Wolf Dog

History, origin & features

The wolfhound is a hybrid breed of dog that, as its name suggests, is related to the wolf. It is thought that the wolfhound was developed by cross-breeding domestic dogs with wild wolves. Wolfdogs were originally used as working dogs for hunting and herding. They have also been used as guard and protection dogs. In the past, the breed has been misunderstood, leading to a poor reputation. Today, however, wolfhounds are recognized for their intelligence, loyalty and stable temperament. Cross-breeding between dog and wolf was intentionally carried out to combine the characteristics of each species. The aim was to increase the canine's physical capabilities while keeping the animal easy to domesticate. The two breeds recognized as wolfdogs are the Czechoslovakian wolfdog and the Saarloos wolfdog. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a breed developed from German shepherds and wild Carpathian wolves in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. The Saarloos Wolfdog was created in the 1930s by Leendert Saarloos. It was conceived by crossing a Siberian she-wolf and a German shepherd.