Saarlooswolfhond - Saarloos Wolfdog

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History

This still relatively young dog breed from the Netherlands has received its name from the founder of this breeding, Mr. Leendert Saarloos (16.11.1884 -13.01.1969). He wanted to create a dog breed that possess no degeneration appearance, for that however a natural resistance  against the most deceased illnesses and yet the sharp senses of the wolf. The dog should contribute the advantages in this intersection, that the domesticity gave to it in thousands of years , namely the bonding to the humans, absencely escape distance in real and supposed danger, learn enthusiasm into the high age etc. 

His later aim mattered an attentive, intelligent, useable dog, which could be trained quickly,  based on its excellent nose, to a trackhound and its innate caution and its quick power of reaction, as well as a police dog, rescue dog and seeing-eye-guide. In priority however L. Saarloos concerned a thoroughly healthy "not degenerate" dog. 

Because the wolf possessed many of this desirable characteristic ,he selected a she-wolf ("Fleur" , a European wolf, that he bought from the zoological garden of Blijdorp in Rotterdam) as one of his ancestor parents for his breed and the german shepherd  "Gerard van Fransenum" (Axel v. Stubersheim x Wotan's Irmhild), out of Prussian descent.  Gerard's ancestry have served and proved in the first world war their pluck and good to train.

"Fleur" originated from the sibirian branch of the European wolf. That is why some  Saarlooswolfhonds have Russian names yet today, in imitation of its ancestress . ( By the way the first wolf died at distemper befor breeding insert.)

L. Saarloos' first litter came in spring 1936. Unfortunately the puppies all died within a month at the feared dog plague, that probably a visitor brought along. But Saarloos did not lost his courage and in the following year he had puppies again, 2 grey females ("Pittha" and "Fleurie") and one male dog ("Barré"). Unfortunately  these animals were also infected and the male dog died at the results of the epidemic, but both bitches survived.  Because Saarloos needed for the further breeding one male halfwolf, he coupled once again "Gerard" and "Fleur" in the spring of 1938. In this litter there were 6 bitches and also one male puppy. And only this male puppy, also called "Barré", was retained, the bitches were selected. The F2-generation was the result of the cross back of the bitches with their father, what would produce 75% dog and 25% wolf: Saarloos crossed "Fleurie" with her father in order to eliminate the shyness, and he reserved two of the 7 pups for the further breeding: "Largo" and "Kaja".  And already there was the first brown Saarloos Wolfhond : namely "Kaja". Speculations over alleged outcrosses with Huskys in because of the red color therefor are totally absurd. Certainly "Kaja"  was not used then probably for the breeding.  

At the beginning L. Saarloos paired also again german shepherds. 1940 Saarloos coupled "Largo" with his halfsister "Dela".  Out of that litter,  that included 13 puppies, Saarloos kept 7, and everyone of them sprendidly developed.  In that wintertime of the same year  the halfwolf "Barré" got coupled with the female halfwolf "Fleurie"; out of this litter he got 8 puppies,  whereby he retained two for the observation. He noticed that the female dog was very good to train, whereas the male dog had had the shyness of his grandmother wolf inherited. Therefor he was unsuitable for the further breeding and found a final home in the zoological garden of Rhenen. At spring 1941, "Pittha" was coupled with her halfbrother "Max" (GS). These puppies developed excellently. Their characters seemed to be very close to the tribe father "Gerard", no shyness, so that they were determined for the allround-police duty. In the same spring "Fleurie" was coupled with her halfbrother "Max".  Convinced by the good characteristics of his wolfdogs just out of this last generation, L. Saarloos passed over to deliver a restricted number of his animals whereby he retained however the control over these animals. Everything he delivered were castrated male dogs, so that no one else could breed with his dogs, with exception of two bitches, with which however was notarial determined  not to breed with them. Based on his splendid animals (extend, deep chest; magnificant skin, elastic walk; shoulder height 75 cm!), which made deep impressions and also had  a wunderful character, L. Saarloos now had increase inquiries after pups...

L. Saarloos named his new created breed "Europese Wolfhond" and his kennel „van de Kilstroom“. Later in the official acknowledgement 1975 by the Raad van Beheer and 1981 by F.C.I., (standard no. 311.1  FCI-group 1) this breed was renamed in SAARLOOS WOLFHOND, in honor of its creator, who unfortunately did not experience this honor anymore (he died at the age of 84).

1942 Saarloos demanded his wolfdogs for registration at the Dutch breeding index at the Raad van Beheer. But the proposition was rejected; the animals still would not be homogeneous in order to distinguish as a breed from of the remaining breeds clearly. Saarloos' conception was a brown Europese Wolfhond! On May, 15th of 1943 he told at the hearing at the Raad van Beheer , that he had crossed a halfwolf with a brown maledog and 5 of the 7 puppies were brown. At least in order to be acknowledged as a breed, because the Netherlands acknowledges only working breeds, some of the wolfdogs  were not demanded to be a working dog. So that was the reason why. But also it could be that the lobby of the german shepherds prevented this (same as many year later by the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog). It seemed well , that they were afraid of the competition to the German Sherpherds...

