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by Scottie Westfall

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The wolfish dog’s identity

May 3, 2010 by SWestfall3

The dog in “identify the canid” query from a few days ago is a Saarloos wolfhond. (In Dutch, it is “Saarlooswolfhond.” In English, it is sometimes called “Saarloos Wolfhound.”)

It is not a “wolf hybrid” or “wolf dog,” as we typically understand them. Most wolf hybrids and wolf dogs are the result of rather haphazard crossing wolves with GSD’s, huskies, and Malamutes.

This particular dog is part wolf, but it has been selectively bred to be a relatively tractable animal. Saarloos wolfhonds have even been used as guide dogs for the blind, and they are known for having relatively low levels of aggression towards people.

They are the result of a Dutch German shepherd dog fancier named Leendert Saarloos thought the GSD was a doomed breed. Many of the dogs were dying of distemper, and they were losing their guarding abilities.

To solve this problem, Saaloos began breeding his GSD’s with wolves, including some Canadian wolves. He then began to breed them to be more like dogs.

However, most of the dogs were very susceptible to distemper. Most of the original dogs in his breeding program died.

And the dogs were useless as guard dogs.

However, fanciers became interested in them in Germany and the Netherlands, because people thought it was awesome to own a dog that had some wolf in it. It was believed that German shepherds were very close to wolves, and owning a dog that was part wolf and shepherd was a way of reconnecting to those “wolf dogs of the Rhine” that Tacitus wrote lived among the Germanic tribes.

Although I am opposed to keeping casually bred wolfdogs, I am not opposed to keeping this breed or the similar Czechoslovakian wolfdog. These animals do have wolf in them, but they have been selected to be more like dogs. They are not as unpredictable as casually bred wolf-hybrids can be.

However, I don’t think either of these breeds should be kept by owners who don’t understand dogs very well.  These dogs need mental and physical exercise and respect as “canine beings.”

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Posted in dog breeds | Tagged Czechoslovakian wolfdog, Saarloos wolfhond, Saarloos wolfhound, Saarlooswolfhond, wolf hybrid, wolfdog | 12 Comments

12 Responses

  1. on May 3, 2010 at 10:37 am Identify the canid « Retrieverman's Weblog

    […] The answer. […]


  2. on May 3, 2010 at 3:59 pm Bridget

    The Finnish wolfdog society website:
    http://www.suomenkoirasudet.com/yhdistys1.html

    It has the aim “to lessen the negative stereotyphistic thinking about the wolfdogs”.
    There are wolfdogs in the country also as familypets,
    Haven’t seen them fussing at all.

    Why it is so common to keep thinking the wolf – even in dogs – is so dangerous to human life? According to any statistics they really are not.
    I just see mindless hystery.


    • on May 3, 2010 at 4:09 pm retrieverman

      http://www.wolfpark.org/wolfdogs/Poster_section1.html


  3. on May 3, 2010 at 6:08 pm The wolfish dog's identity « Retrieverman's Weblog | Cyber Snaps !

    […] here: The wolfish dog's identity « Retrieverman's Weblog Share […]


  4. on May 4, 2010 at 7:34 am labpack

    Can’t see any logic in breeding wolf-hybrids for any purpose, least for family pets!

    The hybrids have no defined function whatsoever except novelty charm. Something to brag about and boost one’s ego… IMHO


  5. on May 5, 2010 at 12:48 pm Lane Batot

    Well, labpack, although I would agree that, alas, the majority of wolf hybrids out there do not end up in homes suitable to their temperments and abilities, there certainly ARE things about wolf dogs that can be useful and would make the crosses legitimete in the right circumstances. For one, if you live in or are in a wilderness area frequently, they are hard to beat for natural abililty and instinct. I had five different wolf-dogs over the years(of varying percentages), as well as a lot of different kinds of other dogs, and I would rate the wolf-dogs best all around canines in the woods–a lot of good sense and ability there. Also very practical physical attributes–coats that needed no care, and were appropriate for the seasons–they could handle cold or heat equally well(unlike a lot of similar purebred Northern breeds I’ve also kept), they had great speed and stamina, the toughest feet on any dogs I’ve ever had, including coonhounds, who are known for their tough feet–my wolf dogs would not even limp with foot injuries that temporarily would cripple my other dogs. Very good wildlife sense–they knew how to act appropriately around snakes, bears, etc. and if I were ever in a situation where I was being attacked or threatened by a large dangerous animal(bear, cougar, moose, bison, etc.) there is not another type of dog I would rather have with me to deal with it. I got wolf dogs to learn about dogs, wolves, the origins of such(by actual experience rather than relying on others’ speculations on the subject), and I learned a lot, including how most of what people think of wolf dogs is their own prejudices based on incidents in inappropriate surroundings, and had little to do with factual information about the REAL animals. Judging them by the people who failed with them is no different than developing a negative view towards all dogs by watching the mishandling/raising/training by a few people that don’t have a clue…..


