CWD character?

[Blitzen]

Hello, I'm newly registered on this forum and this is my first post, so please be gentle with me . I've spent many hours reading this site and posts on this forum and there is so much good information here.

Over several years I have grown to love the sound of this breed, although I don't own one, so I'd like to know if I could actually live with one rather than admire them from afar. As a bit of background, I come from a working line GSD background and am currently training an east german gsd bitch in Schutzhund. She has her BH and we are working towards a Sch 1. So I am used to the GSD temprement.

If I were to get a CWD it would be in a few years time to replace my current dog as a sport dog when she retires. Now I realise that a CWD has a different temprement from my readings here, and it would probably not be a 'natural' at schutzhund like the gsd, and probably won't be competitive, but would it enjoy doing schutzhund together even if we don't win any prizes? I am not particularly competitve and just want to have fun and give my dog a 'job' which would develop our bond.

Also, my dog goes everywhere with me: visits family, comes to the restaurant and shops which allow it, on holiday etc. and I would like the wolfdog, with training, to do the same. We go on walking/trail holidays and I have the pleasure of having a well behaved, reliable off lead dog now. Can the CWD be obedient/reliable off lead, or is it too independent to be trusted, even with training?

And then the most difficult question: I am used to training gsds - I use the ball as the motivation/reward, together with food sometimes - Will CWD work for a toy as a reward if they have been brought up to play like this, or do they not care so much for toys? Do they enjoy playing fetch with a ball? If not, how would I have to modify my training method to suit a CWD?

Sorry about the long post, so many questions . . . Thank you to anyone who answers.