In his efforts to train his dogs then however success adjusted: some dogs seemed to be suitable as seeing-eye-guides. Their innated caution and skilfull above all unknown  made it possible and gave Saarloos possibilities of selection his dogs.

Outside of his kennel now breeding stations were established at different places in the Netherlands. A seeing-eye-guide-school was based in Dordrecht. L. Saarloos himself trained the dogs. It took less time to train a wolfdog than a "normal" dog, it should allegedly take 3 weeks!

Saarloos concerned a  geneticist  Dr. L. Hagendoorn because Saarloos recognized, that he alone wouldn't have success with his breeding. (There in the course of the breeding also brother and sister as well as half siblings together were crossed as well as there were some bottlenecks in the "breeding material". That is the reason why the inbreeding degree of this breed also today is still quite high, there often still operate for line- and inbreeding.) 

Later yet wolfs were crossbreeded, the last wolf 1963 ( maybe the sixth, entirely that is not cleared, because L. Saarloos called all his she-wolves "Fleur".) That Dutch association for Saarloos Wolfhonden ( NVSWH ) assume yet more wolf  intersection. It was official the second, according to pedigrees there must be anotherone in the 50, the third incross,  a she-wolf crossed with "Barnum v. d. Kilstroom". A daughter out of this litter is "Alma v. d. Kilstroom", mother of" Baron v. d. Kilstroom", that is the father of "Fakar v. d. Kilstroom" (s. Pedigree Garou Loup). The NVSWH had found 4 wolves,  all feminine animals, because in L. Saarloos'  opinion the wild animal always should be the feminine... it is also possible, that these further intersections and/or lines do not further pursued.)

A neighbour of L. Saarloos had owned a black male Timberwolf, so that there is the supposition that this wolf also came to the breeding insert. Actually the current Saarloos wolfdogs see much more similar to American Timberwolf than the European wolf, that originated both "Fleurs" from . Also the good social behavior speaks in favour for  the Timberwolf. But the NVSWH sais no incross of a Timberwolf...

In the last years of the second world war, the breed would have almost lost. Thanks to a local slaughter house, the famine could be turned away in the winter 1944/45 . For this German officers would have brought almost the decline of this breed. They wanted to fetch originally the dogs for military duty, but when they shot, in spite of warning of L. Saarloos about the possible consequences, the wolfdogs escaped when the cages were opened. Perhaps this saved the breed surviving. It lasted for about one week to capture the wolfdogs.

Again and again L. Saarloos had to struggle against the stampede and shyness at his animals, that appeared again and again.

A virus raged in his dog-kennels at 1950 and snatched up many puppies and also most of his adult wolfdogs . People urgently advised him to vaccinate, but he refused to admit that it was a virus.

L. Saarloos dripped a very strict selection and sold no puppies. He delivered the animals at suitable persons, who did not sell them. Only he did the breeding, without left his courage himself also of various recoils. The appearance of his dogs did not interest him, but rather the character. He made this to his breeding principle. The character of his dogs was the most important factor, their looks didn`t interest him at all.

But the friends of the wolfdogs were not that same opinion however  who made themselves probably meanwhile independent: they floated as a breeding aim the pretty shape of that „half and quarter wolves“. (But  the animals were not so georgious, the chest was wide, the white mask from nowadays wasn't there -  look that  photo upside.) At that time you hardly could recognized the wolf in these dogs. But Saarloos remained to select after character, faithfully to his aim. Secret resistance was the sequence. Without his knowledge they did breed.  Other breeds maybe would be incrossed, because at once some  features appeared, that can be attributed neither the wolf nor the german shepherd dog. People now increased on these external features. This trend obviously L. Saarloos also couldn't keep aloof from this. At 1963 he crossed once again one his wolfdogs ("Yro v. d. Kilstroom") with a wolf ("Fleur II"). On one hand he tried to counter the beginning inbreeding, which had become too large (the animals became smaller and more narrowly) and on the other hand he wanted to re-bond the breeding tighter to his kennel. Above all however he did it because friends urged him again and again; the wolflike appearance was more importantly to them. For the character concerning to the "usefulness" of his "wolfdog" the renewed wolf intersection brought a sharp setback. The stampede appeared again. At the beginning of the '70s the education to the seeing-eye-guide was stopped, also because of the increasing traffic. The blinds had lost moreover the confidence into the dogs  because of heavy accidents. So the current Saarloos Wolfhond is a family dog "without use value"; that breed standard says: use: no working-dog! At 1993 the standard became yet once modified.

