ll put on an average of two and a half to three and a half pounds a week, depending on gender and genetics. By the time they’re fully grown, wolves can grow to just shy of 200 pounds, depending on their gender and genetics!
In the wild (and in captivity), only a few mother wolves exist in a pack. While there was once a misconception that breeding is kept solely to the “alpha” male and female, recent studies have shown this to be false. Several wolves will have babies, helping to keep the pack thriving.
Wolf pups will stay with their mothers for roughly two years. During this time, the pack will help babysit, feed, and protect pups from threats. After two years, baby wolves will often leave their birth pack. From here, they may join another pack, form their own, or hunt as lone wolves.
Of course, this is all a wolf’s lifespan in the wild. If you adopt a wolf puppy, you’ll become his pack.
Wolfdogs
Pure wolves are an endangered, highly-protected species due to their low numbers. In most cases, you won’t be able to legally obtain a purebred wolf. Because of this, many opt instead for a breed of dog called a Wolfdog.
Wolfdogs are not pure wolves but are bred by mating a domestic dog with a wolf. The wolf breed is usually gray, eastern, red, or Ethiopian. The breed of the domestic dog can vary.
Larger or medium-sized dog breeds are used for breeding Wolfdogs, such as Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. Akitas, Chow Chows, and German Shepherds are also common. You may find other breeds, but these breeds are capable of maintaining the size and strength of the Wolfdogs.
Many also breed Wolfdogs with other Wolfdogs. However, some fear that this lowers the purity of the wolf DNA in the breeds, continuing to dilute it with other breeds.
Wolfdogs tend to have smaller heads and pointier ears than wolves. They also often lack the dense fur that pure wolves grow. Fur markings are more distinctive, and Wolfdogs sometimes maintain their natural fur color longer than a wolf.
Wolfdogs and wolves make excellent guard dogs. If you’re the owner of a large farm or plot of land, this is a great reason to adopt these pets.
A wolf or Wolfdog is perfect for keeping predators and unwanted guests off your land and away from your animals. This also gives them a wide open space to roam and enjoy. Just be sure you train them properly to ensure the safety of yourself, guests, any animals on your farm, and others that may come in contact.
Where Can You Get Free Wolf Puppies?
With all the reasons to adopt a wolf puppy covered, you’ll want to know where to find one!
Unfortunately, due to their threatened numbers, you can’t find purebred wolves in shelters or pet stores. If you spot a purebred wolf in a store, it is false advertising or a misidentification of the animal.
Wolves and Wolfdogs are notoriously expensive breeds, so finding one for free is a tough task. In most cases, you will need to pay for a wolf or Wolfdog puppy. Here are some of the places you can check to see if a wolf puppy is available.
Sanctuaries
As an endangered species, sanctuaries are the most common place to find a purebred wolf.
Look into local wolf sanctuaries to see if they have any wolf puppies for free or low-cost. Keep in mind that not just anyone can walk into a sanctuary and leave with a wolf puppy. Most will require thorough background checks, authentication, and proof that you can house the animal.
Shelters
Shelters are a great place to find Wolfdogs and Wolfdog puppies. You won’t find a wolf in a typical animal shelter, as their endangered species has them sent to sanctuaries and national parks instead.
Browse your local shelters for Wolfdogs. Remember that many shelters bring in animals from off the streets with unverifiable breeds and mixes of genes. Because of this, you may struggle to find a Wolfdog of the desired purity if your goal is a Wolfdog that’s more wolf than a domestic dog.
Rescue
Many states and territories have outreach programs to help rescue wolves and Wolfdogs. These animal rescue agencies work similarly to shelters and may allow you to adopt and sponsor a wolf puppy.
These wolf puppies are often cared for by professionals that you’ll need to contact. Contact local agencies to see if they’re able to help you find a wolf puppy.
Adopt
Finally, you can often find Wolfdogs up for adoption from local breeders or shelters. However, finding a Wolfdog for free is much more difficult, as they’re a highly in-demand breed, especially in rural areas.
Shelters are the most common place to find Wolfdog puppies. They may lower the cost of adoption or run special discounts for pets when the shelter is full. If a shelter has had an animal for too long, it may drastically lower the price to help encourage adoption.
Look into local adopters or shelters to see if they’ll help you obtain a Wolfdog puppy for cheaper.
Never Capture or Poach
Unfortunately, wolves are a frequently poached species. They’re in demand for many things, such as pelts, heads, and more.
Sadly, many people attempt to obtain a wolf puppy for free by poaching them from their pack, but this practice is highly illegal and immoral.
In some states, there is a wolf hunting season to stop wolf numbers from growing out of hand or threatening local wildlife. These hunts are limited, and in many places they’re under scrutiny and protest. During the off-season, killing a wolf is illegal. The WPR offers a considerable financial reward for any information on illegal poaching so that the poachers are caught and punished.
Where Can I Find a Wolfdog?
We recommend you check shelters around the United States (or your country of residence) for a Wolfdog. Dogs will have been vet-checked and deemed healthy, and the pups will have had basic training. There are several rescues that exist; here are a few:
- Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary (Black Mountain, North Carolina)
- Southern Ohio Wolf Sanctuary (Chesapeake, Ohio)
- Roam Wolfdog Sanctuary (Shelton, Washington)
- Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary (Ramah, New Mexico)
- Shy Wolf Sanctuary (Naples, Florida)
The above includes just a handful of rescues around the United States. Search for rescues in your own locality and reach out to learn about adoptable wolves and Wolfdogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve covered many ways to find a wolf puppy, but more questions remain! Here are some thoughts and concerns future wolf puppy owners have.
You can’t drop a wolf onto a farm without training, expecting it to know what to protect. Like any guard dog, you’ll need obedience and guard training for the pup, but it is especially crucial to train a wolf pup because of its heightened hunting instincts.
A thorough background check is first if a sanctuary is investigating you for adoption. These checks ensure that you don’t have any events on your record that would make you an untrustworthy guardian.
Afterward, the organization will inspect your property. If you live in an apartment in the city, you lack the facilities to raise a wolf puppy properly, and the sanctuary will deny your application.
Wolves do best with wide, open land and socialize with other wolves or dogs. Above all else, they need safe land that keeps them contained, so no wolves wander into a neighborhood!
Overall, you won’t want to treat the wolf as you do any domestic dog. They’re larger, stronger, and can have aggressive behaviors. Once properly trained and cared for, they make loyal companions.
Conclusion for “Where Can You Get Free Wolf Puppies?”
Adopting a wolf puppy or Wolfdog is a great choice to help a threatened species. Contact local agencies to organize an interview to see if you’re qualified to help raise one of these animals. For Wolfdogs, look into local shelters or breeders to see if they can help you adopt a puppy at a low cost.
For more information on raising Wolfdogs and wolves, be sure to browse the rest of our site.
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Learn more about wolf puppies by watching the “Babysitting Cute Wolf Pups | Snow Wolf Family And Me | BBC” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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