"Sulimov's Dog", i.e. "feral dogs", revisited - Page 1

We were talking about "feral" traits, awhile back, and how the instincts have been muted by domestication and need to be re-enhanced by some means to keep the keen edge in working stock. I remembered this article on a cross-breed called "Sulimov's Dog", a Jackal / Husky cross. Very interesting. It was in Discovery News a couple of years ago. Don't know where to find it now, but I saved a copy and will post it here. Might start another thread on it to see who bites. LOL Unfortuneately, our breed does not appear on the list of recommended working dogs, which I thought odd, but maybe our dogs are losing their touch? Jackal-Dog Created for Airport Security By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News normalize font | increase font May 15 — Russian scientists have let the wild dogs out by mating jackals with domesticated dogs to create a canine with a heightened sense of smell that can sniff out bombs, drugs and other threats to flight safety. Twenty-five of the jackal dog hybrids are now on the job at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow. Not yet considered to be an official breed, the animals currently are referred to as "Sulimov's dogs." Klim Sulimov, senior research assistant at the D.S. Likhachev Scientific Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Environmental Protection in Russia, decided to create the unique hybrid because, in the course of domestication, most dogs out of the wild have lost some of their sense of smell. According to an Informnauka (Informscience) Agency press release, the jackals were bred with reindeer herding huskies. The result of this coupling was then bred again with huskies, to create a dog that is one-quarter jackal. Arctic huskies were chosen because, unlike jackals, they do well in cold weather and have a more pleasant, trainable temperament. Also, Northern dogs, like reindeer herding huskies, have a keener sense of smell than most other domesticated canines. This is because substances become nonvolatile, meaning less smelly, under low temperatures. In addition to improved detection of odors, Sulimov believes his dogs have other advantages over traditional airport security canines, such as German shepherds. "(The) hybrids are small in size and can get into narrow slits and other (hard-to-reach) sites in the airplane fuselage to, for example, search for explosive substances," Sulimov told Discovery News through Informnauka interpreter and press officer Nadejda Markina. "They (also) make it clear that they are tired and need to rest (so we can) change to another dog." He explained that a unique characteristic of the hybrid is that it possesses a coiled tail, a feature inherited from the husky. When the dog becomes tired, the tail drops down, signaling it needs a break, which usually is every 20-30 minutes. Sulimov indicated that the dogs are a success at the airport. He even said they have helped to catch some airport thieves, who broke open some baggage and wiped off their fingerprints. The super-sniffing dogs, however, could detect the scent of the men that remained. Stanly Coren, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of the book The Intelligence of Dogs, believes that, outside of such wild hybrids, thirteen breeds are best for security work. The top five are the bull mastiff, Doberman pinscher, rottweiler, Komondor and puli.

Okay. I know that we all love are GSD's. As a person who has owned Rotts. Dobes, Bull Mastiff x Boxer crosses and GSD's, I am going to admit that IMO, intelligence wise, they rank pretty much in that order. I have also owned Chihuahua's, collies, Siberian Huskies, Pitt Bulls, Great Danes and many mutts. As stated in the initial thread post, the GSD is not mentioned as being in the top five, according to this particular researcher. I think that the difference in intelligence from the "first" to the "sixth", on the list (I put the GSD in the top six), is negligible. There seems to be a perceptible difference, but not much, and of course as we all know, there are "stand outs" in any breed. I believe that, as usually happens with the "dog of the day" type mentality, ie: what becomes popular and therefore gets bred a lot this year, tends to ruin a particular breed in general. I think that the Germans have kept the GSD from the fate of the american shepherd, the dobermann, boxer, rottweiller, etc. Seems like most of the really "manly" dogs (not sure of the origins of the Pitt Bulls, maybe England), started in Germany and although they continue to breed all of them, the GSD in Germany has a certain status of pride, and according to a recent question asked on here by me and answered by someone in Germany, the GSD in Germany is the most popular by far, with the Dachshound second. Believe me, I think that the GSD is the dog for me, but I have to admit that a part of me loves the German Shepherd Dog because of the TV and movie dog hero's I watched as a kid (Rin Tin Tin, Bullit and others), (Lassy never "did" it for me, I don't know why), and I will always have GSD's by my side, until I die, because I want to. I feel content with one in my life. I actually believe it is an "ancestral" thing because of their wolf like appearance. The Siberian Husky and other Huskies also have that look and who does not like their appearance? But their personalities do not lend themselves to humans very well. They tend to be aloof mostly. As to the researchers crossing dogs and jackals, well, we humans are always trying to invent a better mouse trap, and I guess that is how Stephanitz started. As I understand it, Stephanitz used a wolf or two in his "mix" to get where the GSD is today, so maybe they are on to something in Russia. But, this kind of thing has been tried many times in the past and has fallen by the wayside, so probably not going to become the next great canine breed. This is just one mans opinion, so please try to discuss or disagree with this subject, without the inciteful "stupid", "idiot" and similar type words. A we grown up enough to accomplish that?