At 1963 Saarloos demanded for the second time for an acknowledgement as a recognized dogbreed. Because L. Saarloos however persisted further on that all his dogs remained in his property, it became be rejected again. After that he only had yet little interest in his breed. Only yet he used a few animals, especially with the male dogs, so that the breeding basis themselves almost made embarrassingly smaller. He made thoughts about his inheritance. Perhaps the breed should perish with him... Finally he died at 1969.

Then his daughter Marijke received the breeding together with her mother. Because she was only 17 years old however, she was overcharge certainly with the situation; the mother was moreover blind. In the following years, there was increasingly difficulty. The plot of land became sold at an adjoining tradesman. In order to rescue the European wolfdog and the breeding, the animals were accommodated at a friend in makeshift-kennels. It seemed to be only another question of time... and so 1975 some engaged lovers of this breed, who saw the breed threatened in its continue, asked the Raad van Beheer for support. With a number of Saarloos wolfdogs they went to Amsterdam and registrated these dogs in the breeding book at the Raad van Beheer. Years of  registration followed. Zaska van de Kilstroom stood model to the standard..

Saarloos wolfdog (up the top)

Character

Although over 300 seeing-eye-guides would be used, trained at his seeing-eye-guide-school in Dordrecht,  and some also worked as a rescue dog, the Saarloos wolfdog is not qualified as a workingdog. Saarloos' efforts to instruct his dogs as police dogs, failed just as due to the shy wolf heir as well as the other educations. The stampede had totally displaced the sensual attack. It possess neither sharpness nor pugnacity and therefor this breed is completely unsuitable as a protection and police dog. (Certainly at least one wolfdog had passed the policetest.)

Because some chosen dogs probably nevertheless could be well trained (at the beginning of the '50s the first wolfdog had graduated successfully the seeing-eye-guide-dog test), this breed  had the nimbus to be especially qualified to a seeing-eye-guide dog. In the top of the education there became instructed up to 24 seeing-eye-guides within a year. At the beginning of his efforts L. Saarloos had in the proximity neighbour a blind woman and L. Saarloos trained one his wolfdogs as a seeing-eye-guide, this succeeded in doing. The intelligence and the rule of the jungle of his wolfdogs seemed to be suited especially for that.  His favorite dog "Yro" passed moreover  at the end of '60s the rescue-dog-test.

 But the wolfish origin made oneself conspicuous, the dogs were still always very carefully and shy like wild animals. (The task as a seeing-eye-guide  the Saarloos wolfdog in the current street traffic would absolutely not suitable for. Therefor at the  beginning of the 70 years the training was abandoned.)  

Nothing changed today.  Working dogs are the exception nowadays. Indeed L. Saarloos had created no excellent using dog, which he wanted to create,  but probably however a new breed, that embodied much of its wolf ancestress, as well as its external shape and also its manners. With its gentle character and its natural type, they speak for itself and Saarloos' successful breeding. Unfortunately after his death some years followed of the unsupervised expanse breeding, so that some good characteristics wiped out. It is supposed that at that time even other breeds would be crossed, for example Alaskan Malamute.  Only when the "Raad van Beheer op kynologisch gebied in Nederland" this breed ackownledged on 5th July 1975 the uncontrolled breeding could stopped. Years of the registration followed. 1981 this breed was ackownledged by the F.C.I..

Today the Saarloos Wolfhond is a pleasant family dog, a companion to enjoy and a big friend of the children, but not a dog for anybody. In care, health and feeding, they are conceivably unpretentious, but you must know to go around with them. They want consistently to be educated. Although it does not suit itself as „use dog,“, it is yet trainable. With extraordinarily much patience and love (next to consequence) it lets itself be raised to the obedience over positive motivation. It is suitable also for the work within an agility- or tournamentsports-program. It does NOT price itself through slavish obedience, but rather sooner through stubbornness and independence. More than each other dog the Saarloos Wolfhond needs its bunch order. The boss must be the boss and to be appreciated by the dog as such. Otherwise this large, strong dog is scarcely controllable. That requires already a little studies of the wolf- and dogpsychic. Because these dogs have a distinct mien and an expressive body language, you can read them very well.

A first, substantial feature of adult wolfdogs is that they possess less youthattributes in the behavior-repertoire than other dogs. These youth features enable a simple handling at most dogs what concerns obedience and "the will to please". Wolfdogs behave therefore rather more submissively than obedient.

