LYKOS WOLFALIKE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA INC
The Lykos Wolfalike Council of Australia Inc (LWCA) is the governing body and parent club for the Lykos Wolfalike breed in Australia. Its origins trace back to 2014, when the breed development program first began under the name Australian Lykos Development Project. At that time, the foundational framework for the breed was established, including:
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The original Breed Standard
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A formal Stud Book (registry)
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A Code of Ethics for breeders and members
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Health testing requirements and breeding procedures
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Long-term goals for breed development and eventual kennel club recognition
Foundation of the Breed (2014)
The Lykos Wolfalike was developed in Australia with the aim of creating a highly trainable family companion that physically resembles a wolf, while containing no wolf content. The breed was designed to combine wolf-like appearance with stable temperament, health, and suitability for Australian family life. The first Breed Standard was formulated in 2014, before the first Lykos litter was born in 2015.
Formation of the LWCA
As the breed grew, a formal governing body was created. The Lykos Wolfalike Council of Australia Inc was officially incorporated in February 2021 as an incorporated association in Victoria (Registration No. A0111614U). The organisation transitioned from the earlier Australian Lykos Development Project into a structured, not-for-profit breed club governed by a committee of elected office bearers.
Purpose and Role
The LWCA's stated objectives include:
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Promoting, protecting, and developing the Lykos Wolfalike breed
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Maintaining and updating the Breed Standard
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Maintaining the official stud book and pedigrees
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Overseeing compliance with the Code of Ethics
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Promoting responsible dog ownership and breeding
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Working toward formal breed recognition with a canine registry or kennel club in the future
The organisation operates as a Victorian Government-regulated incorporated association and not-for-profit body.
Breed Governance
From the beginning, the LWCA established requirements that breeding animals undergo health testing, including DNA testing and hip/elbow screening. Registered breeders are required to comply with the organisation's Code of Ethics and breeding regulations. Puppies bred by registered breeders are issued registration certificates and pedigrees through the organisation
Community and Activities
The LWCA also functions as a breed community, organising:
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Pack walks
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Social gatherings
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Educational activities
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Breed promotion events
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Opportunities for the public to meet Lykos Wolfalikes and their owners
These activities are intended to support responsible ownership and foster a national community around the breed
Current Status
Today, the LWCA remains the official governing organisation for the Lykos Wolfalike breed in Australia. The breed is still considered to be in development, with the organisation focused on maintaining health, temperament, genetic diversity, and consistency of type before pursuing formal recognition through a canine authority. Registered breeders currently operate in multiple Australian states under the LWCA framework
Laws
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s environmental legislation. Since 2010, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999, Australia has banned the importation of wolves/wolf hybrids and disallow breeds such as the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (Czechoslovakian Vlcak), Saarloos (Saarloos Wolfhound), Lupo Italiano or Italian Wolfdog.
This also includes any dog that has wolf or wolfdog content such as the Tamaskan and Northern Inuit and many other "wolfalike" type breeds, who are not officially recognised by the world kennel club (Fédération Cynologique Internationale - FCI).
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water have stated that "in regards to the Live Import List, reference to live animals also includes reproductive materials. Wolf crosses or hybrid dogs (crossed with wolf) are not permitted entry into Australia, and this includes semen. There are no exemptions – there is no acceptable percentage of DNA."
When submitting an application to import to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, you must state the breed of your dog and sign a declaration stating that it is not a prohibited breed or hybrid. Fines up to $313,000 for individuals ($1,565,000 for corporations) and 10 years imprisonment can be imposed for providing misleading or false information on import declarations. Animals can also be seized and euthanised that have wolf content.
This also includes semen from a donor dog who has wolf content:
Reference: Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions and Food Safety Requirements (BICON)
Why aren't wolves and wolf-hybrids allowed in Australia?
