British Timber

The British Timber dog is closely related to the Tamaskan and Northern Inuit breeds, all of which are considered wolf look-alikes or wolf types, but they are recognized as separate breeds. Their genetic line also includes the Alaskan Malamute, the German Shepherd, and the Siberian Husky.

Originally, the purpose of a Timber dog was to establish genetic diversity, combining the DNA of the Utonagan and the Northern Inuit. In fact, the British Timbers were only officially bred as recently as 2012, and their purpose was to create a dog that worked well within the family with the appearance of a wolf.

The breed can sometimes be aggressive, though they are loving and affectionate towards their human family. They can also often become overprotective of their owners.

Three Pros and Cons of Ownership

Size and Weight

British Timber females are, on average, 26 inches tall, while the males are about 28 inches tall. British Timber females weigh around 55 pounds to 84 pounds, while the males weigh around 80 pounds to 110 pounds. The substantial range is likely due to the newness of this species, which has a lot of influence from the Northern Inuit dog as well. As breeders continue to try different genetic features, the size and weight can change as time goes on.

Common Health Issues

British Timbers tend to suffer from some health concerns, which are both a product of the Northern Inuit influence and the fact that breeders created this breed so recently. The most common health issues that they face can be traced back to the parents of the breed, like hip dysplasia. Lung issues can also impact them, which is fairly common in large breeds.

Like other wolf dogs, there’s a significant risk of fleas, ticks, and other parasites, but these risks will largely depend on the area where the pet lives. Since the British Timber breed is rather new, seek veterinary care for any health issue that may arise, and keep up to date on immunizations.

The British Timber shares the same health risks as the breed’s original parents, suggesting that it is also at risk for Addison’s disease. It is unclear if this condition (which comes from the Northern Inuit parent) has been bred out.

Temperament

Even though the British Timber (and their Northern Inuit parents) make great family pets, they can often become a task for the owner to handle. The animal’s lineage traces it back to the wolf-dog family, suggesting that it is in their nature to become aggressive. However, many efforts have been made to breed this aggression out of the breed to improve their overall temperament.

The pack mentality of wolf hybrids (including the British Timber) can lead them to be overly protective of their owners. For that reason, many areas in the United States will not allow them to be imported from overseas to adopt them, as wolf content is banned in some states.

The energetic nature may suggest that the British Timber should be kept away from children, but this is not altogether true. Although they may need training and guidance around children who are smaller than them, they make a great addition to active families.

Care

As a breed, the British Timber is still less than a decade old. To make sure that owners take proper care, here are some considerations that you should take into account before deciding on the adoption of a British Timber dog.

Best Dog Food

Much like other wolf hybrids, British Timbers thrive best on raw meat. Due to the nutritional content that raw meat provides, it can be purchased fresh or it can be thawed after being frozen. To prevent the dog from eating too quickly, the meat should be cut into chunks that are more suited to their palate.

Even though some breeds thrive on mixing meat with their dry food, this is not the case with the British Timber wolf. While one meal of the day can be made of raw food, dry food should be served in a clean bowl during a separate meal.

If the meat is cooked, the British Timber may appreciate a meal with turkey and chicken. Like other breeds, the British Timber should not be served raw or undercooked pork due to the risk of parasites, but plain, cooked pork can be fed in moderation.

Since the Northern Inuit dog can eat up to six cups of dry food in a single day, you may want to track how much they eat when not consuming raw meat.

Maintenance and Grooming

British Timber dogs need regular grooming and maintenance since they have thick fur. Their undercoat and fur need to be brushed at least twice a week. They can have a full shed a few times a year, so that could be a problem for the owners.

Training

These animals are super intelligent and are often easy to train since they can very easily pick up commands and start following them. However, they can often get impatient and bored when they are not challenged or do not have a job to do.

Regular exercise and playtime will make the British Timber much more open to proper training.

Exercise

Just like the Northern Inuit and the Utonagan before it, these pets need significant exercise. They have higher energy needs than other large dogs, even the German Shepherd. Since the parent breed doesn’t require much sleep, the same may be true of the British Timber.

Make sure to give this breed constant outlets for exercise, including walks.

Puppies

Even though the British Timber puppies are to be cared for in a very similar manner to the adult ones, the puppies usually have to be fed smaller amounts of food. You can feed the little pups with soft bones that they can easily break down. It is better to start training puppies from a very young age so that they can quickly start picking up commands as they enter adulthood.

Since the first litter of these puppies was born only in the last decade, additional research may still be necessary to ensure that these wolf look-alike puppies are cared for properly.

Children

Even though they are affectionate and loyal towards the owner’s family, the British Timbers still have a chance of becoming aggressive. However, timber dogs have generally been monitored as they are genetically bred to have a more even temperament, pushing them away from the constant aggression that wolf dogs are known for. They are bred to be pets, though it is best to keep them away from infants while training them.

Never leave any wolf hybrid unsupervised with young children who have not learned proper behavior with pets yet.

Similar Dogs

If a British Timber puppy is difficult to find, never fear! Here are a few other options that are rather similar to this breed and the Northern Inuit influence it has.

• Saarloos Wolfdog: Much like the British Timber, these dogs have extremely high energy. However, they are not good with kids or other pets.
• Alaskan Malamute: Covered in fur, these dogs were bred to survive the Arctic temperatures while pulling sleds. They shed A LOT, but they are just as protective and loving of their family.
• Siberian Husky: These pets have thick fur, just like the British Timber dogs, and are often used to help with the owner’s work. They are characterized by erect triangular ears.