Kennel Yoi-Inu
Breeder of Akita-Inu and Saarloos wolfhound
In Norwegian
Presentation of the breed
SAARLOOS WOLFHOUND
Standard

The Saarloos Wolfhond Kennel Yoi-Inu The autor coowns this kennel with her husband Leif . We are to our knowledgement the only breeder of Saarloos Wolfhond in Scandinavia. We also own and breed Akitas. We have known the Saarloos Wolfhond since 1989, and got our first dog, a bitch in 1991. There are two litters bred in Norway (1996 and -97), with 7 puppies as result. Today we own ourself four puppies and the dame. We are planning to have litter in 2001 or 2002 on a lovely young bitch. In the rest of Scandinavia there are just one known Saarloos Wolfhond, that is a male in Denmark. There are rumours about one in Finland but that is not confirmed to be a Saarloos Wolfhond. Some people sometimes like to tell others that they have a Saarloos Wolfhond, when they actually have an unregistrated hybrid. It is important to see the FCI registration papers to be sure about the breed and also have in mind that this is a very rare breed with total about four hundred individs wordwide.
The historical aspect This breed is called after its creator Leendert Saarloos and was recognized as a new canine breed by the «Raad van Beheer op Kynologisch Gebied» in the Netherlands in 1975 and by the F.C.I. in 1981. Leendert Saarloos had great interest in genetics but above all he was a man of practical experience. He crossed the female European wolf «Fleur» from the Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam with the German Sheperd – male Gerhard van de Fransenum.
Over the years, he selected for health and character from the wolf / dog progeny, breeding the get back to the German Sheperds. Despite setbacks, he persisted, seeking the advice of a Dutch geneticist, professor L. Hagendoorn. Saarloos got some successes in using these «European Wolfdogs» as dog guides for the blinds, having the cautiousness ad the fast reaction of the wolf, and the devotion and fidelity of the dog. About 300 blinds have had a Sarloos Wolfhond as a guide. He also tried to encourage their use as police and rescue dogs. Some specimens showed a talent, but most of them missed the ferocity for attaching.
He fought a continual battle against the wild wolf characteristics of caution, reserve and flight in his breeding program. He had full controll over the breeding program and the wolfdogs until he died in 1969. He died before his dream of a recognized breed was realized. Other owners of the wolfdogs manage finally to atain recognition from the Dutch Kennel Club for these dogs in 1975. They honored the father of the breed by changing the name to Saarloos Wolfhond.
The Saarloos Wolfhond - today The assosiation is very strict in its requirements against hip dysplasia, spondylosis of the spine and other healt and temperament problems. Causual breeding is discourage. The breeder often keep an grip on the puppies after giving them new homes in coowning them . Saarloos wolfhonds are very strongwilled and do not take easy to obedience or schutzhund work. They are pack oriented and need a strong alpha leader and a sosial atmosphere. Owners must establish the dominant alpha positions, be calm and willing to spend time, effort and patient training. It is inportent to use a high degree of positiv reinforcement.
They do usually well with other dogs and in packs, with a leader emerging and keeping order. It is an advantage to have other dogs when getting a Saarloos puppy. The breed is quiet, seldom barking, alerting homeowners in other ways. They dislike to be left alone and have to be trained from the start to accept it, otherwise they might make big efforts to get out of the house or cage. They are suited as family dog for experienced people because of their reliable and devoted character. They are not the right choice if you are eager to have for excample an obidience or agility star. But they can very well do this thing properly, when they are on known ground. Its harder to get them to do it in an competition with strange people and surroundings. You can also train them to be Show dogs, the Saarloos male who won Group 1 at the Word Dogshow in Finland in 1998 gives us a good example of this. Most dogs gain selfconfidence true life, thats why young dogs are much more shy than old ones. Old dogs can actually bee not reserved at all. Usually young females are more reserved than young males. Their apperance and very typical gait like that of a wolf, make them impressive.

Standard
Apperance The Saarloos Wolfdog is a powerful, wolfish coarse-haired dog. The male stands 65 to 75 cms (24 - 28 inches); the female stands 60 to 70 cms (22 - 26 inches). Although the oval bone is powerful, it must be coarse. The Saarloos Wolfhond’s built is harmonious, the legs are long without the dog giving a long-legged impression, There is a clear difference in apperance and air between the male and female. The Saarloos Wolfdog should give the impression of an alert, cautious and affectionate dog with a reserved attitude towards persons and circumstances unknown to it. There should however, be no sighns of nervousness. One of the striking characteristics of the The Saarloos Wolfdog is an independance of action.
Head The head must give a wolf-like impression and its size must be in harmony with the body. The skull is broad and smooth with a light curvature between the ears and it is gradually wedge-shaped towards the eyes. The sides are also smooth without recesses. The occiput must not show clearly. The change to a powerful well-filled muzzke consist of a light stop. The extension from the point of the nose to the stop is more or less similar to the extension from the occiput to the stop. The muzzle should not be pointed. The nose is broad and firm and according to the colour of the coat black or liver coloured. The lips are well-closed and do not hang over. The Saarloos Wolfdog has a complete and powerful set of scissor shaped incisors.
Eyes The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped and slightly inclining, preferable yellow. The expression is alert and at the same time reserved.
Ears The ears are erected and medium-sized and end up slightly pointed from a wide basis. They are fleshy, well-haired on the inside and slightly inclining.
Neck The neck is dry, muscular and gradually passes into the rump.
Rump The rump are slightly more long than the hight of the dog (mesured at the withers). The back is straight and strong, the loins powerful and muscular, and the croup is not too narrow and incline normal. The brisket is broad with well-vaulted ribs and does not reach under the elbows.
Tail The tail is joined rather deep and carried in the shape of a sabre when in rest and does not show much movement. The Saarloos Wolfdog can carry its tail in upward position when in action and when showing dominant behaviour.
Scapula The shoulder blades are long, slantingly positioned and well joined. The forehand is well-hooked with straight legs and an elastic metatarsus. A slightly outwards position of the forefeet is allowed.
Backhand The backhand is normally hooked, powerful and muscular and it may be slightly cow-heeled
Feet The feet are slightly oval, well-closed with slightly bent toes and firm elastic cushions
Gait The gait of The Saarloos Wolfdog is light and loose and fexible but cautious, so that a quick change of speed is possible The gait is very typical and resembles that of the wolf. Coat The Saarloos Wolfdog is coarse-haired dog with very dense wooly inner hairs and firm guard hairs, which form an obvious collar around the neck.
Colour The occuring colours range from light to dark shaded black wild-type (the so called wolf-gray), from light to dark shaded brown wild-type (the so called wood- brown), and very light cream to white.Other colours are not allowed. Wolf-grey dogs must have black noses, the wood-brown ones liver-coloured noses, and the white dogs preferable black noses, although a flesh-tinted nose is allowed with such a dog
Faults Flap or lop-ears and a stiff curl in the tail are considered serious faults
Autoress: Torine Sørensen
Acknowledgment: Leendert Saarloos Stichting (Nederland), breed portrait in the german: Der hund, Internett articles, Dog books and own experinces true knowing the breed since 1989 and breeding them and owning five Saarloos Wolfdogs.

Copyright © 1999 Kennel Yoi-Inu, Leif og Torine Sørensen
tlf. (+47) 69 28 70 26

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Copyright © 1999 Kennel Yoi-Inu

Denne hjemmeside er laget av Freddy Rune Lund
Siste oppdatering 2. Mai 1999