People have repeatedly tried to crossbreed dogs and wolves. Despite the fact that these two types are quite similar to each other, it was still not possible to achieve normal results for a long time. However, the breeders managed to cope with the task and as a result, the Sarloos wolf dog was bred.
The Saarloos dog is one of the best hunting breeds
History of appearance
The creator of the breed is the Dutch breeder L. Sarloos, who in 1925 managed to obtain a hybrid litter from a German shepherd and a she-wolf. It is worth noting that the she-wolf, which was used by the breeder, lived all her life in the zoo with people. However, despite this, the puppies were born quite aggressive and not friendly.
At first L. Sarlos was dissatisfied with the result, but over time he managed to get quite strong, hardy and non-aggressive dogs.
Additional Information! In the early 60s of the last century, the breed was included in the register of the International Cynological Association.
How to choose a puppy
Hybrid breeds are low-fertility - there are no more than four puppies in a litter, and it is not a fact that each of them will have a full set of basic breed qualities. Therefore, puppies of exotic Russian Wolhunds are very expensive - the price of hybrids of the first and second generations starts from one hundred thousand rubles.
In childhood they at least slightly resemble malamutes, but this will soon pass
Today it is possible to purchase such a baby with confirmation of its breed only in Yulia Ivanovich’s nursery. Of course, in principle, anyone can follow the path of this breeder - to do this, you just need to find a male black Canadian wolf and mate him with a Malamute bitch: what happens is what happens... However, there are enterprising breeders who minimize for themselves difficulties and simply pass off large mongrel puppies that are somewhat similar to it as a rare breed - such dubious offers also come across on the Internet.
What you need to pay attention to when choosing an exotic baby Russian Wolfhund:
- on the head - its shape resembles a regular blunt wedge;
- in the eyes - they are not brown, like all dogs, but yellow, like a wolf's; in a very small puppy, the color of the iris should be sky blue, not gray;
- on the coat - it should be straight, without waves or creases, and very thick, “stuffed” due to the abundant undercoat;
- on gait - the limbs are very strong, slightly closer together, movements demonstrate a characteristic wolf gait (smooth and leisurely jogging: a sweeping trot or gallop).
Wolfhund puppies grow fast but mature slowly
Short description
Woland is a dog whose appearance completely resembles a wolf. It has not only a similar color, but also a head, body and paws. The dog's head is quite wide, the ears are small, and the body is elongated and very strong. The limbs are high and strong. The tail is rather low set. The body is covered with soft and dense hair.
From the German Shepherd, only service qualities and obedience were passed on to the representatives of the breed. It is thanks to this that you can successfully train them.
general description
Any wolf hybrid can only be kept in experienced hands; such a pet is categorically contraindicated for an amateur. And a dog as large and strong as the Russian Wolfhund can turn out to be especially dangerous if not properly trained.
Appearance
The appearance of the Russian Wolfhund can impress anyone - this dog really looks like a wolf. The average height at the withers of an adult male is about 77 cm (females - 74 cm); the body is very muscular and strong, rectangular in format. The weight of such an animal can be up to 40 kg.
Since the experimental breed is still far from official recognition, its main characteristics are not yet strictly regulated by the standard. But the founder of the breed, Yulia Ivanovich, clearly understands the desired type of dog, the formation of which is the strategic goal of her breeding work.
Despite its impressive dimensions, the Wolfhund weighs less than it might seem at first glance.
The exterior of the Russian Wolfhund should be as close as possible to that of a wolf. He has a large forehead with erect ears and yellow eyes, like those of a wolf. The muzzle is wedge-shaped, more elongated and pointed than that of the Malamute: it must have a light “mask” on it. The bridge of the nose is straight, the lips are thin and dry.
The limbs are very strong, but lean. The tail is set high, but does not curl into a ring, like a Malamute's - it is level or saber-shaped, and when excited it rises above the line of the back. Color - black, with some nuances and shades; White spots on the chest and paws are acceptable.
A pack of Wolfhounds looks creepy and even mystical
Purpose, character and behavior
It's hard to believe, but wolf children are sometimes more affectionate and obedient than some traditional domestic dog breeds. Wolfhunds are extremely attached to their owner; they constantly scan his mood and condition, and monitor the slightest danger. Animal intuition allows one to unmistakably recognize the intentions of someone who dares to threaten their loved one - in order to protect his life, the wolf-dog is ready to sacrifice his own at any moment. It is impossible to imagine a more reliable and selfless bodyguard.
