FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the general temperament of a Lykos like?

The Lykos should have a good recall and be able to be trusted off leash and not possess overly strong prey drives. Early training and socialisation, with all breeds, is a must if you want a good pet.

The Lykos should not have 'escape artist' tenancies, nor suffer from separation anxiety.

Keeping in mind, if you have a Foundation Register puppy that, for example, has Siberian Husky as the dominant breed, you will find that the temperament and behaviour of the dog leans to the those breed specific traits.

If you would like a great, well behaved pet, as with any dog, you need to be a good pack leader and be dedicated to training your dog in balanced methods, with a lot of positive reinforcement.

It is a good idea to look at the parents behaviour traits and even find out about the temperaments of the other relatives and ancestors.

In addition, it’s important to remember that each puppy has its very own individual personality, regardless of gender or breed.

Even in much more established breeds, temperaments do vary hugely. This is dependent on the bloodlines used, genetics and environment (i.e. how breeders and the owners raise and train them).

We do not aim to breed dogs with high prey drives, but medium to low drives are expected at this point in the breeding program. We aim to breed dogs with great trainability - reliable recalls, easy going and fun temperaments that are suitable as a great family pet, as well as a working/utility dog.

So far, we have been very successful in this endeavour. Lykos dogs love being active, going on hikes and being a part of the family and thrive on mental stimulation, though many are very comfortable just lazing around with their "pack.

The Lykos Breed Standard calls for dogs that are: “Never unnecessarily reactive or timid. Friendly and laid back.”

It’s imperative that people understand that all dogs need adequate and proper training and adequate exercise/stimulation as well as sufficient socialisation/environmental habituation to develop into the best version of themselves.

The type of dog you have is a direct reflection of not only its genetics, but of you as a good owner and pack leader.

What kind of person/family is suited to a Lykos?

Dog owners should be committed to the well being of their pet by providing them with correct training and required exercise on a regular basis. An understanding of basic dog behaviour is a must for any owners serious about having a Lykos.

People who have experience with working breeds and their behaviour traits should be very be capable of owning a Lykos. Owners should be well versed in responsible pet ownership, which means regular training, socialisation, activity, exercise, proper food and care. Consistent training should be undertaken at regular intervals to make the dog more reliable in everyday situations.

Owners should have a secure property with a at least a standard 6 foot fence. Do not get any breed of dog if your fence is run down or you have rural fencing that dogs can easily escape through.

We would not recommend anyone in a rural setting to have a dog who are inexperienced with working breeds, unless they are willing to dedicate proper time and training from a young age and have a secure yard for the dog.

Children and dogs should always be supervised, regardless of breed. Children should be educated to respect the dog's personal space and vice-versa. It is not responsible to ever put your dog in a situation that is potentially dangerous to themselves and others. No dog should be left unattended with children, regardless of breed or size. Children should not be allowed to harass, hurt or tease any dog. Children should be taught respect for animals and always be supervised. It’s all about being a responsible dog owner.

What type of diet suits a Lykos best?

Dogs are fine to be fed a raw diet, but most are fed premium dry kibble, along with eggs, sardines, fresh fruit and veggies and human grade meat. They are not usually prone to food allergies.

Does the Lykos suit our Australian climate?

Like many other double coated breeds, the Lykos' coat should not be an issue when living in any part of Australia. A double coat acts as insultation and protects against the elements. A double coated breed should never be clipped or shaved!

Common sense should be exercised and during extreme weather (hot or cold) any any dog should not be left outside, or at least without adequate shelter, shade, water in extreme weather. We don't recommend anyone get a Lykos if they are not prepared to have a dog as part of the family and allow it inside, especially when it is very hot or very cold.

Aren’t these dogs just cross bred, “designer” dogs?

Every breed in history started off using mixed breeds and chose certain dogs to form a breed, whether that was 10, 100 or 4000 years ago. Even today, new breeds are still being created and officially accepted throughout the world by many governing kennel clubs. There are no rules to state that new breeds cannot and will not be created in the future, and that we only have to stick the officially recognised pure and recognised breeds available at this present time. We are in full support of purebred preservation breeding when done the right way.

