Large grey 'wolf like' mammal??

[nicand2]

My husband saw an animal last night which he said resembled a wolf. It was grey with a jaw like a fox but much larger than a fox, more like a dog. We have searched for wild wolves in the uk or large grey foxes but can't find anything. Could it be a wolf?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by nicand2

My husband saw an animal last night which he said resembled a wolf. It was grey with a jaw like a fox but much larger than a fox, more like a dog. We have searched for wild wolves in the uk or large grey foxes but can't find anything. Could it be a wolf?

unless its escaped from somewhere its highly unlikely as there are no wild wolves in the uk - most likely its a malamute or husky dog.

[Vixen1982]

It could have been a large Dog Fox (male) there coat colours can vary from Red (hence the name Red Fox) to Black ...I have seen Foxes with Black backs/Grey backs ect and a dog fox can grow quite large (Collie size) and with a thick winter coat? Just a thought...?

[Beekeeper]

One of my customers has a Wolf cross, at first i thought it was a standard Alsation even though it was a mottled grey and off white colour, but after the damn thing bit me one day recently, i shortly after learned it was mostly Wolf with a splash of Alsation, so i guess there may be some proper 100% wolves around, those things have no place in our country if they are as nasty at that thing, it was in the garden today when i went into the place to work which was a bit un-nerving but i managed to get past it with no further injuries.

Ian

[danthekeeper]

the biggest fox I have ever seen was 24lb an adult gray wolf weighs from 40-175 lb's and stand at least 26 inches to shoulder and between 40" and 58" long excluding tail if it was a wolf it would have looked much bigger than a fox

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

One of my customers has a Wolf cross, at first i thought it was a standard Alsation even though it was a mottled grey and off white colour, but after the damn thing bit me one day recently, i shortly after learned it was mostly Wolf with a splash of Alsation, so i guess there may be some proper 100% wolves around, those things have no place in our country if they are as nasty at that thing, it was in the garden today when i went into the place to work which was a bit un-nerving but i managed to get past it with no further injuries.

Ian

Surely this must be a banned breed under the dangerous dogs act if what you say is correct ?
Customer or not, I feel you have a responsibility in reporting it - who will it bite next ?

Neil.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Surely this must be a banned breed under the dangerous dogs act if what you say is correct ?
Customer or not, I feel you have a responsibility in reporting it - who will it bite next ?

Neil.

not necessarily - both malamutes and husky are a large proportion wolf and most of the ones ive met are big , soft, and floppy - as with the staffie issue the issue with agression and bad behaviour is largely nthe fault of irresponsible ownership rather than an inherent flaw in the dog.

[fairplay]

In the nicest possible way, I shall bow to your superior knowledge.

Neil.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by eeyore

not necessarily - both malamutes and husky are a large proportion wolf and most of the ones ive met are big , soft, and floppy - as with the staffie issue the issue with agression and bad behaviour is largely nthe fault of irresponsible ownership rather than an inherent flaw in the dog.

Absolutely agree! Years ago I had 3 Siberian huskies (two were rescues) and they were the most soppy and gentle pooches imaginable. My cat used to keep them all in check!

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

i guess there may be some proper 100% wolves around, those things have no place in our country if they are as nasty at that thing
Ian

A wild wolf would probably run a mile rather than having to face a human (not that there are any in the UK of course!). Whether or not they 'have a place' anywhere, I would have thought, should be relative to the eco-system rather than whether they 'bite' or not - Sadly, they were hunted to extinction in the UK and in other parts of the world due to ignorance of their place in a healthy eco-system as an apex predator (or perhaps because of the competition they present to another apex predator ie. 'man'!).