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 puppy that, for example, has mostly Siberian Husky content, you could expect temperament and behaviours leaning towards 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 methods based on positive reinforcement and dependant on the individual dog.

It is a good idea to look at the parent's 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 established breeds, temperaments vary on a large scale. This all depends on the traits and temperament of dogs being bred, the bloodlines used, genetics and environment (i.e. how breeders and the owners raise and train them).

We do not aim to for the Lykos to have high prey drives, but rather 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.

While most Lykos dogs love being active, 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 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.

It is not recommended that first time or inexperienced dog owners living in a rural setting to have working breeds, unless they are willing to dedicate proper time and training from a young age and have a large, 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 as well as organ meats sold by butchers. They are not usually prone to food allergies. A balanced diet works well for any dog and the Lykos does not usually have dietary intolerances.

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.

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.

The Lykos Wolfalike - the original 'Australian Wolfalike'

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 purchasing and using the breed founder's bloodlines. These breeders were found not to be complying with LWCA Code of Ethics and are not associated with our organisation.

There is sometimes confusion between 'Lykos Wolfalike' and 'Australian Wofalike' by the general public. Our registered breeders refer to their dogs as Lykos Wolfalikes, not Australian Wolfalikes.

The LWCA oppose all unethical breeding operations, and believe that the welfare of dogs and transparency MUST always be the priority for all breeders. This is why the LWCA only recommend registered breeders on our Puppies page.

Responsible breeders breed to a specific Breed Standard and have a stud book/registry and are registered with a legally incorporated association. Designer dog mixed breeds such as the term 'Australian Wolfalike' do not have a breed standard or registry. Misleading information, such as the breeders registration status should be fact-checked for any claims made.

What is a 'kennel' name or "prefix"?

A kennel name (or "prefix") is the name associated with a breeding kennel. It can be used as a business name, advertising, social media, websites, email addresses etc. Each breeder has their own prefix associated with their breeding activities and each puppy they breed carries the breeders' prefix at the start of puppy's registered name.

A registered name (or show name) is the name a breeder gives the puppy when it is registered with a kennel club or breed association. It will have the breeder's prefix at the start and then another unique name after the prefix. A 'pet name' is the name the owner of the puppy calls their dog.

For example: Smartwolf (prefix) + Snowball = registered name.

Pet name (or call name): Fido

Note: Another breeder's prefix cannot (and should) not ever replace the original breeder's prefix for any registered dog. This applies to any dogs registered with any kennel club or organisation. Doing so is a misrepresentation and falsification of the dog's breeding. Always ask to see the pedigree certificates of any "wolfalike" during your research into breeders.

What separates an ethical breeder from 'backyard breeder' or 'puppy farm'?

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

Bloodline/breed development
Do not breed for the commercial pet market or financial gain
Refrain from publishing 'nasty' things about other breeders on social media and conduct themselves professionally at all times
Comprehensive health testing, including but not limited to, hip/elbow x-raying and DNA testing
Are honest about the pedigree, lineage and bloodlines of their dogs and may also publish this information on their websites/social media
Breeding animals with a sound temperament
Compliance with or working towards a specific Breed Standard
Allow puppy buyers to visit the puppies to see in person, as well as the environment where they keep their animals
A good breeder will have verbal discussions with potential owners over the phone and in person and do not sell to anyone without at least meeting them in person or over the phone.
Focus on quality, not quantity, and don't constantly have puppies available for sale
Are members of a legitimate club or kennel club
Breed in accordance with a Breed Standard
Honour breeding agreements made with other parties
Keep animals ethically housed as per their state's relevant legislation and allow buyers to view where and how they their 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
Ensure their puppies are genetically sound and aim to reduce the incidence of genetic issues found in dogs.
Sell pups under strict, legal contracts for the protection of the breed and bloodlines and also provide lifetime support with every puppy bred, which includes return clauses.

Breed Recognition

We are in this for the long haul and understand the lengthy process that is required for formal recognition of the breed in Australia. As such, the LWCA is working towards official recognition of the Lykos Wolfalike in Australia with a canine authority/kennel club. Recognition can only occur once certain conditions are met. We have nearly 400 dogs registered Australia-wide, plus some being exported as pets overseas to Greece, Hawaii and United States.

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.

Many councils and microchipping agencies already have the Lykos or Lykos Wolfalike listed as a breed on their registers.

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.

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?

The breeds that are registered with kennel clubs at this current time, are not the 'be all and end all'. New breeds are being developed all over the world and are accepted and recognised by kennel clubs quite often.

It is the general feeling amongst some of the purebred dog community that breeders who breed cross breeds are only doing so for "money" and with no real purpose. This also happens in purebreds bred by registered breeders.

Our registered breeders do not and will not breed their dogs for 'financial gain'. All breeders registered with the LWCA are families who are employed in normal, everyday jobs.

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.