Yulia Ivanovich's Wolfhounds successfully conduct canistherapy sessions and participate in practical seminars for psychologists on this topic. They are also very effective in search work: Bruce, the owner’s favorite, has already saved several human lives - the wolfdog easily finds tourists and mushroom pickers lost in the forest. These wonderful dogs also successfully perform sledding duties and participate in specialized competitions. The breeder of Russian Wolfhounds is convinced that the breed should be used for state purposes, and not to please someone’s personal ambitions.
Russian Wolfhounds took part in the Kalevala 2012 sled dog races
Living in a human family, the Wolhund carefully builds and maintains the hierarchy of this new pack, in which the owner dominates. But with regard to other family members, options are possible - it is important to raise the dog in such a way that it occupies the lowest rung in the hierarchical ladder, otherwise problems will certainly arise.
Wolfops treat small children indifferently, sometimes demonstratively trying not to notice them. But the wolf dog will not tolerate manifestations of familiarity, so it is better not to risk it and not leave it alone with the kids. But the Wolfhund is very interested in older children - he probably feels like equals with them and willingly takes part in children’s undertakings. Domestic animals may suffer from such a neighborhood - the wolf instinct of a hunter should not be discounted.
Yulia Ivanovich’s pets actively pose for photo shoots and even star in TV series - in the movies they “play” the roles of wolves. Directors praise four-legged actors for their talent and performance.
Russian Wolfhund - Internet star
Serious shortcomings
The main drawback for any hybrid breed of wolf-dogs is considered to be unmotivated manifestations of aggression, especially towards humans. Cowardly animals are equally not allowed for breeding. A stable psyche of producers, without pathological deviations, is no less important in breeding work than a beautiful breed exterior. This is a priority when it comes to such potentially dangerous hybrids as Wolfhunds.
Russian Wolfhounds do not yet participate in official dog shows, and therefore do not risk getting disqualified for their appearance or bad behavior. But to be admitted to breeding, the producer must have good health and mental health, and fully correspond to the standard of a young breed that is at the stage of formation.
Violations of the standard include, for example, the following deficiencies:
- any color except black;
- brown, not yellow eye color;
- tail too long;
- forehead too flat, etc.
Advantages and disadvantages
Loyalty is one of the main advantages of dogs.
The Saarloos Wolfhund, like most other types of dogs, has a number of advantages and disadvantages that every dog breeder should become familiar with. Among the advantages are the following:
- beautiful appearance;
- devotion and loyalty to the owner;
- endurance.
Important! Saarloos's dog is not without its faults. The main disadvantage is that such a dog is absolutely not suitable for beginners, as it is difficult to train.
History of the Russian Wolfhund breed
Interspecific hybrids of wolves and dogs have existed as long as these two species, wild and domestic, have lived nearby. Some wolf-dogs appeared spontaneously, others - to please the human plan to create a special animal with a mixed genotype.
With a wolf appearance - a devoted dog's heart
The goals of such crossings were different, as were their results. Today in the world there are several more or less stable hybrid breeds, including:
- Wolamuth;
- American Tundra Shepherd;
- Italian Lupo;
- Yulan dog;
- Kunming wolf dog;
- Canarian labito.
Most hybrids were purposefully bred for service in the army and law enforcement agencies, although not all of them managed to find application here. But Wolfhunds occupy a special place among wolf-dog crosses. The so-called pure Wolfhund is known - the Saarlos dog, the Czech Wolfhund (also known as the Wolfhound) and the Russian Wolfhund - a very young breed group created by the St. Petersburg animal artist Yulia Ivanovich. The name Wolfhund is literally translated from German as “wolf-dog” (“wolf” - wolf, “hund” - dog).
Photo gallery: what are Wolfhounds like?
The Russian Wolfhund is the youngest and largest breed of wolf-dog hybrids.
Nowadays, Saarlos Wolfhund dogs are used primarily as companions.
The Czech Wolfhund is a very loyal dog, its devotion extends to one owner, whom the dog chooses in the family himself
Julia's fascination with formidable predators began in 2006, when she left a black Canadian wolf named Charlie, who had been decommissioned from the circus, to die. He became the founder of her kennel - Ivanovich crossed Charlie with an Alaskan Malamute female and got excellent offspring. The cubs received the best qualities from their parents: from the father - strength, courage and an excellent sense of smell, from the mother - human orientation.
Yulia Ivanovich matched the wolf not with a German shepherd, as her predecessors did, but with a malamute
With this genetic material, the enthusiastic breeder continues the painstaking work of breeding a new breed, stabilizing the offspring and consolidating certain of its qualities. The canine community has an ambivalent attitude towards hybrid breeds, so much remains to be done for FCI recognition.
