'Wolf lookalike’ concern

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is bracing itself for an influx of ‘wolf lookalike’ breeds following the start of series five of the popular Games of Thrones.

In 2014, Dogs Trust took in 175 Huskies and 35 Malamutes, across their 20 Rehoming Centres in the UK, meaning that the number of these breeds taken in by the charity has more than tripled in the past four years.

Dogs Trust believes Game of Thrones has significantly increased the popularity of  large ‘wolf look alike’ dogs, including Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies but the charity says new owners are often simply unprepared and ill-equipped to cope with the specific requirements of these breeds. A significant number are ending up in rescue centres, Dogs Trust is currently caring for 54 such dogs which have been handed in because their owners could no longer care for them.

Dogs Trust’s Head of Training and Behaviour, Lynn Barber, comments: “These dogs are beautiful creatures and can make wonderful companions, but they need owners who understand the breed and are in a position to offer a lifetime commitment. They are powerful, large dogs that need regular exercise, socialization and habituation and sadly, we are seeing many of these dogs being abandoned when they become too much for their owners. This means that rescue centres, such as Dogs Trust, are having to pick up the pieces.

Huskies are bred to pull sledges in cold climate and need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. In the show many of the fictitious direwolves, like Ghost, are seen covering miles and miles in their action packed  adventures across Westeros – a life far more fitting to a wolf type breed than the one bedroom flats in which some of them end up in reality. We are concerned that this dramatic increase in abandonment will continue at such a shocking rate, fuelled in part by the latest series, as people continue to buy these dogs, without due consideration.”