All about the wolfdogs of Saarloos

Throughout the history of mankind, attempts to create a hybrid of a wolf and a dog have occurred repeatedly. It would seem that these animals have a lot in common, and the result should be crowned with success. In fact, it was not easy to obtain offspring that met the expectations of breeders. Scientists have recognized only two breeds obtained from the crossing of these two animals, and one of them was named the Sarloss wolfdog. She will be discussed in this article.

In 1925, the Dutch scientist L. Sarlos was able to get good offspring from a female wolf and a dog. The father of the kids was a representative of the German Shepherd breed. Despite the fact that their mother grew up among people all her life, the puppies' genes took their toll: they were aggressive and non-contact, they could not adapt to life in captivity.

The breeder did not give up and continued to conduct experiments, each time selecting the strongest and most viable puppies from the litters. After the death of Sarlos, his family continued breeding work, as a result of which they managed to get a breed of dogs, which was officially recognized by experts. In 1962, she entered the register of the International Cynological Association. Today the population of the Sarloss wolfdog has increased, but the breed is still considered rare.

At the end of the last century, the breed standard of the Sarlos dog was adopted. Its growth is quite large, at the withers it reaches 70 centimeters in males, and 65 cm in females, but exceeding the standard indicators is possible.The weight of animals fluctuates around 40 kg (in females - 32-36, in males - 36-48). The muzzle is elongated. The dog carries the tail straight or slightly curved, in the shape of a saber.

Representatives of this unusual breed are somewhat different from their counterparts. The Sarlocians are very attentive, and literally scan for the glances of strangers that come into their field of vision. Sometimes, being among other dogs, they want to join their pack. Freedom-loving, proud and stubborn, they are not very willing to follow commands, but in general the breed is trainable.

The dog's face resembles a wolf's due to the specific shape and position of the eyes, which are yellow and almond-shaped. Its main feature is the strip that stretches towards the cheekbones. The body looks somewhat elongated, from the bottom it is lean. A strong neck gently passes into the back; on its back side it is fashionable to notice a semblance of a collar, which stands out especially clearly in the cold season.

All four limbs have developed muscles, which allows the dog to move easily and swiftly even in the snow - in this, its gait is compared to that of a wolf. She can trot for a long time and tirelessly, overcoming long distances without stopping to rest.

In summer, the fur of the Saarloos dog has a different structure. So, in the warm season, the guard hair predominates in it, and in the cold season it is complemented by a warm undercoat. In general, the color of dogs of this breed is almost the same, like a wolf. However, it has shades from light to dark, sometimes the color range includes brown and cream. Accordingly, the color of the eye rims will also vary - from black to brown.

This rare semi-wild breed became widespread only at home, in the Netherlands. Why are there so few people in our country who dare to have a wolf-dog at home? Perhaps the reason lies in a banal fear - suddenly the instincts of the ancestors will wake up in the animal, and it will do something not harmless.

At home, the Saarloos wolfdog is popular and loved. She has gained authority both as a guide and as a rescuer. Her sensitivity and ability to feel the human condition make her a reliable four-legged friend. It is not scary to be on an unfamiliar street with her, because thanks to her excellent orientation on the terrain, she will lead her owner out of any place and help him get home.

Protection is the predestination of many dogs, and the Sarloss wolf was no exception. She well guards the territories entrusted to her, and is also able to protect her owner from the encroachments of strangers. But no matter how smart and versatile this dog is, her wolf instincts prevent her from performing some types of work, therefore the Sarlossa cannot be called a universal service dog.

The beauty of this breed has captivated many people. To become a wolf, an independent character, the piercing, attentive gaze of a forest animal - all this together makes a powerful impression. The gait of this dog is also mesmerizing, because she also moves like a wolf. Many people want to get such a dog because of its unusualness and brutality, because such a purchase can effectively complement the image of a respectable person.

However, with all the advantages, dog handlers insist that this animal is not for everyone. Before looking for a suitable nursery specializing in this breed, you need to really carefully study all the features of the Saarloos wolfdog and understand its essence. It is possible to educate her only if you have experience in dog breeding - this dog is highly discouraged for beginners.

Thanks to their natural independence, these dogs are able to make independent and correct decisions, without waiting for the command of their owner. In unfamiliar surroundings, the Sarlocians can easily find a safe path. They are able to help in a difficult situation, therefore they make good lifeguards, as well as guides for people with disabilities.

For all their boundless loyalty to the owner, they are in no hurry to show their emotions, so one should not expect puppy delight from them at the sight of the owner. They usually do not squeal or jump, even meeting their owner after a long separation., but many are quite satisfied with this behavior, as to behave with dignity is quite a match for this breed.

Do not be afraid of her "wild" origin - In the literature, there are no registered cases of unreasonable attacks by the Sarloss wolf on people. That is, she never shows aggression towards a person just because she did not like him or scared her with her unbalanced behavior. If this dog does not like someone, he will just try to stay away from him and be on the lookout.

It is curious that the first hybrids were less intelligent than the next. This is due to the fact that in the course of breeding, more shepherd genes were mixed into the breed, and the dogs themselves, selected for breeding work, were the best.

The Sarlossian wolfdog, like no other breed, needs a good load. It will be very uncomfortable for her to live in an apartment, as this greatly limits her space. The optimal conditions for keeping the dog will be a house or an aviary in a large local area. It is not forbidden to sometimes let the four-legged friend into the house, but he should know that the main place of residence is outside of it. Sitting on a chain for the dog of Sarlos is an ordeal, which is not surprising given its wild origins.

No matter how spacious you build an aviary for your tailed friend, he still needs frequent walks. Dogs live very well in the company of their own kind - this allows them to constantly communicate with other members of the "pack", to develop and socialize more harmoniously. From childhood, they should be taken out to places where life is in full swing, so that they acquire the skills of life in society as soon as possible.

In the absence of interaction with the outside world, they can start to run wild. Usually, these dogs do not like to ride in transport, and they feel extremely uncomfortable in it, sometimes for transportation they have to be immersed in light anesthesia.

The mating season of this breed also has its own characteristics. So, the female of the Sarloss wolf is able to mate only once a year, and the males, during the rampage of hormones, cannot sit on the site and are torn to freedom in all possible ways: they dig the ground under the fence, jump over high fences. Their freedom-loving disposition is fully manifested, therefore, it is simply impossible to prevent a dog intending to find a female.

As for taste preferences, this dog is not very picky. The pet eats any dog ​​food, and the owner's task is only to have enough protein in his pet's diet. Meat can be varied and not very dietary. Please note that for puppies, it needs to be boiled a little - only with age do they have enough opportunities to digest the raw product... Porridge in the form of buckwheat, oatmeal or rice will not only reduce the cost of the diet, but will also give the dog the necessary supply of proteins.

Like most dogs, it is very useful for the saarloans to eat vegetables and dairy products, but they only take up a small part of the daily menu, and they also like it less. Periodic consumption of fish is not excluded. Remember to add fresh water to your pet's bowl on time, especially during the summer season.

Dogs of this breed shed twice a year. To make this process easier for your pet and to protect the house from wool pollution, brush your dog daily. Such periods do not last long, and after they are over, you can do this procedure again once a week or less often. Molting is a natural process for most animals, including the wolfdog.

The rest of the hygiene rules are similar to those that apply to keeping other dogs. You could even say that they are more humble than for many other breeds. You should only clean your eyes and ears if they are dirty. In winter, the dog should not be washed at all, because its warm down will dry slowly, which means that it runs the risk of catching a cold, moreover, a special substance forms on the skin surface, which allows the dog to tolerate low temperatures more easily.

The peculiarity of this breed is that it is better to educate it collectively with other individuals, that is, "in the flock." However, the dog must accept the fact that it will sometimes be left alone. During training, the animal will most likely show character, but it is impossible to break its will by physical punishment. Better not to play with the instincts of the dog, and fear is far from the best training tool. You need to act according to the instructions of specialists, showing your authority without assault.

Perfectly, the workout should be interesting, after all, empty repetition of commands will quickly bother your dog, and he will lose attention. As in any training, tasks should be regular, and although their results will not be visible immediately, systematic and properly organized work will certainly lead you to your goal.

Thanks to wolf immunity and health, representatives of this rare breed rarely suffer from ailments, and their life expectancy is quite long, ranging from 15 to 20 years. There are no specific diseases in the genotype of these dogs. If you feel unwell, be careful with the antibiotics sometimes given to dogs. The use of medications without medical supervision can harm the animal, the same applies to other medications. Vaccinations for the Saarloos wolf are just as important as for other dogs, so vaccination should not be neglected.

If the above-described nuances of the character and content of this dog do not bother you, and you have sufficient experience in communicating with dogs, preferably of service breeds, then this dog will become a most valuable acquisition. As a rule, semi-wolf puppies cost from 700 to 1500 euros. Look to serious breeders who will not cheat you and sell a dog that only looks like a sarlossian. As we have already noted, it is not so easy to find these animals in Russia.

The Sarlossian wolfdog is not suitable for everyone, if only because its maintenance requires special conditions. This breed should be chosen only by those who can offer her accommodation in a spacious enclosure at a private house, as well as those who have experience in keeping a service dog and will be patiently raising it. The loyalty of these animals makes them the best friends, who are humble in showing their emotions, but are always ready to help their owner.

For the characteristics of the breed, see below.