About Wolf-dog News

My wolfdog journey began with a little bit of peer pressure. I was an Alaskan Malamute breeder at the time, a friend that I served in the Marine Corps with kept asking me to get involved with wolfdogs. I had seen photos of his wolfdogs and, despite their breathtaking beauty, I had reservations about going near them. My first reaction upon meeting them in person for the first time was fear. Of course, I wasn’t going to tell a fellow Marine that I was afraid (but, secretly, I was.)

I entered the enclosure and sat on a block wall. Instantly, the wolfdogs surrounded me. My heart was racing, I thought, for sure, today was going to be the end of me. Then it happened, the first wolfdog kiss. Not a big, slobbery dog kiss, but a gentle feather kiss on my cheek that told me I was safe with them. That was the moment it all began. The next moment I had a 100 pound wolfdog climbing into my lap to be held like a baby. I was astonished by their gentle nature.

Tony Nila is a respected Canine Cognitive Specialist with over a decade of experience helping dogs and their owners build trust, boundaries, and harmony. As the founder of Tony-Nila.com, Tony’s groundbreaking approach focuses on Cognitive learning, trust-based communication, and respecting a dog’s natural instincts.

Unlike traditional obedience training methods, Tony’s philosophy emphasizes:

• Boundaries over obedience for emotional and cognitive growth.
• No tools, no treats, no force, just natural learning and mutual understanding.

His unique methods have empowered countless dog owners to transform their relationships and raise well-balanced, independent dogs.

Drawing inspiration from universal truths about behavior, Tony Nila rejects outdated training ideas and challenges the status quo. His work bridges the gap between dogs’ wild instincts and domestic needs, creating a partnership rooted in mutual respect. Tony’s methods have been inspired by leading canine experts and scientists, including:

• Charles P. Eisenmann and his work with the famed dog London.
• Edward Tolman (U.C Berkeley) and his groundbreaking insights into latent learning.

Tony’s mission is simple yet profound: to help dog owners build deeper connections with their canine companions by understanding and respecting their cognitive and emotional needs. Through his book, Raising Your Perfect Puppy, and personalized coaching services, Tony inspires others to rethink dog training and embrace natural, trust-based methods.

When Tony isn’t helping clients, he is a passionate educator, speaker, and advocate for animal welfare. His innovative work has transformed the lives of dog owners worldwide, redefining what it means to live in harmony with man’s best friend.

My wolf dog journey began when a dear native American man gifted me a pure wolf as I was told; not knowing anything about wolves or wolf dogs, I believed that I had a wolf. This animal bonded with, at the time, my nine-year-old daughter and not with me. Not knowing anything about this breed as I had only experience with German shepherds and pit bulls. Desiring to learn more about wolf dogs I literally searched the world for a responsible breeder. I was referred to an original wolf dog breeder from many sources throughout the world who resided in Texas. I sent her photos of my “wolf” and learned from her that my “wolf” who was born in November with one blue eye was actually a low to no content wolf dog.

I asked this woman a lot of questions and she was very patient on educating me. I expressed to her my desire to live with one of these animals. She sent me photos of the puppies of that year along with handwritten family trees and what grabbed my attention the most was a liter born the day and year of the passing of my best friend. I asked her if I could please have one of the black puppies and if she would mentor me as I knew nothing. Gratefully she agreed. My puppy arrived at the airport. Once I got him to my car, I put my hand in his little crate to hold him and clean him, and he was like a little vicious bear. This was the first time that I met a wolf dog in person. I initially was frightened by his sharp teeth and nails. Once I brought him home, I instinctively began hand feeding him, which was not an easy task with those razor-sharp puppy teeth. Again, not knowing anything nor having the actual resources, I instinctively used my experience of raising pit bulls for 20 years of my adult life. I later learned through my mentor that this animal was a true “Davidson Fur Farm” ancestor.