I understand that most, if not all, wolf x dog crosses will be sterile, so their value to a breeding program would be limited at best.

One of the really nice traits of a GSD is the tendency or propensity to stay near their master. I have had many breeds of dogs and the GSD's I have owned never stray far from me, even when walking in the woods or in a park, unleashed and not under command to heel or the like. When given leadway to just do what they want to do, they never stray far from me, always looking back to make sure I am in close proximity. Other breeds do not do this and usually have to constantly be warned to stay close. It is a highly desirable trait of the GSD but rarely gets mentioned. Especially given the kinds of "jobs" we ask of them, personal and home protection, military and police work, etc. The other breeds also used for these type of jobs, have a tendency to stray away from their masters, when let loose to do what they will. There are exceptions in every breed I'm sure, but the GSD seems to have this trait in it's genetic make up. My shepherds will not leave my property even if the gate is left open, but my non shepherd dogs will, everytime. It is a wonderful trait to have in a dog.

Really Blitzen, I have not heard this before. I have seen many 1/4 wolf crosses advertised and my grandfather owned a 1/2 wolf 1/2 husky cross. DRFNO I agree about the wandering theory. Some one I know, says they stay close because they lack courage to go out on their own. I find this hard to believe. He is compairing Malinois to GSD's wich we all know are like apples to oranges. My dogs go out ahead but are always looking back to make sure I am still headed the direction they went. Sometimes I mess with their heads and when they arent looking, dash behind a tree or some bushes to see how long it takes them to find me again. I don't want a dog that runs off every time it is offleash. I have had Dalmations and huskies in the past and they are notorious for this.

Yea, 4pack, I do the same quick hide thing. They find me real quick and easily though :) Thruth is, my male possibly might keep close because he is unsure of himself, but my females ain't afraid of anything. They still stay close. Never had a Dalmation but the huskies will take off in a minute and never come back if given the chance. They love to run and run. From my limited experience with German born shepherds, I find them just a tad bit more likely to "stay close", than shepherds born here after a couple of generations or so. The ones born here still stay close, but not as close. Kinda hard to explain. I really don't think it has anything to do with any fear of being alone or any other kind of fear. I believe it is just a nice trait brought forth by accident or design. My guess is design originally and now "just because it is there". If that makes any sense. I doubt if anyone takes that trait into account in their breeding program now, if ever. Blitzen: I had an friend who lived in Beulah, N.D., who raised wolf/shepherd crosses many years ago, and he never had a problem with his crosses being sterile. Also, I have read extensively about the subject and never came across the suggestion that the offspring would normally be sterile. You may be correct about it, but my understanding is different.

The whole topic of fertility in wolf x dog crosses is confusing to put it mildly. Some feel it depends on the species of wolf, the red wolf being the least likely to be able to produce fertile offspring when bred to a dog. Others think it depends on the way the genes pair up as they apply to the bitch's feritily cycle. Female wolves only cycle once a year. It may be sort of a hit or miss thing and there might be a better chance of getting results breeding a hybrid back to a pure wolf or a pure dog rather than mating 2 hybrids. I do believe that these crosses only happen in captivity. Inuits often claimed their sleddogs were part wolf and that they would stake out in season canine bitches to be serviced by some wild wolves but they claimed the resulting offspring were unlikely to reproduce. LOL more romantic tales of the tundra. As I understand it, there is only a .2% different between the genes of a dog and those of a wolf. I'm usually skeptical when people sell dogs represented as less than half wolf, but evidentally it can happen if you know someone who did it. I think I'll pass on breeding wolf hybids, so won't ever have any actual experience with their being fertile.........or not. It would be my hope that they are not, but I've been known to be wrong, last time was in 2005 - the date is clearly marked on my husband's calendar LOL.

I think of all the breeds mentioned on this thread.. The Doberman carries the strongest velcro type trait in my opinion. I've never met one that wasn't always stuck to the Masters leg to the point of annoy.

Blitzen: was the last time you were wrong Sept. 25th, 2005? That was the last time I was wrong. My wife's birthday :) Wrong size, wrong color, wrong inscription on the card, wrong everything :) I got a D- for my grade. On that day in 2006, I got a B+ . Everything was okay except for the size. It keeps changing ;-)

Do Right, my mistake happened on December 25th of that year. How the hell was I supposed to know he didn't want a $1,000 dog bed with a canopy and down stuffed mattress and pillow? I fixed him, gave it to Blitz and he's been sleeping in it ever since. Last year I gave him a gift certificate - to PetSmart.