The Russian Wolfhund is almost indistinguishable from a wolf in appearance
General information and breed standards: color and appearance
Gray wool is the main distinguishing feature of the breed.
The breed standard was adopted at the end of the previous century. According to the accepted standard, the Saarloos dog has the following distinctive characteristics:
- Dimensions. The dog's height is not small, it grows up to 60-70 cm. Females can be 5-10 cm lower.
- Wool. Unlike the Czechoslovakian dog or the Czech wolfdog, the Sarloos breed has a rather thick and dense coat. Near the neck and belly it is slightly longer and thicker.
- Color. Most often, these dogs are painted gray. However, sometimes there are dogs with a darker and almost black color.
Additional Information! The least common dogs are those with silver and blue fur.
Description of the breed
Many experts consider the main advantage of this dog to be its somewhat rustic, often wild appearance. A luxurious “wolf head” with a slightly elongated muzzle, triangular, high-set ears, slightly slanted, but very attentive amber eyes - you must agree, such a wolf dog can attract attention. This beauty, with muscular and slightly dry limbs, really does look a lot like a wolf - well-developed, well-groomed, ready for long treks, and with great running speed.
The wolf dog moves as easily as its wild ancestor - widely and smoothly. A strong animal easily moves from one running pace to another.
The height at the withers of males reaches 75 cm, females are slightly lower (70 cm). Weight no more than 41 kg.
Maintenance and care
Walking outdoors is something that should be done every day.
People who are planning to get a Saarloss Wolfdog should become familiar with how to properly keep one. Saarloos care is carried out as follows:
- The Saarloh dog needs to be brushed once a week.
- It is recommended to bathe your pet only in spring or summer. This should be done 1-2 times a month.
- Walking should be done daily. You need to walk for at least two and a half hours.
- Your pet's ears should be checked daily and cleaned of accumulated wax and dirt.
- The claws are trimmed with a special nail clipper. This should be done once every 2-3 months.
- Teeth brushing is done twice a week. For this purpose, a special paste for dogs with the taste of fish or meat is used.
- The eyes are checked daily and debris removed if necessary.
- It is necessary to train and educate a dog from an early age. He should be trained not only in basic commands, but also in recognizing the smells of substances. If the dog is used for hunting purposes, it is taught to detect the scent of prey.
- Physical activity should be regular. Without them, animals' immunity weakens and they begin to get sick.
Character
Saarlos's dog has the temperament of a wolf, tempered by a German shepherd. This is an animal that quickly runs wild, it is unbalanced and prone to wandering. From the wolf she inherited hunting instincts - dexterity when hunting small game. The dog needs space and daily serious physical activity. Thanks to her luxurious “fur coat,” she can live outside at any time of the year.
The wolf dog is an independent creature, but at the same time it is very attached to people. This combination of qualities often makes learning difficult.
Life expectancy, major diseases and vaccinations
Cataracts are one of the most common diseases of dogs.
Dogs that are not sick with anything can live more than twenty years. However, sometimes their lifespan is reduced significantly due to illness. The most common diseases of this breed include:
- glaucoma;
- fiber atrophy;
- myelopathy;
- cataract;
- vertebral spondylosis.
Important! To strengthen your immune system and prevent diseases, you need to get vaccinated. It is necessary to vaccinate from an early age so that dogs do not get sick.
Mating
It is necessary to breed and produce offspring of Sarlos dogs after the physiological maturity of the animals. In females, the period of maturity begins at the age of 10-12 months. Males mature 2-3 months later. When mating animals, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- before mating, animals must be treated in advance for parasites;
- It is recommended to breed bitches no more than once a year;
- for mating, only healthy dogs, without diseases, should be used;
- Mating takes place two weeks before the start of estrus.
Important! Animals should only be kept in a quiet place, without extraneous noise.
Health
In terms of body strength, a wolf dog can compete with some half-breed mongrels, which are famous for their resistance to infections and viruses. Some are even able to survive canine distemper on their own, although such cases are rare.
The Wolfhound is not a sickly breed. His wolf ancestors rewarded their descendant with amazingly good health. The only thing you should monitor is the condition of your teeth and ears, as mentioned above. Periodic checking of the condition of the nose (it should be wet) will replace diagnostic trips to the veterinarian. Of course, if the owner is worried about his pet, once a year you can visit the clinic and make sure that your four-legged friend is in excellent health.
Nutrition
Raw meat is the basis of a dog’s diet.