Ecological & Biosecurity Risk
Australia has very strict controls on non-native species. The importation of wolves and wolf hybrids is prohibited because they are considered a high risk to native wildlife, to agriculture and to environmental balance.
Since Australia never had a true wolf species established in its ecology (though we do have wild canids like the Dingo). Introducing a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid could disrupt native ecosystems.
Import & Ownership Laws
Federal and state laws prohibit the import and keeping of wolves and wolf-dog hybrids.
For example:
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The government lists wolves and wolf-dog hybrids as prohibited for pet ownership.
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The ban on wolves extends to animals that have any wolf content or are wolf-dog hybrids.
Behavioural & Welfare Concerns
Wolves (and their hybrids) have behavioural, social, space and care needs that are very different from typical domestic dogs. Keeping them in a typical domestic situation raises serious risks to both human safety and to animal welfare.
We understand since these laws were made, there have been individuals who have intentionally imported wolf content into Australia. Our organisation is not affiliated or associated with them.
Our registered breeders do not contain any wolf content in their bloodlines whatsoever.
HISTORY
The Lykos Wolfalike breed was founded in 2014 by Ms Taylor, under the "Australian Lykos Development Project", which set forth a stud book, Breed Standard and Code of Ethics. The breeding program stated that they were to to be bred to look like wolves with a temperament suitable for Australian family homes. Only domesticated breeds such as the German/Swiss Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky and Samoyed were permitted.
Ms Taylor of Lykosia Kennels envisioned a goal to develop Australia's first wolf-look-a-like breed here in Australia, using healthy dogs with exceptional temperaments, with unique wolfy colour and desired 'wolfy' phenotype. Selective breeding has produced many dogs that are suitable for Australian families, but also have the ability to excel in recreational dog sports.
Lykosia derived the foundation bloodlines from world-renowned purebred White Shepherd bloodlines, whose ancestors excelled in work as guides for the blind, therapy, service, search and rescue dogs, as well as many international working and show ring titles. The founding dogs Oreo and Meira were selected due to their health results and exceptional temperaments which were intelligent, calm and laid back. They were hip and elbow x-rayed, cleared of MDR1 and DM (degenerative myelopathy) and their first litter was then born in April 2015.
This 2015 litter produced Lykosia Caesar, a Lykos from the first litter born in 2015, who starred in a Volkswagen commercial, playing a wolf. The combination of Meira and Oreo produced some outstanding puppies, including an accredited assistance dog and a dog who did therapy work in an aged care home. Since then, many dogs descending from those original bloodlines have been accredited and training in assistance and sporting roles.
In 2018, once Embark DNA came on the scene, it measured the breed mix of the Meira x Oreo pups. The results came in as German Shepherd Dog from Meira, Alaskan Malamute, Husky and a very small % of Samoyed from Oreo's side (which is not uncommon to come up in purebred Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies). Due to the success of Lykosia's first litter in 2015, the combination was repeated again in December 2016.
Over the years, several other breeders throughout Australia registered with our organisation, including but not limited to Lykosia in VIC, Wolfden in QLD (retired), Zionena in VIC (retired - only 1 stud dog), Beowolves in VIC and Wolkira in QLD.
As popularity in the breed continued to grow and a clear "market" emerged, certain people appeared to be breeding LWCA registered dogs for financial gain. Some individuals previously associated with the community were removed due to contractual and Code of Ethics breaches. This also includes non-compliance with health testing requirements, deceptive conduct, animal welfare concerns and high-volume breeding with dozens of dogs kept in enclosures, bred purely for profit. Those individuals are no longer associated with the LWCA.
To this day, it remains very much a “buyer beware” situation. Prospective owners are strongly encouraged to do their due diligence, visit breeders in person to see pups and dogs, view pedigrees and health testing and only purchase from Registered Breeders with overseen by the LWCA and properly recognised lineage.
There are currently around 450 dogs on the stud book register. The breed is developing exceptionally well.
Oreo - foundation sire
Photo by Lykosia
