Saarloos Wolfhound
A wolf-like Dutch breed that is loyal and gentle with its family but shy of strangers and strongly attached to routine.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 65–75 cm · Females 60–70 cm
- Weight
- Males 36–45 kg · Females 30–38 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Wolf grey, Brown, Cream, White
- Bred for
- Companionship
- Country of origin
- Netherlands
- FCI
- Group 1, no. 311 · Sheepdogs & cattle dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 1/5 – Very low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- have experience with independent breeds
- live in a calm, rural home
- want a dog that stays close to its family
Think twice if you …
- want a dog for busy city life
- need to leave the dog alone often
- expect reliable off-lead obedience
Care
Temperament
Gentle and devoted with family, but naturally cautious and inclined to retreat rather than confront. It has a strong flight instinct and a sharp eye for movement. It prefers routine and calm surroundings.
Exercise
Needs daily long walks or hikes on lead or in secure areas. It enjoys trotting at a steady pace, tracking and canicross more than fast-paced sports.
Grooming
The coat needs weekly brushing and much more during the heavy seasonal shed, when the undercoat comes out in clumps.
Training
Train with patience and short, positive sessions; it does not respond to pressure. Socialise early and often, and keep recall expectations modest.
Health
Hip dysplasia, spinal problems and some eye conditions are reported, and the small gene pool calls for careful breeding. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow, spine and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Spine
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
Dutch breeder Leendert Saarloos began crossing a German Shepherd with a European wolf in the 1930s, hoping to create a hardier working dog. The dogs proved too reserved for police or guide work, but they found a following as companions, and the breed gained recognition in the Netherlands in 1975.
The Saarloos is calm and affectionate with its own people, yet often shy and avoidant with strangers and in new places. It has a strong pack instinct and dislikes being left alone. It suits experienced owners with a quiet home, a high fence and the patience for slow, careful socialisation.
Did you know?
The breed was first known as the European Wolfdog and was renamed after its creator, Leendert Saarloos, after his death.