It is very important to properly create a diet for a dog. It is recommended to feed her raw meat daily. Also, your pet should eat cereals, dairy products and vegetables to saturate the body with vitamins.
You can also feed Sarloos dogs with special food. They should contain minerals, vitamin complexes and natural ingredients.
Choosing a puppy
It is necessary to buy puppies only from specialized nurseries. You cannot purchase such animals by hand, as this is quite unsafe - you can buy an uncontrollable and aggressive dog.
When choosing a puppy, you need to pay attention to its appearance. The pet should not look sick. You also need to find out information about the puppy’s parents. You should not buy dogs that show aggression from an early age.
How to name
When choosing a dog name, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- you need to choose nicknames that will be well recognized;
- you should not choose a complex name, it should be one or two syllables;
- the name must not be similar to the name of a particular team;
- Don't call dogs by human names.
Important! The chosen nickname should be easy to pronounce.
Owner reviews
Andrey
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is not a pet for weak-willed or lazy people. Such an animal needs the firm hand of the owner; the puppy needs to be shown from childhood who is the leader in the tandem. In addition, wolfdogs need to be walked for a long time, taken on nature trips or morning jogs so that the dog uses up energy. I would not recommend buying a puppy for those who cannot devote enough time to working with it. Czech tops cannot stand loneliness and are very devoted to their owners, so you need to communicate with them as much as possible.
Denis
I have heard a lot about how Czech top dogs often show stubbornness during training and do not follow commands if they do not consider it necessary to do so. I would question this assertion, since I am not sure that dogs have the intelligence at such a level to evaluate the “need” or “unnecessity” of an order. From my own experience, I can say that dogs of this breed can simply be mischievous and stubborn, and this happens most often when the animal becomes bored or the dog gets tired. If you diversify your training and do not force your pet to constantly “fetch the wand” or monotonously perform any other exercise, there will be no problems with his training.
Jadekate
I keep it for about a week. It was not possible to buy a puppy, he is about 3 years old. An excellent security guard. Yes, you need to walk with him quite a lot and the first days were hard, but he got used to it and is already playing. As for spoiling nothing, I haven’t spoiled anything yet. Friendly to my 2nd bull terrier puppy. A strong and smart wolf. Yes, it's hard sometimes. I used to try to bite in the first days, but now I’m used to it. Yes, a wolf needs a firm hand, but once you raise it, you will see that nothing else can replace the wolf’s loyalty.
Sergey
I have been the owner of a Czech Wolfdog dog for 2 years now. I was very interested in this breed. Before I bought it I had a Rottweiler. The dog breeders I knew were very scared about his character, but I still decided. I adopted a three month old male. Of course, the appearance was frightening at first; everyone said it was a wolf. But everything turned out to be much simpler, the character is similar to a German shepherd, and is easy to train (first group FCI).
Of course, he turned out to be a wayward child, but it’s like people, everyone has a different character, he recognizes only one owner, but he treats the rest of the family very well. At 9 months he was already independently guarding his territory. Very friendly towards other dogs. Loves to chase cats and birds. The breed is little known in Russia, but is seen quite often at foreign exhibitions. Today my baby has the titles of Young Champion of Russia, Champion of Russia, Champion of Ukraine, Champion of the RKF. We will continue to continue our exhibition career. Well, I recommend this breed to everyone who wants to buy a reliable guard.
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Interesting Facts
Jackals are close relatives of the breed.
Some interesting facts about Saarloos wolf dogs:
- the breed's closest relatives are not wolves, but jackals;
- if you do not train such dogs, they can become very aggressive;
- Saarloos puppies have no fear of thunderstorms.
The Saarloos dog is a fairly popular breed in Russia and abroad. Many dog breeders breed them at home. However, before you buy a puppy, you need to familiarize yourself with the description of these animals and the features of caring for them.
Wolfhund price
It is quite difficult to buy a purebred Wolfhund in the CIS. In our regions it is not often possible to find nurseries for breeding these breeds. Although over time, Wolfhounds become popular and professional breeders began to increasingly focus on breeding these breeds.
The price of a Wolfhund can be from 50 to 120 thousand rubles , depending on the purity of the breed, age and color of the animal. Before purchasing such a dog, you need to make sure that the seller is reliable and that the accompanying documents are available.
According to reviews from professional dog breeders, Wolfhund dogs are very devoted and faithful to their owners. They have a negative attitude towards violence and shouting. Some pets are great at following the trail and can help in any search. Confined spaces have a bad effect on the dog’s general condition; frequent walks in the fresh air significantly improve the pet’s tone.
