Saarloos Wolfdog Dog Breed

The Saarloos Wolfdog is a member of the FCI's Sheepdogs and Cattledogs group, under the name "Saarloos Wolfhond." The breed was developed in the Netherlands in the 1930s by a German Shepherd fancier named Leendert Saarloos (hence the breed name), who was looking to create a more naturalistic working dog than the GS--so Saarloos began breeding his German Shepherds with a Gray Wolf loaned to him by a local zoo. Over subsequent generations of wolf-dog breeding, Saarloos's original vision morphed into an active, intelligent dog breed with wolf-like qualities. That said, the Saarloos Wolf Dog is only suitable for owners willing to deal with this breed's unusual, almost feral character.

A few Saarloos Wolfdog facts: they're large-sized, averaging 27 inches in height and 80 pounds in weight; they have short to medium, thick, double-layered coats that shed seasonally; and they exhibit behavior similar to the wolf's, like pack mentality, suspicion of strangers, and high prey drives.

A few advantages and drawbacks to owning Saarloos Wolf Dogs:

The Saarloos Wolfdog is definitely a domesticated dog breed--but according to scientists, the Saarloos shares more genetic material with the Gray Wolf than any other dog breed. So while these dogs are Canis lupus familiaris, having one in your home is very similar to owning an actual wolf.

Contrary to breed creator Leendert Saarloos's original vision of a large working dog, the Saarloos Wolfdog doesn't have a good work ethic, but is more interested in running and playing. Also like the wolf, a Saarloos has exaggerated body language--its way of communicating its feelings. And the Saarloos is much more "pack-oriented" than the average dog breed, and creates very strong bonds with human family members; breed enthusiasts say having two Wolfdogs in the home is a good idea--but the two will need to be opposite in sex to avoid confrontation.

And obviously, these strong, athletic hunters will need a good bit of daily exercise to avoid unwanted behaviors like destructiveness and hyperactivity.

Reserved, intelligent, affectionate, playful, and stubborn, the Saarloos Wolfdog temperament is an interesting one. Though a dog breed, the Saarloos is extremely similar to a Gray Wolf, and will thus share a lot of that animal's personality traits. This means the Saarloos, with its instinctive pack mentality, will grow very close to its immediate family--and be standoffish with everyone else. The Saarloos Wolfhound temperament will include plenty of affection for kids and other pets, provided the dog is raised with them. Regardless, owners will need to begin training and socialization as early in puppies' lives as possible, mostly for the animal to build trust in others.

A Saarloos is also very smart, and can learn task, tricks, and commands easily--but because these Wolfdogs can be dominant if allowed, they'll need firm, consistent training from someone willing to provide good leadership and be the dog's "alpha."

A Saarloos also has pretty good watchdog skills. While they don't bark much, Saarloos are very devoted and protective, and will be able to neutralize most potential threats--mainly because of their size alone.

The Saarloos Wolfdog is healthy overall, but may suffer a few issues: joint and structural ailments like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, pituitary dwarfism (a hormone imbalance), degenerative myelopathy (a spinal cord condition that causes paralysis), and various eye issues.

Life expectancy is 10-12 years.