Saarloos Wolfhound
Other names: Saarloos Wolfdog, European Wolfdog

The Saarloos Wolfdog is a cross between the German Shepherd and the European Wolf. She is a large, powerful, and athletic dog that still looks very much like a wild wolf. This can be quite intimidating at first, especially for those who are naturally nervous around big dogs. However, the wolfdog is surprisingly calm, and even a little reserved. This is not the outcome breeders were hoping for, but the pairing still created a very unique animal. Despite being a bit of a gentle giant, a wolfdog is not the best choice for inexperienced owners.
Key facts about the Saarloos Wolfhound
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Origins and history
The Saarloos Wolfdog is quite the enigma. Despite being the cross of two fearless animals, the Wolfdog failed to inherit many of their characteristics. She certainly looks the part, but Wolfdogs have a very different personality from either parent breed. She is more reserved than brave, more shy than confident, and more passive than aggressive. This has lead to her kind being used as companion dogs and assistance dogs rather than what they were originally bred for, which was hunting and herding.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the Saarloos Wolfhound
Adult size
Female : Between 24 and 28 in
Male : Between 26 and 30 in
Weight
Female : Between 75 and 79 lb
Male : Between 84 and 90 lb
Coat colour
Grey, white, silver, sand and fawn.
Type of coat
Thick, dense, double-layered.
Eye colour
Yellow.
Description
The Saarloos Wolfhound is a strongly built dog with a striking resemblance to a wolf. She has pointed ears and almond eyes, and an attentive, though somewhat reserved, expression. The Saarloos is big-boned with a proud posture. She has long shoulders and lean, muscular hindquarters, with a long muzzle and tail. Males are much larger than females.
Good to know
The Saarloos is much better suited to living in the countryside, as she needs lots of space to fully express herself.
Some of the Saarloos’s health issues can be very expensive to treat.
She sheds a lot of hair.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Saarloos Wolfhound
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Compatibility
Price
Around £800 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £60 to £90 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.
Grooming
Fairly low grooming requirements. Two to three quick brushes each week are enough.
Nutrition of the Saarloos Wolfhound
This big dog needs 4 cups of high-quality dog food split over two daily meals.
Health of the Saarloos Wolfhound
Life expectancy
This is a generally healthy breed with an average life expectancy of 12 years.
Strong / robust
This is a robust animal, who is big, muscular, and very strong. She can develop some hereditary diseases.
Withstand heat
She sheds her fur during the warmer months. This helps keep her cool but avoid walkies during the hottest parts of the day.
Withstand cold
The Wolfdog was designed to thrive in cold temperatures. A British winter won’t bother this dog.
Tendency to put on weight
She is not predisposed to putting on weight.
Common illnesses
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Pituitary dwarfism
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Progressive retinal atrophy