Saarloos Wolfdog

Also known as: Sarloos

In 1935 Dutch breeder Leendert Saarloos crossed his German Shepherd with a wolf from the Rotterdam zoo, hoping for a hardier working dog, and ended up instead with a breed that still behaves more like a wolf than a herder. An adult male can reach 41 kilograms on a long, lean frame built for sustained trotting rather than sprinting. The dense double coat and wolfish head shape make the ancestry obvious at a glance. This is a dog that stays wary of strangers by instinct and will spend hours testing a fence line for a way out. Standard obedience methods often fall flat, since the Saarloos tends to weigh whether a task is even worth its attention. The Dutch tried using the breed as guide dogs for the blind for a while before concluding its unpredictability made that unworkable. Kept as a pet, it needs an experienced owner and a large, securely fenced space. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Saarloos Wolfdog: how old in human years?

60–75 cmHeight
30–41 kgWeight
10–12 yrsLife expectancy

Schapendoes

FCI group: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
FCI section: Section 1: Sheepdogs
FCI: 311
Country of origin: Netherlands

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

2/5
Family friendly

3/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Height

Males 65–75 cm

Females 60–70 cm

Weight

Males 36–41 kg

Females 30–36 kg

Life expectancy

10–12 yrs

Coat

dense double coat, wolf-like (medium-length)

Temperament & Family Life

Saarloos Wolfdog's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is low.

Family friendly 3/5
Good with children 2/5
Good with other dogs 2/5
Friendly with strangers 1/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 2/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Saarloos Wolfdog's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 3/5

Guarding & Alertness

Saarloos Wolfdog's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 3/5
Barking level 1/5

Grooming & Care

Saarloos Wolfdog's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 2/5

Living with the Saarloos Wolfdog

If you've ever watched a Saarloos Wolfdog stop in the middle of a path, lift its head and test the wind for a long moment, you'll understand why this dog isn't for everyone. It is big and long-legged, can keep moving for hours, and is oddly quiet: it seldom barks, but it misses nothing. It needs plenty of exercise every day, ideally long hikes through woods or fields rather than a quick lap of the block.

Temperament matters most here. With its own family it is devoted and gentle, but with strangers it is wary to the point of shyness, and in a new or noisy place it may simply want to get away. It makes a poor guard: faced with the unknown, it would rather watch from a distance than defend its ground. That is why early, patient socialisation with people, sounds and places is a necessity, not an extra.

Training calls for calm, consistency and a great deal of patience: this is a clever but independent dog that cooperates when it trusts you, not when it is told to. A flat is too cramped for it, and it doesn't like long stretches alone. It doesn't always get on easily with small children or other dogs, and its prey drive is strong, so keep small pets apart. If you have the time, the space and experience with dogs, you get a reserved, loyal and endlessly interesting companion.

Grooming and coat

A Saarloos Wolfdog's coat is what you'd expect on a dog that looks like a wolf: medium length and dense, with a thick undercoat that keeps out cold and damp. It doesn't need daily care; a weekly session with a brush and comb lifts out the dead hair and lets you check for felting behind the ears and on the back legs, where the coat is thickest.

When the undercoat changes, there will be hair everywhere: on the floor, on the sofa and on your black trousers. In those weeks comb every few days, ideally outdoors, and keep the vacuum handy. Baths can be rare, since washing too often only strips the coat's natural oils. Check nails, ears and teeth regularly, and because this dog dislikes being handled by strangers, start handling routines early and calmly.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (41 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 430 g of dry food a day, from €23,66 a month For a neutered, normally active 35,8 kg dog. Calculate for your dog