Are you interested in buying or adopting a Utonagan and want to know everything about this breed? We have come up with a comprehensive guide that explains the breed characteristics, vital stats, history, personality, general health, and care of a Utonagan.
Let’s get started!
Utonagan Breed Characteristics
Utonagan was bred to look like a wolf, while still maintaining the sweet and loyal characteristics of domesticated dogs.
We have listed below some characteristics of Utonagans. This is meant to be a general guideline for these wolf-like dogs.
Adaptability
Utonagans are quite sensitive dogs and are not good at adapting to certain settings. This should not scare you since they can adapt well to any situation if trained early.
- Utonagans are not the best choice for people living in small apartments.
- It might not be the wisest choice for first-time dog parents to keep a Utonagan.
- Utonagans are highly sensitive dogs. Shouting, yelling, and punishments affect these dogs emotionally.
- They become anxious and depressed if left alone by their owner.
- Utonagans have a high tolerance for cold weather but a moderate tolerance for hot atmospheres.
Friendliness
Utonagans are considered a very friendly dog breed.
- They are loving, gentle, and even-tempered and make excellent family dogs.
- Utonagans have a particular love for children. A well-trained Utonagan is a great companion for families with children.
- Utonagans get along with other dogs and pets very well.
- Utonagans have a laid-back attitude towards strangers.
Health and Grooming
Utonagans are generally healthy dogs and are moderately easy to groom.
- Utonagans are heavy shedders and are more likely to shed heavily during spring or summer.
- They’re moderately easy to groom dogs.
- They have a low drooling potential.
Trainability
Training Utonagan can be a difficult task to do as they have an independent mind.
- Utonagans are tough to train.
- Utonagans are highly intelligent and smart dogs.
- Utonagans have a high prey drive.
- They like to vocally express themselves a lot and have a high tendency to bark frequently.
Physical Needs
The Utonagan is an energetic dog with high physical needs.
- Utonagans are highly playful and always ready to play.
- Utonagan does need a fair amount of exercise to maintain good health.
- They become bored and destructive without physical activities.
Vital Stats About Utonagan
Let’s take a look at some vital stats of Utonagans:
| Stats | Description |
| Dog Breed Group | Cross red, Hybrid dogs |
| Coat | Double coat; Dense, straight, and smooth |
| Temperament/ personality | Gentle, friendly, and even-tempered |
| Average Height | 23 to 30 inches (Males are usually larger than females) |
| Weight Range | 55 to 110 pounds (Males are usually heavier than females) |
| Energy level | Highly energetic |
| Grooming needs | Moderate |
| Coat color | Various combinations of black, grey, and white |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years |
History of Utonagan
The Utonagan dogs were first created in the United Kingdom. The breed was particularly developed to look like a wolf combined with the sweet and gentle nature of a domesticated dog. The name Utonagan means ‘spirit of the wolf’ in Chinook Indian.
This dog is a mix of five unknown breeds and three distinct breeds including Siberian Husky, German Shepherd, and Alaskan Malamutes. Throughout the multigenerational breeding, ethical breeders have managed to achieve a consistent appearance and behavior of Utonagans.
The breed is not recognized by any major kennel clubs or organizations. The Utonagan puppies don’t have pedigree papers.
Temperament and Personality of Utonagan
Despite their wild appearance, the Utonagans are gentle, people-loving, and playful dogs. Utonagans are prone to behavioral problems if they don’t get enough mental or physical exercise. These dogs do very well in various dog sports.
Utonagans are not aggressive dogs but they can be strong-willed and can develop behavior issues if their owners don’t work with them on time.
Utonagans generally share the following personalities:
- Friendly: Utonagans are very friendly dogs and are sometimes chosen to be therapy dogs for patients in schools or hospitals.
- Dominant: Utonagans have a pack mentality. If they aren’t properly trained and don’t see their owner as the alpha, they may try to assert their dominance.
- Intelligent: The Utonagans are incredibly smart and intelligent. These dogs require a lot of mental stimulation.
- Loyal: The Utonagan is very loyal to their human family. No matter what happens, the loyal Utonagan will stay with you.
- Not aggressive: Despite their wolfy looks, they have no aggressive traits to their personality at all.