I just wanted to learn more and more, and I am so grateful for the woman I met to become my mentor. Once he turned two, I called her and stated that he needed a companion. She said, “I was waiting for you to call.” And there it was…I acquired my 2nd wolf dog, and two years later a third. Immediately after embarking on wolf dog ownership, I knew this was the lifestyle for me. Different from most other lifestyles. It was the spirit, the energy, the love, the kindness that I never experienced with another animal that made me feel at home. From there I volunteered at a sanctuary and became a board member and then went to another sanctuary where my 2nd wolf dog, Sage, became an ambassador for them. We went out in public for this sanctuary and performed educational presentations regarding wolves and wolf dogs. The founder of this sanctuary, a native American woman who lived with these animals since she was 4 years old became another mentor for me. I personally don’t recommend on taking the road that I did as finding two amazing women to mentor me was divinity that most people will never get.

So here we are today, and I want to give back to people who were like me who knew nothing about wolf dogs what I was so grateful to receive from my two mentors along with my 26 years of hands-on experience.

8 years ago, I made a Facebook post sharing a viral photo of a giant black wolfdog inside a pet store on a leash. A friend of mine commented under my post saying her neighbor just had litter of 75% wolfdog puppies the other day and he still had 3 puppies available. Out of impulse and sheer excitement, I went forward with a deposit on a puppy.

A few months went by, and I found a Facebook wolfdog group and shared pictures of my puppy. Immediately, I was caught off guard when I checked my flood of notifications of aggressive comments with a similar theme, “that’s not a wolfdog!”

In my mind, there was no way a trusted friend would have led me astray on my purchase, after all, I had seen the animals in person, so I went on to buy my second wolfdog from the same breeder, but this one was a female and “90% wolf.” Four months after bringing my girl home, the breeder had her brother returned. Since I had originally wanted this puppy but someone else had a deposit on him, he called me and asked if I’d like to rehabilitate him because he was in rough shape.

Two years into wolfdog ownership I purchased my Embark DNA tests, thinking I’ll finally prove I was right, and that those people that were always coming after me in the groups were wrong. The results of those tests showed that my first wolfdog was 7% Gray Wolf, my second 32%, and my third was 29%.

My wolfdog beginnings are far from uncommon. Over the last 8 years, I’ve encountered a countless number of people who have had near identical experiences, making my goal to help gently lead those people towards figuring out they too have been duped, because I wasn’t treated as delicately. I had to learn everything the hard way and was fearful of asking for help, and if I can help someone just as stubborn as I was, and gain another ally in wolfdog truth, then I’m not just helping people, but I’m saving the lives of wolfdogs and wolfy-looking dogs from the comfort of my own home.

The last 6 years I have dedicated to wolfdog education, rescue, rehab, and am now assisting on producing low-content wolfdogs for an in development American wolfdog breed. Moving forward I hope to boldly bust wolfdog myths and aid in moving internet algorithms in the correct direction with unbiased facts, as well as cover stories dispelling the myth of the big bad wolfdog.

Crystal DeSantiago is an animal welfare specialist, Animal Control Officer, certified cruelty investigator, and canine behaviorist with over 32 years of frontline experience in humane law enforcement, field rescue operations and private security. She also has 25 years of veterinary medicine as a certified veterinary technician. Bridging public safety with compassionate animal management, she specializes in high-drive animals, advanced behavioral modification, and the management of complex, high-drive working breeds and primitive canines.

Throughout her career, DeSantiago has been a dedicated advocate for wolves and wolfdogs, championing ethical intervention, specialized containment standards, and the rehabilitation of misunderstood animals. Her work integrates deep investigative expertise with behavioral science to resolve severe behavioral challenges, protect vulnerable domestic and wild-content canines, and educate communities on responsible animal stewardship. She is also working on becoming an Animal Cruelty Law Attorney and she lives with 4 wolfdogs, a retired K9 Belgian Malinois and several rescues in the state of Florida. DeSantiago strives to educate all to keep communities safe and protect the voiceless animals we live alongside of today.