A second, very important feature with wolfdogs, that advanced is the retention about all unknown. On variation of their accustomed life circumstances, the Saarloos Wolfhond reacts highly sensitive. Their sharp senses face nothing. Quite reserved they behave each strangers. For the wolf in his natural environment, this characteristic is essential rather annoying for the domesticated animal, it is sure rather more troublesome. („Rather 100 once cowardly than once dead! “)

At the same time they are extremely bond to their family. The Saarloos Wolfhond does not yield „his owner“ at his side.  Well, one must already be able to bear it therefor to have the dog permanently around himself. From that also the fact arises that the Saarloos Wolfhond does not endure the solitariness! They got very angious at seperation so that can cause an incredible destructiveness. For a kennel maintenance, they are generally not suited, like actually all dogs: the bunch tie is too strong for that the Saarloos Wolfhond can bear more than some hours  alone at his kennel. Finally in the wilderness it means death and ruin, therefore the cub (on this step of a young wolf all dogs stand in its intellectual developement) even can not furnish itself. A cub with healthy instinct will set therefor all in motion in order to be at its family (bunch) and therewith in security. Even so-called "outbreak neutralizing dog-kennels" are subdued in shortest time.

As a watchdog the Saarloos Wolfhond is not particular suitable. He hardly barks although he can do it. For defending he is not suitable at all. Any forceattack is missing.

Applies to wolves that they must be taken out of the cave at the 3rd life week, so that they can be socialized sufficiently and can be stamped on the person, it is much easier with a dog, and the time period is being stuck much further. Also for Saarloos Wolfhonden it is very important to socialize and stamp the puppies between 3rd and 16th life week very well. The puppy should have contact with as much as it can and of course if possible many different persons. At the same time it is very important that these persons are reacting positiv towards the puppy in order to mediate good experience to the young animal. Very helpfully here is visiting a good dog training school, that engage in puppy-shaping-day (to Weidt/Berlowitz, the inventors of the puppy-shape-days).

You can not see very often the shyness at the puppies yet because they develop their behavior of frighteness first after the 8th week. Even a Saarloos puppy, who was optimally stamped, can become then shy „all at once“, without an existing recognizable reason. The innate shyness comes be self-supporting now in this phase of the makeup in the expiration of development of the puppy.

If they are however previously already shy, they were badly socialized. Of these puppies you should take distance.

Saarloos wolfdogs behave reservedly in unaccustomed situations. So it is very important that you will bring the dog  into such situations again and again, so that the dog will learn, that there are no threatening circumstances. At the same time the own appearance is important: quiet and determined! IN NO CASE the dog should get any mercy or stroked! The Saarloos Wolfhond would interpret this behavior only as a confirmation of its anxiety and would become softened. The behavior would be reinforced instead of muffled!

A second important phase lies between that 3rd and 7th life month, called sensitive phase. Here again shyness can appear. The Saarloos Wolfhond puppy must be already accustomed to situations, which  represents nothing special for other dogs (lift, car, many people, noise etc.). Many Saarloos puppies have problems with the driving (sickness, to vomit, to make mud), later they usually „only“ slobber yet though intensive. (A Dogue de Bordeaux would be jealous).  With the parlor purity, Saarloos wolfdogs  also have their own point of view: it lasts more longer than by „normal“ dogs, until they are house-trained, and sometimes they mark special places in the house, above all, if you own several dogs. Sometimes they mark several places at home or the place, where they have eaten a very special delicacy.

Their distinct bunch behavior is incidentally, above all in the meeting with other wolfdogs. It is suspicious how quiet and kind the Saarloos Wolfdogs handling each other. They are very social. They get on with strange dogs very good, they usually aren't bullies and love it to play with all friendly dogs. It could be more difficult to have several adult bitches, which already have had puppies. This "allowed to have puppies" means a great advancement for this breed, a large ascent in the ranking; in this position no more bitches of equal rank will be tolerated. It is most inevitably to separate the bitches for ever. In pairs they behave fellowfaithfully, don't accept everybody couple-partner. Bitches often get in heat only once a year, usually in wintertime. For this the heat can last longer than „normal“ dogs. And also the males`fertile period is bound to a certain time. Therefor some planned copulations with strange partners remained unsuccessful.

Towards children the Saarlooswolfhond is very patient. However you should consider its size and corresponding power. Together with its powerful temperament showing his friends, it is able to throw down a man.

Playing games is reserved to dogs, that remained on the youth step. The adult Saarloos Wolfhonden become boring very quickly playing games. After three times throwing a ball they want to make something interesting else. On the other hand they can be led strongly of its senses and instincts: their distinctive huntingsense is not to be underestimated! And they are successful hunters! (Cats, sheeps, wild pigs, rabbits etc.) If there are several Saarloos wolfdogs together, they hunt organized in the pack. Incidentally is that they can divide their energy well.

So dearly, so social, so pretty these animals however are - their ingenuity and their ability to learn,  mated with a phenomenal memory and often surprising use of the trained (f.e. to open doors,  even refrigerator doors!) when it seemes to be necessary to the dog, its uncanny physical power, its distinct bunch behavior and its hunting sense, which is scarcely to be controlled, the dog friend will have often bad problems.

Colour: The occuring colours range