Saarloos  Wolfshond 

History
This still relatively young dog breed from the Netherlands has received its name from the founder of this breeding, Mr. Leendert Saarloos (16.11.1884 -13.01.1969). He wanted to create a dog breed that possess no degeneration appearance, for that however a natural resistance  against the most deceased illnesses and yet the sharp senses of the wolf. The dog should contribute the advantages in this intersection, that the domesticity gave to it in thousands of years , namely the bonding to the humans, absencely escape distance in real and supposed danger, learn enthusiasm into the high age etc. His later aim mattered an attentive, intelligent, useable dog, which could be trained quickly,  based on its excellent nose, to a trackhound and its innate caution and its quick power of reaction, as well as a police dog, rescue dog and seeing-eye-guide. In priority however L. Saarloos concerned a thoroughly healthy "not degenerate" dog. Because the wolf possessed many of this desirable characteristic ,he selected a she-wolf ("Fleur" , a European wolf, that he bought from the zoological garden of Blijdorp in Rotterdam) as one of his ancestor parents for his breed and the german shepherd  "Gerard van Fransenum" (Axel v. Stubersheim x Wotan's Irmhild), out of Prussian descent.  Gerard's ancestry have served and proved in the first world war their pluck and good to train.
"Fleur" originated from the sibirian branch of the European wolf. That is why some  Saarloos Wolfhonds have Russian names yet today, in imitation of its ancestress . ( By the way the first wolf died at distemper before the breeding insert.) L. Saarloos' first litter came in spring 1936. Unfortunately the puppies all died within a month at the feared dog plague, that probably a visitor brought along. But Saarloos did not lost his courage and in the following year he had puppies again, 2 grey females ("Pittha" and "Fleurie") and one male dog ("Barré"). Unfortunately  these animals were also infected and the male dog died at the results of the epidemic, but both bitches survived.  Because Saarloos needed for the further breeding one male halfwolf, he coupled once again "Gerard" and "Fleur" in the spring of 1938. In this litter there were 6 bitches and also one male puppy. And only this male puppy, also called "Barré", was retained, the bitches were selected. The F2-generation was the result of the cross back of the bitches with their father, what would produce 75% dog and 25% wolf: Saarloos crossed "Fleurie" with her father in order to eliminate the shyness, and he reserved two of the 7 pups for the further breeding: "Largo" and "Kaja".  And already there was the first brown Saarloos Wolfhond : namely "Kaja". Speculations over alleged outcrosses with Huskys in because of the red color therefor are totally absurd. Certainly "Kaja"  was not used then probably for the breeding.  

GENERAL APPEARANCE   Firm type in constitution. Above average size with rectangular frame. In body shape, movement, coat texture, colour of coat and mask, similar to the wolf.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Length of body : Height at Withers : 10 : 9
Length of muzzle : Length of cranial region : 1 : 1.5.

BEHAVIOUR-TEMPERAMENT:
Lively, active, tough, obedient with quick reactions, fearless and courageous. Shows tremendous loyalty towards his master. Resistant to weather conditions. Versatile in his uses.

HEAD
Symmetrical, well muscled. Seen from the side and from above, it forms a blunt wedge. Sex should be unmistakable.

CRANIAL REGION:
Seen from the side and from the front, the forehead is slightly arched. No marked frontal furrow. Occipital bone clearly visible.
Stop: Moderate.

FACIAL REGION

NECK
Dry, well muscled. In repose forms an angle of up to 40 degrees to the horizontal. The neck must be sufficiently long for the nose to touch the ground effortlessly.

BODY Topline: Flowing transition from neck to body. Sloping away slightly.
Withers: Well muscled, pronounced. Though pronounced, they must not interrupt the flow of the top line.
Back: Firm and straight.
Loins: Short, well muscled, not broad, sloping slightly.
Croup: Short, well muscled, not broad, falling away slightly.
Chest: Symmetrical, well muscled, roomy, pear shaped and narrowing towards the sternum. The depth of chest does not reach to the elbows. The point of the sternum does not extend beyond the shoulder joints.
Lower line and belly: Taut belly, tucked up. Slightly hollow in flanks.

TAIL
Set on high, hanging straight down. When dog is excited, generally raised up in sickle shape.

HINDQUARTERS   Powerful. The hind legs stand parallel. An imaginary vertical line drawn from the point of the ischium, would run midway through the hock joint. Dew-claws not desirable and should be removed.
Upper thigh: Long, well muscled. Forms an angle of 80 degrees to the pelvis. The hip joint is sturdy and flexible.
Knee: Strong, flexible.
Lower thigh: Long, clean, well muscled. Forms an angle of about 130 degrees with the metatarsus.
Hock joint: Clean, solid, flexible.
Hocks: Long, clean. Position almost vertical to the ground.
Hind feet: Longish, arched toes with strong dark nails. Well defined pads.

MOVEMENT
Harmonious, light footed, ground covering trot in which the limbs skim over the ground as closely as possible. Head and neck incline to the horizontal. Pacing when walking.

SKIN
Elastic, tight, without wrinkles, unpigmented.

HINDQUARTERS Powerful. The hind legs stand parallel. An imaginary vertical line drawn from the point of the ischium, would run midway through the hock joint. Dew-claws not desirable and should be removed.
Upper thigh: Long, well muscled. Forms an angle of 80 degrees to the pelvis. The hip joint is sturdy and flexible.
Knee: Strong, flexible.
Lower thigh: Long, clean, well muscled. Forms an angle of about 130 degrees with the metatarsus.
Hock joint: Clean, solid, flexible.
Hocks: Long, clean. Position almost vertical to the ground.
Hind feet: Longish, arched toes with strong dark nails. Well defined pads.

MOVEMENT
Harmonious, light footed, ground covering trot in which the limbs skim over the ground as closely as possible. Head and neck incline to the horizontal. Pacing when walking.

SKIN
Elastic, tight, without wrinkles, unpigmented.

COAT   MAKE UP OF COAT: Straight, close. Winter and summer coat differ greatly. In winter an immense undercoat together with the topcoat, forms a thick coat all over the body. It is necessary for the hair to cover the belly, the inside of the upper thigh, the scrotum, the inner part of the ears and the area between the toes. Well coated neck.
COLOUR: Yellowish-gray to silver-gray with a characteristic light mask. Light hair also on the underside of the neck and the forechest. Dark gray colour with mask is permissible.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
Height at Withers:
Dogs at least 65 cm
Bitches at least 60 cm
Weight:
Dogs at least 26 kg
Bitches at least 20 kg

DISQUALIFICATION   A drop ear or ears.  
Faults***   Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness should with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note***    Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.  

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