Overview
The Lupo Italiano was created in the 1960s from a cross between an Apennine wolf and a German Shepherd and has been bred since under Italian state control for avalanche rescue, police and civil protection work. Dogs are not sold to the public, so a Lupo in the UK would be exceptional and almost certainly in the hands of a professional handler.
If you do meet one, expect a dog with huge stamina, acute senses, strong bonding to one handler and a reserved, assessing attitude to everyone else. The breed is said to be more biddable than most wolfdogs, but it is still a working animal with wolf ancestry.
Exercise and walking needs
Two hours a day of real activity is the floor for a dog bred to work on mountains. Walks need distance, terrain and purpose: tracking, searching, long hikes. A lead walk through town will not meet the need and the dog will show it.
A thick double coat makes heat a problem. Keep summer walks early and short.
On the walk
- Handler bond: The dog's loyalty is to its handler. Getting it to work for you means time, patience and the handler's involvement in the first walks.
- Other dogs: Selective and not interested in casual greetings. Give unknown dogs a wide berth and skip group walks.
- Recall: Trained Lupi have excellent recall under their own handler. Under a new person it is unproven, so keep the lead on until demonstrated.
- Equipment: A strong harness with a secure lead and a check of every fitting before leaving. Wolfdogs are escape artists when they want to be.
Tips for professional walkers
- Follow the handler's commands and routines exactly rather than imposing your own.
- Choose quiet countryside with hills and cover over busy urban routes.
- Keep sessions purposeful: a search game, a track, a long march with a clear end.
- Confirm your insurance covers wolfdog types before taking the booking.
What to ask the owner
- What is the dog's working background, and which commands does it know?
- How does it behave with strangers and unfamiliar dogs?
- Has anyone other than you handled it successfully, and how did you introduce them?
- Are there legal or insurance considerations for a wolfdog in this area you should know about?