- Independent: The Utonagan is an independent thinker. These dogs work on their own and figure out things by themselves.
Like every dog, Utonagans need early socialization. Utonagan puppies must see different people, animals, sights, sounds, and experiences.
Major Health Concerns of Utonagan
The Utonagan is a healthy breed but is prone to few health issues. The health problems that may affect Utonagans are:
- Hip Dysplasia: This is a genetic and progressive disease. Utonagans with hip dysplasia show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs.
- Epilepsy: This disease refers to abnormal, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your Utonagan’s brain, causing seizures. An epilepsy treatment plan for Utonagans reduces seizure frequency and improves their quality of life.
- Addison’s disease: This condition is caused by immune-mediated destruction of adrenal tissue. It affects the salt and potassium levels in Utonogan’s body. Symptoms of Addison’s disease in Utonagans include lethargy, vomiting, and poor appetite.
- von Willebrand’s disease: It is a common hereditary blood clotting disorder in Utonagans and can result in excessive bleeding, even from minor cuts. A dog, suffering from vWD, shows symptoms such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding from surgery, prolonged bleeding during heat cycles, and occasionally blood in the stool.
- Eye problems: Eye defects in the Utonagans are serious and should not be understated or overlooked. Eye problems include cataracts, Corneal dystrophy, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
How to Take Care of Utonagan
Taking care of your Utonagans involves a lot of things including feeding, grooming, training, and exercises.
Feeding your Utonagans
Like all dogs, these wolf-looking hybrids will also require a well-balanced diet. Utonagan’s diet must be formulated for a large-sized breed with high energy and exercise needs. It should include meat, healthy fats, and fiber from plants.
How much your adult Utonagan eats depends on its size, age, gender, build, metabolism, and activity level. The food requirements of Utonagan puppies change as they grow up. Clean and fresh water should be available to Utonagans at all times.
Training your Utonagans
The Utonagans are highly intelligent and people-oriented dogs. They are quick to learn and respond well to training.
Training a Utonagan is challenging for novice owners due to their size and capacity for boredom. Consistency and reward-based training methods work best for Utonagans. Punishments and harsh behavior will make them stubborn and damage their personality.
Here are some of the training that you need to do with your Utonagan puppy:
- Socialization
- Leash training
- Crate training
- Housebreaking and potty training
- Basic obedience training
It might be worth considering a professional dog trainer to help train your Utonagan puppy during those early days.
Grooming needs of Utonagans
The Utonagans have a medium-to-long double coat. Their coat comes in several combinations of black, grey, and white. The thick coat has straight, smooth hairs in the outer coat and a soft, dense undercoat. Utonagan’s coat is easy to maintain.
Let’s have a look at their grooming needs:
- Utonagan requires twice-weekly brushing. Regular brushing will help to remove dead fur and prevent mats. During spring and fall, Utonagan blows its coat and needs extra grooming.
- They just need a few baths in a year, only when needed. Frequent bathing is not recommended as it strips the coat of oils that keep it healthy.
- Brush your Utonagan teeth at least two or three times a week to remove bacteria and tartar buildup.
- Trim your Utonagan’s nails once a month to avoid splitting and discomfort.
- Ears of Utonagans should smell good with no exceptional amount of wax.
When you groom your Utonagan, look inside its mouth and ears for redness, inflammation, or other signs of allergies or infection. Regular grooming will help you identify potential health problems early.
Exercise Requirements of Utonagans
Utonagans require a significant amount of daily exercise. This will drain their pent-up energy otherwise, they may develop behaviour issues. Participating in exercise is fun and rewarding for both dog and owner.
Utonagans have a lot of energy that needs to be released through:
- Taking them for a long daily walk
- Free play in a fenced yard
- Play fetch games
- Play frisbee toss
- Go for jogging or hiking
- Backyard agility
- Give them lots of interactive toys to keep them occupied.
Parting Shot on Utonagans
The Utonagans require daily companionship, early socialization, and firm leadership to thrive in any household. They look just like a Wolf but have the heart of an angel.
Now that you know everything about Utonagans, what next? Are you going to buy or adopt one?
The choice is yours.
Happy petting!