The Lykos breed is made up of several purebred dog breeds but contain traces of (but not limited to) the German Shepherd Dog, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky as predominant breeds. We are also open to accepting other breeds into the development of the Lykos, as long as it improves the signature look and behaviour of the breed, and does not contain any wolf content whatsoever.

Any new bloodlines must be DNA tested for health and breed identification via Embark and approved by the Committee of the LWCA as per the Code of Ethics.

Dog breeds have been created by man alongside our own continuous evolution and people's desire to create a certain look or purpose. If you look into the history of ALL purebred dog breeds, they were developed using other breeds and mixes, and developed into a certain type over time. Dogs have been developed for either their looks, temperament or working ability or human companionship.

To say that a new breed shouldn't exist because there are other breeds that vaguely resemble them, is like saying the Welsh Springer Spaniel shouldn't exist as we have the English, and the Cockers. Or why the Irish red and white setter, we have the Irish red, English and Gordon? Or why the Hollandse herdershond (Dutch Shepherd), White Swiss Shepherd Dog when we have the German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherds? Or why Canadian Eskimo Dogs and Greenland dogs, when we have the Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Huskies?

It is the general feeling amongst the purebred dog community that breeders who breed cross breeds are only doing so for "money" and with no real purpose. That may be the case in many backyard breeder situations, and "designer" breeders - but it is unethical for ANY breeder to breed for money and not to ethically improve or develop their chosen breed without a Breed Standard, legitimate purpose, health testing or without a sponsoring breed club.

This is something we as an organisation are very passionate about. Let's face it, no one makes piles of money breeding if they consider all the expense and time that goes into breeding and raising a litter the right way.

We oppose unethical breeding operations, and believe the welfare of the dogs MUST always be the priority for all breeders. If someone does not have the same high standards of our breeders who have signed our Code of Ethics, please be aware that there must be a good reason for this. This is why we only recommend registered breeders on our Puppies page.

There are similar looking dogs being advertised on social media being referred to as the 'Australian Wolfalike'. These breeders have separated themselves from the Lykos breed after using the founder's (Lykosia) bloodlines and even linebreeding closely on the founder's lines to try and replicate the founder's quality dogs. These breeders were later found not complying by our club's stringent Code of Ethics and practices and are not associated for this reason.

In developing this breed to fulfil the requirements of formal recognition, we are well aware what is required and are under no illusions of how long official recognition will take. We can and will get there eventually. Many councils and microchipping agencies already have the Lykos listed as a breed.

We have a strict purpose and plan and we take very seriously. It is being undertaken with the utmost importance to health and temperament, breed type and the unique "look" of the breed will be an ongoing task until the uniformity of the desired look is achieved.

What separates a backyard breeder (bad breeder) from a good breeder?

Good breeders breed for a specific purpose/goal, as well as:

- Bloodline/breed development

- Do not breed for the purpose of financial gain or as an income

- Comprehensive Health Testing

- Breeding animals with a sound temperament

- Compliance with or working towards a specific Breed Standard

- Allow puppy buyers to visit the puppies and see in person, the environment where they keep their dogs and puppies

- A good breeder will have verbal discussions with potential owners over the phone and in person and does not to anyone without at least meeting them in person or over the phone.

Good breeders also:

- Focus on quality, not quantity

- Are members of a legitimate, incorporated breed club

- Honour breeding agreements made with others

- Keep animals correctly and cleanly housed as per their state's relevant legislation pertaining to dogs

- Are experienced with canine behaviour so they can guide and mentor and assist their puppy owners

- Trains their own dogs to be good representatives of the breed

Expenses associated with doing things the right way is a small price to pay when considering the responsibilities of bringing new lives into this world.

Ensuring puppies are genetically sound and free of avoidable health issues should be a main priority of any ethical breeder.

Our breeders sell pups under strict, legal contracts for the protection of the breed and bloodlines.

They also provide lifetime support with every puppy bred.

There's nothing more you could hope to ask for from a good breeder!