Merlin is not a "pet". He is looking for a conscientious facility or person, who has significant wolf or wolfdog experience and substantial fencing. A large double-entry or split pen (with a gate or drop gate) is ideal.
Merlin has had a rough life so far, and is very afraid and distrustful. He's made some progress, though slow, but is mostly a hands-off animal.
Merlin being intimidated when I get too close.
He will approach to take food by hand--through the fence--once he gets used to you. In a properly designed pen, he can be captured easily enough for medical care/transport via Y-poles and a towel, and at some point he was actually leash trained, though his fear and reactivity dictates that TWO people and two leashes are required to move him. Merlin will bite under two circumstances: if he is grabbed at during capture, or if you remove his penmate (for walks, etc) then turn your back on him when you are leaving the enclosure.
Some thought was given to euthanising him, but his quality of life is actually quite good when he has a decent enclosure and a canine companion to share it with, and he's not especially difficult or dangerous for an experienced handler to manage. He is somewhat selective about which animals he likes, but he's liked most dogs of both genders as long as it is one-on-one. He can be fence-aggressive to dogs outside his own enclosure, especially when he has a mate to defend. "GO AWAY DOG!"
He is highly prey driven--so, it's important that he have no access to smaller animals, and (due to a variety of factors) no access to children.
Merlin requires a minimum of 8' heavy fencing with dig guards. I've never seen him jump, climb, or dig, but like any animal, he is more likely to do so in a new/strange place, and I'm told he CAN climb quite well if he wants to. He does not like to be alone and in my experience that's when he's most at risk of testing the fencing.
He is only about 75%, the rest mostly German shepherd, but is extremely wolflike in behaviour (the exception being his low bite threshold--like many shepherd/wolfdogs, he is slower to submit and quicker to bite than the average wolf). He's about 7 years old, already neutered, and not sure how well the photos show it but is 'blue' with green eyes. He has a big appetite and has been eating meat, which I recommend he continue to get (at least for some of his meals). I strongly advise against 'free freeding' for ALL wolfdogs, but especially for Merlin--he needs to know that something he values highly (food) comes directly from humans every day. He has a 'clubhouse' that he likes to lie on top of. He'll play with stuffed toys and LOVES for you to put various scents in his pen for him to rub on. Mmmmm, smells soooo gooood...
He is currently living with Mika, a low content mal mix, who has a calming effect on him; the two get along famously. Mika has her own page and while they don't HAVE to go together, it is definitely preferred.
Merlin is located in North Carolina, and I can transport him within a reasonable distance (NC, SC, VA, TN). There is no adoption fee, but a home/facility visit and containment check are required.
Here is some video footage of Merlin, with Mika. I had just been in there having a look at him, then gave him and Mika each a whole deer leg to eat. This is immediately afterwards. They don't argue over food like his last penmate did. (You can see Merlin pick up one of the legs at the very end.)
