THE SAARLOOS WOLFHOND

This breed of dogs derives his name from, Mr. Leendert Saarloos.

Leendert Saarloos wants a breed of dogs without degeneration symptoms and with a natural resistance against al kinds of diseases.

Although Mr Saarloos was interested for genetics (de laws of Mendell), he approached this mostly form practical experiences.

Before he started to breed de Wolfdog, he crossed a lot of other animals like mousses, rabbits, pidgins etc.

He owns a female lion, a fox, apes etc.

Because the wolf has a lot of the desired property’s he chosen this animal as one of the ancestors for his new breed. THE SAARLOOS WOLFHOND.

He did a lot of experiments. On the beginning there was the German Shepherd male dog. Gerard van Fransenum together with the female wolf Fleur, which he bought from the zoo Blijdorp. This couple had 28 puppies from which 3 were good enough to go further with. At the advice of a Dutch expert in genetics Dr. L. Hagendoorn the brother en sisters where matched.

In 1963 he chooses a new female wolf Fleur II to bring back the in breeding.

After a lot of disappointments he had a new race THE EUROPEAN WOLFDOG.  

In 1969 died Leendert Saarloos. His daughter Marijke and her (blind) mother go further as good as they can with his work.

The European wolfdog was a very good guide dog to accompany blind people. He was very cautious and he has the power of reaction of the wolf and the devotion of the dog.

 About 300 blind people used the European wolfdog (Saarloos Wolfhond). Some of the European Wolfdog have talent to be a police dog but most of them didn’t have de-required temper.

Because of his reliability character is the Saarloos Wolfhond very suitable as a housedog. His looks and the way he walks are very likely a wolf what give him an impressing appearance. Leendert Saarloos never sells his dogs but give them on loan. If there was something wrong or he need the dog for breeding, you have to bring him back to “DE KILSTROOM’ in Dordrecht.

On 5 July 1975 was the European wolfdog official acknowledge and in memory of his founder he was official named  SAARLOOS WOLFHOND.           

 The specific points for the breed where made official by the FCI (Federation Cynologique International).

After 50 years the SAARLOOS WOLFHOND became an official breed from the Netherlands.

The Breeding.

The Saarloos Wolfhond female’s are like wolves once a year a period to breed. Some of them very late when they are 2 or 3 years old. That’s why there aren’t so many dogs because other breeds have a breeding period two times a year. The male dog has a very specific choice for a female dog. So sometimes the female reject the male dog so it can take a long time before there are young dogs.

So it is important to have an accurate breeding program (policy) to be sure that this young breed keep healthy.

Remember that when you buy a Saarloos Wolfhond his ancestors are wild animals, so your patience en tolerance will be tested every day and in our eyes they have strange habits. You have to live with that.

The Specific breeding marks from the Saarloos Wolfhond.

The Saarloos Wolfhond is a powerful, wolflike, stick hairy dog with a withers height 65-75 cm. For a male and 60-70 cm. max. For a female.

The oval bone is powerful but not big. His building is harmonious and has tall legs

Male and female are very different in appearance and airs.

The Saarloos Wolfhond must give you an image of a careful, attentive and devoted dog that is reserved to, for him strange persons and circumstances without any sign of nervousness. The specific character properties from the breed are independence actions that are why they are good guide for the blind.

Head:

Must look like a wolfshead and in size harmonious with the body. The skull is wide and flat with small vaulting between the ears and change’s to a shape of a wedge to the eyes. The side must be flat. The noble on the backside may not be an eye catcher. The charge to the powerful good filled front snout is a bright stop, the distance from tip of the nose to the stop is almost the same distance from stop till back head bump.

Front snout is not allowed to be sharp. Nose is wide and solid en depending from the coat black or liver colour. Lips shoot is closed en may not overlap.

Teeth are a powerful complete like a pair of scissors.

Eyes:

These are average size and the shape of an almond. The expression is attentive and reserved not afraid.

Ears:

Standing straight up and average size. From a wide base to a sharp end (top) placed a little sloap they are hairy on the inside. 

Neck:

Dry and muscular goes gradual into the trunk.

Trunk:

The length is something more then de height of shoulder Back is straight and strong the lumbar muscle must be powerful and the normal sloping croup must not be to small. The chest is wide and with good arched ribs.

Tail:

The tail is mounted low hangs like a sable in rest. When there is some need for action de tail goes up.

Shoulderblade:

They are large; the position is sloping en close to the body. The front hand is sharp with straight legs and a classic middle foot.

Backhand:

Normal hooks powerful muscles.

Feet:

A little bit oval, closed lightly bow osier and solid elastic cushion

Way of moving:

Walks light careful possible to change the speed very quickly. The walking is very typical; it reminds you of a wolf.

Fur:

The fur is almost the same from a German Shepherd but with a very woolly underfur.  Around the neck you see a clear collar.

Colour:

These are wolf grey and wild brown. White is also possible The wolf grey has a black nose and the wood brown must have a liver colour nose.

Errors:

Flap eared and a stiff curly tail is not allowed.