Saarloos wolfdog
Saarlooswolfdog | |||||||||||||
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Other names | Dutch Wolfdog Saarlooswolfhond | ||||||||||||
Origin | Netherlands | ||||||||||||
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Dog ( domestic dog ) |
The Saarlooswolfdog (Dutch: Saarlooswolfhond, German: Saarlooswolfhund) is a wolfdog breed originating from the Netherlands by the crossing of a German Shepherd with a Siberian grey wolf in 1935.[1] The offspring were then further crossed with German Shepherds.
History
Leendert Saarloos (1884–1969) was a Dutch
Genetic evidence
In 2015, a DNA study found that the Saarlooswolfdog showed more genetic association with the grey wolf than any other breed, which is in agreement with the documented historical crossbreeding with grey wolves in this breed.
Description
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
The Saarlooswolfdog is a strongly built dog whose build, coat and movement is wolf-like. The height is between 65–75 cm (26–30 in) in males and 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in females.[2] It weighs up to 45 kg (100 lb). It is an athletic dog in build, with medium bone, and a strong and muscular body. It moves lightly on its feet and has an elegant march. Its coat is short and dense, providing good protection from the weather. There are three colours: wolfgrey, forestbrown and white. Because the wolfgrey genes are dominant, this is the most common colour. Genes for white colour are recessive, making this uncommon although this colour is accepted. The Saarloos has wolf-like expressions, as well as a wolf-like head.
Training
This breed needs thorough socialization before the twelfth week of age to ensure prosocial behavior.[6]
Outcross program
The two Dutch parent breed clubs for Saarlooswolfdogs researched possibilities to improve the breed's health by increasing
Two types of outcrosses are used in the outcross programme. The first type is the use of so-called 'look-alikes', which are dogs that resemble a Saarlooswolfdog, but that don't have a pedigree or that belong to a breed that isn't recognized by the FCI.[8] The second type is the use of several FCI-recognized breeds. The breeds to be used are chosen by breed club members and agreed upon by majority vote. The procedure for both types of outcrosses is the same. The outcross is performed and the F1 generation is produced. The F1 is evaluated and fully health screened, and the best individuals are chosen to contribute to the next generation. This is done by breeding them back to purebred Saarlooswolfdogs, which produces the F2 generation. The F2 is again evaluated and health tested, and the best individuals are bred back to Saarlooswolfdogs to produce the F3 generation. The offspring of an F3 with a purebred Saarlooswolfdog (F4) will get an official pedigree and be recognized as a purebred. In order to maintain proper breed type, purebred breeding of Saarlooswolfdogs must continue alongside the outcross program.[9]
As of January 2019, the following outcrosses have been performed:
- White Swiss Shepherd (currently in the F3) [10]
- Siberian Husky (currently in the F2) [11]
- Ibizan Hound (currently in the F2) [12]
- Norwegian Elkhound (currently in the F3) [13]
- Look-alike Northern Inuit Dog (currently in the F3) [14]
See also
References
- ^ FCI breed standard
- ^ a b Saarlooswolfhond (PDF), FCI, retrieved 25 September 2014
- PMID 26004765.
- S2CID 206647686.
- PMID 31757998.
- ISBN 9780785819998.
- ^ Dutch breed club for Saarloos wolfdogs, plan of approach. https://avls.nl/plan-van-aanpak/
- ^ Dutch breed club for Saarloos wolfdogs, evaluating look-alikes. https://avls.nl/aankeuren-lookalike-2/
- ^ Dutch breed club for Saarloos wolfdogs, plan of approach. https://avls.nl/plan-van-aanpak/
- ^ White Swiss Shepherd outcross updates. https://avls.nl/zwitserse-witte-herder/
- ^ Siberian Husky outcross updates. https://avls.nl/working-husky/
- ^ Ibizan Hound outcross updates. https://avls.nl/podenco-ibicenco/
- ^ Norwegian Elk-Hound outcross updates. https://avls.nl/noorse-elandhond/
- ^ Look-alike outcross updates. https://avls.nl/lookalikes/