Questionnaire for
Potential CSV Puppy Owners
SECTION 1: LEGAL
1. Is it legal to keep a wolf hybrid in your city, county, neighborhood, or state? While the CSV is a recognized dog breed, and all Galomy Oak puppies are registered with the Foundation Stock Service(FSS) of the American Kennel Club (AKC), it is a very uncommon breed in the United States and most veterinarians and animal control officers may be unfamiliar with the CSV. Due to the recent wolf history of the breed, some Animal Control officers may see the breed as a violation of city or state ordinances. Some dog breeds and types are also banned in certain areas.
Neighborhood:
County and/or city:
State:
2. Are there dog ordinances for your city, county, or neighborhood (such as leash laws, or requirements for rabies vaccinations or dog licenses)?
3. Are you familiar with the dangerous and vicious dog laws for your city and/or county?
4. Are you comfortable listing your dog as a purebred CSV when obtaining a license with the city or county dog warden?
SECTION 2: OWNERS
1. What are the names of the humans who will reside in the home with the CSV?
Name / Age2. Which adult(s) will be primarily responsible for the daily care and training of the CSV? Generally, we will not sell dogs to adults under the age of 25, with only a few exceptions.
______
* We believe that an adult should be the primary caretaker for any dog, but especially a large, challenging breed such as the CSV. Children and adolescents should ALWAYS be monitored around any dog. ALL dogs are capable of biting and injuring children and adults.
3. What are the typical work schedules of the adults in the home?
4. How many hours during most days will someone be home with the CSV?
5. How often will someone be available to actively train the CSV each day?
(Ex: 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours)
6. Do you travel? How will you provide for your CSV while you are away? In an emergency, such as the death or illness of a distant family member, how will you provide care for your CSV? Many boarding kennels are reluctant to care for a CSV. CSVs can be territorially aggressive with an unfamiliar pet sitter in their home.
SECTION 3: HOME AND CONTAINMENT
1. Describe your home. Please check all that apply.
Lifestyle
_I own my own home
_I rent my home
_I live with my parents or other family member that owns their home
_ I am in the military or another type of job that requires me to be away from home frequently
_ I often have visitors
_I have homeowners insurance that will allow the CSV
_I move to a new home every few years
_ I plan to have children
_I often have small children in my home
Location Type of Home Land
_Rural _Detached, Single Family _Less than ¼ acre
_City _Apartment _ 1/4 acre
_Suburbs _Townhouse _1/2 acre
_Mobile Home Park _Mobile Home _3/4 acre
_Busy Road _Duplex _1 acre
_Quiet Road _ Farm _1+ acre (Acreage: )
_Dead End Road _Other
_Other
If other, please describe:______
2. Do your neighbors know of your intent to acquire a CSV?
3. How will your neighbors react to a dog that frequently howls or barks? If the noise becomes an issue, what steps will you take to ensure that your CSV is not a nuisance?
4. How will you contain your CSV while it is outdoors? CSVs can wander, so they should not be allowed to roam free. CSVs also require lots of exercise to avoid unwanted behaviors, so be prepared to bike or jog frequently if a leash is the primary source of exercise.
*A CSV can easily jump a 6ft fence, dig out, chew out of chain link fence, and figure out most latches. While our CSVs are outside and unattended, they are enclosed in separate 10 x 10 ft Magnum welded steel cages, with 6 gauge powder coated wire. The top is covered by 4 gauge cattle panels that are supported by 2 x 6 treated wood planks, and wired to the frame. The floor in the kennels is asphalt pavers that extend beyond the enclosure to prevent digging. Each kennel is locked to prevent the CSV from unlatching the cage.
5. How will you keep strangers, neighbors, or wandering children from accessing your dog without permission? (Ex: Privacy fence, warning signs, fenced yard)
6. How will you prevent your dog from eating dangerous substances (plants, antifreeze, etc.) outdoors?
7. How will you puppy-proof your home (CSVs love to chew)?
8. Are you aware that CSVs can be more difficult and take longer to housebreak than other breeds? Where will your puppy be trained to use the bathroom?
9. Have you housebroken a puppy before? What methods DO NOT work?
10. How will you prevent your CSV from entering spaces that it should not enter?
* CSVs will often learn how to open doors, drawers, refrigerators, ovens, freezers, closets, gates and car doors – from the inside and outside!
SECTION 4: PURPOSE OF OWNERSHIP
1. Why do you want to own a CSV? Please check all that apply. Please note, some reasons are considered unsuitable reasons to want to own a CSV.