    • on May 6, 2010 at 11:25 am Bridget

      Lane B.,
      Would you suggest a wolf-hybrid to a hunter who lives in the wilderness and keeps complaining that real wolves threat his dogs (Finnish hound dogs)?
      I mean, that instead of hunting with those mild-tempered hounds he would purchase a couple of hybrid pups?

      What do u say?


  6. on May 6, 2010 at 7:12 am labpack

    Lane, I agree that NO breed – even hybrids ;) – should be judged by some “bad“ cases…

    However, in this modern world of ours there are not too many people living in the wilderness and need specially a wolf-hybrid there.

    In my part of the world there is more or less regular supply of wolf-dog litters advertised. And as human nature is what it is; novelty sells extremely well…

    PS Do have to admit: I envy your experience with the wolf-dogs! :)


  7. on May 6, 2010 at 1:16 pm Lane Batot

    Labpack, I have to agree, there are very few circumstances or people suited to keep wolf dogs in a proper, fulfilling environment(sigh)–but my nit-picking point is that there ARE some, and it is unfair to those few to be lumped in such a negative category(as I have been so very often, which is why I take it personally, because it IS personal for me!). To me, it is sad and WRONG to make descisions based on the lowest common denominator–it is simply unfair. I think it would be very sad if all wolf hybrids are banned forever for everyone, because the majority of people can’t handle them properly. If people(even if they ARE the majority!) screw up-punish THEM, and leave the ones who are doing fine alone, whatever the percentages! I had a very interesting confrontation with a Siberian Husky breeder once, who was vehemently against all wolf dogs and wanted them outlawed, mainly because she felt so few people were qualified to handle them, and she went out of her way to harangue me about it, even with my well behaved and trained and socialized wolf dogs at my side, behaving better than her Siberians at a club outing I attended many years ago(I also had Siberians, which, incidentally, were also better behaved than her Siberians!). I made zero head way in my arguements to the contrary with her. Then during a club meeting the SAME DAY,(she was involved in Siberian Rescue) she went on and on about how difficult a breed Siberians were for the average person, and what an unfair rap the breed got because of all the ignorant people that got them, and scewed them up!!!!!. I couldn’t resist, of course, and suggested that obviously Siberians should also be OUTLAWED because of how few people gave them good homes(which is also quite true)–just like wolf hybrids! She had nothing to answer that with! And what an incredible shame if we DID lose Siberians or any other wonderful canine because of such sweeping, negative attitudes based on the idiot majority! Some kind of liscence or other screening control? Sure. Outlaw? Unfair and tragic. And Labpack, I do like to share my experiences I had with my wolf dogs with people–I learned a lot about wolves, dogs, and people, but it is often hard to ever get to the interesting facts involving them because of the negativity that exists, inaccurately, in the general publics’ opinion of them, alas. I believe the BEST policy is to do my best to tell the truth about them(good and bad) rather than just throw in the towel and agree with the shrill majority–I owe my own former faithful animals that, at least….


  8. on May 17, 2010 at 10:57 am wolfdogged

    Very interesting magazine for wolfdog fans like myself.
    http://wolfdogsmagazine.org/

    Better and more current info from WolfPark regarding the responsible ownership of these animals.
    http://www.wolfpark.org/wolfdogs/index.html


  9. on January 13, 2011 at 7:11 pm europasicewolf

    HooOOOOWWWWLLLLLLLLoooooo labpack :) Your post came up on related blogs following my own post on the Saarlooswolfhond/dog. Interesting reading here, and some interesting comments!

    I think one of the most important points about these beautiful animals, is the fact they still have a very high prey-drive making them unsuitable to have around young children…although I feel children should always be supervised around any dog no matter what the breed and temperament. You can never be 100% certain of them and every dog links back to a wolf.

    My other point would be that they also have a very strong pack instinct and need both a strong pack leader and an experienced handler or they will take on the role themselves…that’s when the problems begin!!

    If you’re interested in stopping by anytime (europasicewolf.wordpress.com/) and taking a look at my version of this fine wolf dog you’d be very welcome :) As would any comments you might have…good or bad!! I have one to post on the Czech W-dog too…but figure I’d better give my “pack”…lol…a brief break after the latest one and throw a different “bone” in to be chewed on! In the meantime labpack…I will back!!! :)


  10. on December 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm Andrew Ledford

    While wolf hybrids are controversial this looks like an interesting breed. I also find the additional resources helpful. I am interested in rare breeds especially the more primitive breeds. I’m hoping to travel to Northern Europe and this will be one of the dogs I would like to see and get to know better. http://petdogpro.com



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