Saarloos wolfdog - an energetic and strong friend

The Saarloos wolfdog is a breed whose strong and balanced character is complemented by an appearance and behavior that directly links it to the wolf, being considered a shepherd dog.

• Big size .
• Weight : Between 36 and 41kg.
• Hair type : Abundant and dense.
• Character : Proud, Trustworthy, Devoted, Energetic, Vivacious, Independent
• Health : Unknown
• Life expectancy : Between 12 and 14 years.

Little is known about this breed since there is not much documentation about its customs and lifestyle, but thanks to this article you will be able to obtain all the information you need to know it.

Origin of the Saarloos Wolfdog

Despite the similarities that this breed maintains with the wolf in terms of primitive appearance and behavior, little time has passed since the Saarloos wolfdog came into existence. The responsibility for this fact is attributed to the Dutchman Leendert Saarloos , who was an avid enthusiast of the breeding of the German Shepherd dog, whose practice he considered had reached excess, causing a weakening of the body of these dogs. This is how Leendert, with the purpose of obtaining improvements in the physical characteristics of the German Shepherd, carried out the crossing between a male of this breed, Gerard Van Der Fransenum , with a female Siberian wolf, to which the name of Fleuri . In the crosses that subsequently occurred between the offspring of these two breeds, specimens were obtained whose genetic load was made up of 25% wolf blood, which gave way to the creation of a breed called the European wolfdog . Saarloos began to take advantage of the qualities of this breed, using it as a guide for the orientation of blind people, but over time it was determined that the cautious and introverted temperament of wolfdogs did not have what it took to be considered a working dog. much less to serve as a guide dog. It took 6 years after the death of Leendert Saarloos, in 1975, for the breed that he had developed to obtain recognition from the Dutch Kennel Club , officially designating it with the name of Saarloos wolfdog as an act of tribute to Leendert. Currently, this breed is still considered an exotic canine species that is not known outside of Holland, where it is even an unknown species.

Physical characteristics of the Saarloos Wolfdog

Regarding the physical characteristics of the Saarloos wolfdog , it has a thin build in which length predominates over height, with a straight back and a relatively wide chest, this being an indicative trait about the capacity it can have. the Saarloos wolfdog as an ideal species for jogging. Its legs have a muscular and long composition. The appearance of its head is formed by the same bone structure as that of the wolf, presenting a wedge shape, a flattened skull and a slight nasofrontal depression. Their eyes have an almond-shaped appearance, arranged obliquely on the face for better vision, reflecting a look that makes them appear as if they were in a constant state of alert and caution, which their yellow eyes help to create this perception. Speaking of their ears, they are medium-sized, arranged vertically, with a triangular shape and a round appearance at the tip. Its tail is set low, long, wide and covered with abundant fur, generally remaining in an almost vertical position or with a slight saber-shaped curvature. As for the coat, its growth can vary depending on the time of year it is. During the winter the inner layer is predominant, especially in the area around the neck, which combined with the outer layer offers the dog the necessary protection to withstand extreme cold. When summer arrives, the outer coat takes center stage but, regardless of the weather season in which the Saarloos wolfdog finds itself, its body will continue to maintain abundant fur, even covering the belly, the inner part of the thighs and the scrotum. Regarding the color of the coat, it may present a light tone on the lower part of the body, as well as on the inner area of ​​the extremities and the back of the thighs. It is characteristic to observe specimens of this breed in shaded brown, shaded black and variations of white color that range from pure white to cream-colored degradations. The height at the withers of the male Saarloos wolfdog ranges between 65 and 75 centimeters, much greater than the height at the withers of the female, which is between 60 and 70 centimeters, with a weight between 36 and 41 kilograms.

Character and behavior Saarloos wolfdog

Taking into account that in the creation of the Saarloos wolfdog it was not contemplated to use specimens of this breed for the execution of a specific work as a purpose, its temperament does not correspond to the traditional character present in shepherd dogs . On the contrary, primitive habits are deeply rooted in its behavior that allow it to be linked directly with the wolf, which makes this a breed with an energetic, independent, active and intelligent character but which can be quite a challenge if it is intended to be trained. Due to its wolf genetic background, the Saarloos wolfdog is prone to introversion. This causes them to maintain a reserved position with strangers, showing shyness and reaching the point of fleeing when they find themselves in this type of situation, even being able to react aggressively if they feel threatened or cornered. However, this does not happen with unknown dogs, with whom they may have a more accessible relationship, as well as with dogs that have been part of their environment throughout their different stages of growth. But, despite this, the Saarloos Wolfdog does not represent a good company to be incorporated into the domestic environment if it must share space with other pets or be surrounded by children, since they would run the risk of being attacked due to the strong influence that it has. He exercises his hunting instinct in his behavior. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to subject the Saarloos Wolfdog to a socialization process from the puppy stage, since its socialization threshold is lower compared to other dog breeds.

Care of the Saarloos Wolfdog

There are no special rules to apply when caring for the Saarloos Wolfdog, just some basic instructions. To maintain its coat, regular combing and brushing will only be required, and it is advisable to bathe it only when it really needs it, since it is not appropriate to do so very frequently. Due to the level of energy it has, the Saarloos requires a lot of exercise to stay active, so just taking it out for a short walk every day is not enough. In this sense, the physical activity of the Saarloos requires long walks that, if possible, include running in areas that are large enough so that it can explore them at its free will. For this reason the Saarloos is not a dog suitable for life in an apartment or a small house. Along with this, the Saarloos also requires great attention, a need motivated by the clan social structure in which it was raised, which means that it needs to spend much of its time with the family, either surrounded by humans or alternating this presence with that of other dogs.

Health

Since the Saarloos wolfdog is a relatively unknown breed, there is no detailed documentation about the different pathological manifestations that can affect its health. On the other hand, taking into account the large size of the Saarloos Wolfdog and the direct link it has as a descendant of the German Shepherd, it is prudent as the owner of this breed to take the appropriate measures to avoid the appearance of hip problems. caused by dysplasia. In this sense, it is advisable to submit the Saarlos to a hip x-ray session when it reaches two years of age or when the veterinarian indicates it. Parallel to this, the Saarlos should be kept under periodic review, in order to keep control of both the vaccines with the vaccination schedule and the deworming.

Education and training

If you are thinking about traditional dog training to apply it to the education of the Saarloos Wolfdog , you should know that all your efforts will be in vain, since this breed has an autonomous way of thinking and behaving . This does not mean that they cannot assimilate and learn instructions, but that this will never have an effect on them under the standards of classical obedience exercised in other canine species, as well as in the traditional application of dog sports. For this reason, when training the Saarloos wolfdog, it is advisable to use clicker training. This consists of a mechanical device that generates a “ click” sound (hence its name), which will serve to control the behavior of the Saarloos. By using this method, it is possible to exert safer and more appropriate stimulation on the dog to obtain the desired response from it, without running the risk of being attacked by negative reinforcement or punishment. Among the instructions given in the education of the Saarlos wolfdog, one of those that represents a real challenge is ensuring that they can remain calm in their travel cages. Since, for them, having to be confined in a small space produces anxiety, which makes their cooperation to accomplish this task difficult. Due to the primitive nature implicit in its behavior, the Saarloos Wolfdog is not a breed that enjoys much popularity to be considered as a potential pet in homes. This behavior can lead the Saarloos to have conflicts if it is introduced into urban life where there is a large population, making it advisable to incorporate it in rural spaces such as farms and cabins where they can have enough space to move around and feel calm. However, you must ensure that the Saarloos Wolfdog does not chase other pets or attack animals that may live with it on the farm. Learn more about the canine world: