Welcome!
History
This breed is the legacy of Leendert Saarloos (1884-1969). Born from his great love of German Shepherds & desire to re-introduce qualities for a more robust, working dog he bred the German Shepherd male Gerhard von Fransenum to a female European wolf named Fleur in 1932.
Saarloos are not wolves. Our modern dogs are eighty years & many generations from that founding mating.
TemperamentThe Saarloos is an exceptionally intelligent, highly attuned & sensitive dog with a deep sense of pack requirement. They are more demanding than other dogs, especially as puppies & adolescents, but they adore company & happily mix with all breeds when socialised correctly.
They have a heightened sense of purpose, an endless curiosity & are eager to learn. Readily trained by consistent kind methods, time & effort they make incredible dogs for an active family. They are not suitable as guard dogs.
Breed StandardThe Dutch Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1975 & in homage to it's creator, named it the "Saarloos Wolfdog". The Saarloos is recognised by the FCI-Standard N° 311 & although relatively unknown in the UK does not require any special license & can be insured with several UK companies.
'Ragnar' - Our Forest Brown Saarloos Puppy
AppearanceAt maturity males stand 65–75cm & females 60-70cm with pronounced differences in appearance.
Saarloos are strongly built dogs with good depth of chest, rising up through a well sprung ribcage to an athletic hind end & low set tail. Their long limbs, good hocks & pasterns ensure fluid, ground covering movement.
Coat colours are shaded light to dark, Wolfgrey (Boar) black-tipped with black pigment & Forest (Hare) brown-tipped with liver pigment. Pale markings, typical of the wolf extend through the underside of the body, the inner side of the limbs, backside of legs, breeches & under the tail. Both colour varieties show a darker nuance on the outside of the limbs & should present an expressive mask.