_ I have always wanted to own a wolf hybrid
_ I think the CSV is a beautiful dog breed
_ I want a dog that will be a challenge to own and train
_ I want to breed the CSV so more Americans can own them
_ I want to breed a CSV as close to the AKC/FCI/UKC standard as I can
_ I want a dog that is rare
_ I want a dog that I can show off to family and friends, and in public
_ I want a dog that does not shed very much
_ I want a dog that is always obedient
_ I want to breed my wolf or wolf hybrid to the CSV to get a very “wolfish” look
_ My child wants a puppy to play and grow up with
_ I want to surprise my spouse/ boyfriend/girlfriend with a really unusual gift
_ I want to own a dog that is part wolf
_ I have met a CSV and their owner before, and really believe this is the breed for me
_ I want a dog that is quiet
_ I want a CSV as a guard dog
_ I want a dog to compete with in shows
_ I want a dog to compete with in agility
_ I want a dog to perform this type of work:
_ I want only a companion dog for me or my family
_ I think wolves are mystical and magical
2. Do you plan to breed your CSV in the future? If so, why?
3. What is the importance of checking the hips and elbows, and overall health, as well as the pedigree of a sire and dam prior to a breeding?
4. Why is it important to be familiar with the CSV breed standard, and try to create breeding matches that make high quality puppies?
5. Do you plan to show your dog in conformation shows if and when they become available through the AKC or UKC?
6. Do you plan to keep your CSV indoors as a companion, or in a kennel as a strictly working dog?
7. What is a bonitation, and why are they so important for the CSV?
SECTION 5: FOOD AND VETERINARY CARE
1. What is the name, phone number, and address of the veterinarian that will care for your CSV?
2. May we call your veterinarian for a reference?
3. Do you have any other people that we may call for a reference, such as a local kennel, agility, or obedience club, or the breeder of a past or currently owned dog? If yes, please give name, phone number, and relationship.
4. Are you comfortable spaying or neutering your pet if it is appropriate? (Ex: Poor conformation, no plans to breed or show, or health reasons)
5. Besides a required rabies vaccination, what other vaccinations do you intend to give to your dog?
6. What will you use to prevent mosquitoes, ticks, and heartworms?
7. What will you feed your CSV? Many CSVs do not do well on foods that are high in corn or wheat gluten products. We recommend a diet that is high in meats and other ingredients that a dog would encounter if he/she were wild. Our kennel feeds Merricks, in addition to meat and bones.
8. Do you understand the risks to your dog’s health if it is obese, especially as a puppy?
9. What types of toys and treats will you use to keep your CSV happy and healthy?
SECTION 6: TRAINING AND EXERCISE
1. In your lifetime, what experiences have you had that will help you in training and understanding your CSV? (Ex: Owning dogs, showing dogs, training in agility or obedience, titling a dog, working in a wolf hybrid rescue, working in a wolf reintroduction program, working in an animal shelter, grooming dogs)
2. What training to you plan to attempt with your CSV? Why is it important to train your CSV?
1. Basic Obedience (Required) 1. Introduction Agility 1. Schutzhund
2. Advanced Basic Obedience 2. Intermediate Agility 2. Police
3. Rally 3. Advanced Agility 3. Search and Rescue
4. Canine Good Citizen 4. Competition Agility 4. Tracking
5. Therapy Dog 5. Pulling/Sledding
6. Herding
7. Hunting
3. Why do you prefer to train with a CSV? Are you aware that there are easier breeds to train?
4. What are the challenges that you are aware of in training a CSV? What methods work best in training a CSV?
5. If your CSV does not win competitions, how will you react?
Section 7: OTHER PEOPLE
1. How will you maintain the safety of your children, visiting children, neighbor’s children, and strange children that may wander into your yard from a potential bite or injury by your powerful CSV? What about when you are not home? Never rely on a dog’s training or friendly personality. ALL dogs can bite.
2. How will you react if your CSV develops aggression, shyness, or fear towards visitors to the home? A CSV that is friendly in public may become territorial of his or her home.
3. How will you protect your CSV from other people? (Ex: while CSV is contained and unattended outside, strangers that surprise or pet your CSV in public).
3. How will you socialize your CSV?
4. How often will you socialize your CSV?
SECTION 8: OTHER ANIMALS
1. What other animals reside, or frequently visit at the home where the CSV will reside?
Name / Species / Breed / Age / Male/Female / Spayed/Neutered2. How will you separate the CSV from other animals when necessary? (Ex: bitch in heat, dogs that are having rank issues, CSV and smaller animals, adult not at home)
3. If it becomes impossible to trust your CSV with small animals (such as cats or birds) in your home due to strong prey drive (ANY dog is capable of developing a strong drive to hunt), what will you do?
4. How did you acquire any dogs or cats? How long have you owned them?
5. What dog is dominant in your home (after the owners)? How will a dominant CSV affect the ranking of the dogs in your home? Dogs, especially those of the same gender, and those that are not spayed or neutered, will often fight for the alpha position.