Saarloos Wolfdog

History of origin

Today there are several hundred breeds of dogs in the world (400 are officially recognized): hunting, service, decorative, etc., they all serve a person to the best of their abilities and skills, but none of them can be compared in strength, endurance, health and vitality with its wild wolf ancestor.

At the beginning of the last century, the Dutch cynologist Lander Sarlos set out to combine the working qualities and friendly nature of dogs with the strength and beauty of the wolf. He began to crossbreed wolves and German Shepherds, selecting those puppies that had all the necessary properties. And after the death of the breeder, his daughter continued his work, so that by 1981 she would finally introduce a new breed to the International Cynological Association, which was named after its founder, the Sarlos wolf dog.

Today, these dogs are widely used as service dogs: they work as guides, and the sharp wolf scent makes them excellent rescuers, because half-wolves are able to detect people in trouble even under deep rubble or thick snow. They also have good hunting instincts.

Often these dogs become film actors, playing real wolves in films.

Breed description

Unlike other hybrids with wolves, such as the Czech Wolfdog, the Sarlos wolfdog has absorbed equal parts of the external features of both the German Shepherd and the wolf. This is a large, but fairly light animal. The muzzle is moderately long, slightly more massive than that of a wolf, the ears are medium in size, erect. The eyes are small, slanted, amber in color. The back is straight, practically without inclination to the tail, like in shepherd dogs, the tail itself is rather long, saber-shaped, usually lowered down or held horizontally. Paws are high.

The coat is very thick, with a warm undercoat. The color is wolf, but somewhat more contrasting than that of purebred wolves. Acceptable shades are gray and brown.

Photos

Character

“Live according to the laws of the pack” is the motto of the Sarlos wolf dog. Hierarchy determines being for them, so these wolfdogs definitely need to know their place in society. And, of course, in childhood they begin to fight for leadership, for which you need to be prepared. At 4 months old, the teenager stops obeying the owner and tries to impose his will on him.

At the same time, Sarlos wolf dogs are much less aggressive than wolves, and they are so devoted to their master that they would give their lives for him without hesitation. They are quite calm, they look at strangers with cautious distrust and may even be afraid, but if they see a real threat to the owner or home, they will fight. Moreover, they will do it silently and without any warning – half-wolves do not know how to bark.

Care and maintenance

Like their wild ancestors, the Sarlos wolfdogs are as unpretentious as possible and able to survive in any conditions. They are not afraid of cold and heat, they can go without food for a long time or get it on their own.

It cannot be said that these dogs are not adapted for living in an apartment, but nevertheless they feel better in the courtyard of a private house, where they can run around patrolling the territory entrusted to them. The main thing is not to put your gray friend on a chain, otherwise he will turn into a creature that is nervous and offended by the whole wide world.

In food, Sarlos dogs are also unpretentious, the main thing is that they always have fresh water available.

Even if your dog lives in the yard, you need to walk with him so that he gets new experiences, food for the mind and can fully socialize. And most importantly, he needs great physical activity, the absence of which can literally drive you crazy. But it’s better not to take them anywhere by car – wolf dogs are extremely poorly tolerated by transport.

Education and training

It should be said right away that the Sarlos wolf dog will suit an experienced dog owner who knows how to gain trust and earn authority from his four-legged friend.

Firstly, from the very first days, the puppy needs to be socialized, for which he should be allowed to communicate as much as possible with other dogs and people. The dog must learn not to see them as a threat. This is especially true for children, so let them stroke and feed the puppy from your hands – this will form in him pleasant associations with small people.

Start teaching your puppy from early childhood: teach him the place, your name and basic commands. Further, as mentioned above, be prepared for a rather difficult teenage period, when the dog begins to prove to you his leadership in the pack. And here you need to show perseverance on the one hand, and diplomacy on the other: in no case resort to violence and rudeness, but at the same time show your iron will, overcome the tailed teenager morally, in no case succumbing to his whims.

Health and disease

The wolf dogs of Sarlos inherited their excellent health from their forest relatives – they do not have any hereditary diseases, and even hip dysplasia, which is so common in German shepherds, bypassed them. So, if you want your gray friend to live a healthy and happy life, do not forget about vaccinations and choose a complete diet for him: either a balanced food for large dogs, or natural food, which includes, in addition to boiled meat (any other than pork) , cottage cheese, eggs and vitamins. Also, take more walks and interact with your dog.

However, they also have an Achilles heel – a specific reaction to certain drugs. So, if your dog does get sick, drug tolerance tests should be done before starting treatment.

Word to the breeder

Richard Jones from UK, owner of Accalia cattery shares:

– Sarlos wolf dogs are exceptionally intelligent and sensitive creatures that have retained many of the character traits of a wolf. Although they are more demanding than other dogs, especially as puppies and teenagers, they are incredibly sociable and friendly and will enjoy socializing with other breeds if properly socialized.

Sarlos dogs are endlessly curious and eager to learn new things. You need to train them only with the help of kindness, and then the time and effort spent on training them will do a miracle – you will get a great family friend. BUT! .. these dogs are absolutely not suitable as watchmen for the house.

Popular questions and answers

We asked to answer questions about the maintenance of a wolf dog zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.