Breeds / Size not published
Saarloos Wolfhond puppies
Reserved, cautious and strongly bonded to its own people, the Saarloos Wolfhond is a Dutch wolfdog breed that avoids strangers rather than challenging them.
The facts
- Size class Not published
- Country of origin Netherlands
- Adult weight Not published
- Adult weight in pounds Not published
- Adult height Not published
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short
- Typical lifespan Not published
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Not published
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
No published figure for adult weight, adult height, life expectancy and the good with other dogs rating, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
About the Saarloos Wolfhond
The Saarloos Wolfhond was created in the Netherlands early in the twentieth century by crossing a German Shepherd Dog with a European wolf, with the aim of putting hardiness back into a working breed. It never amounted to much as a worker but settled into a distinct breed of its own, wolfish in outline and coat pattern, long legged and light on its feet. Its defining trait is caution: it is reserved, watchful and inclined to retreat from anything new rather than face it down.
This is not a first dog. It needs moderate daily exercise, a very secure garden, and above all patient, unhurried socialisation from the day it arrives, because fear is a far bigger risk in this breed than aggression. Grooming is low, a brush through the coat with heavier work when it moults. It barks little. Rated three out of five with children, so supervision and early exposure are essential. Owners most often overestimate how far a Saarloos will bend to conventional obedience training.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Saarloos Wolfhond puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
- Degenerative myelopathy, detectable by DNA test
- Pituitary dwarfism, detectable by DNA test on breeding stock
From Saarloos Wolfhond breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/saarloos-wolfhond/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Saarloos Wolfhond puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Not published adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.