How to Clean up After a Wolf

While the traditional housebreaking routines used for ordinary dogs may seem a little inadequate when it comes to a pet wolf, these animals actually respond to such training methods in a similar way. By using the wolf's instincts and its natural desire to remain clean and healthy, you should have little difficulty in cleaning up after your exotic pet. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Housebreaking aids, such as scented chemicals
• Crate
• Pooper scooper

Clean Up After a Pet Wolf

1. Decide whether or not you want to employ traditional housebreaking routines with your pet wolf, since it is generally not a good idea to keep a wolf indoors. If you do want to bring your wolf inside occasionally, look for the usual behaviors that indicate it is about to urinate or defecate, such as circling, squatting or raising its leg, and quickly clap your hands and lead the animal outside to the appropriate area within its fenced enclosure.

2. Respect your pet wolf's natural desire to remain clean and healthy by removing feces from its enclosure on a daily basis. Use housebreaking aids, such as scented liquids, to encourage the wolf to urinate and defecate in specific areas within its habitat in order to keep the majority of the area clean.

3. Use the "crate method" to control your pet wolf's desire to urinate or defecate during the night, when you may be unable to prevent accidents. Since dogs generally won't relieve themselves close to where they sleep, you can make your wolf "wait until the morning" by placing them in a smaller enclosure such as a crate during the night. Be prepared for more resistance to this method compared to an ordinary dog, however, since wolves need the freedom to move in order to be happy.

4. Be aware of any laws or ordinances in your area that may govern the living conditions of licensed exotic animals. These requirements should be treated as the very minimum amount of care you should be giving to your pet wolf, not a specific guideline. The laws are generally created to prevent neglect.

5. Visit online resources such as the website for Wolf Zone 1 for more tips on how to clean up after your pet wolf (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• As a general rule, wolves and wolfdogs or hybrids should be kept outside in a sizable fenced enclosure, especially during the night. Bring them into your house at your own risk.