Saarlooswolfhond vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison

There are conflicting views as to where the Carlin Pinscher hails from, with some reports saying France and others the USA. The names of some breeders suggest it could be France.

The dog hasn’t got a long history, being developed only in the early 1900s. Two breeders, Morgan and Buenafe left their Miniature Pinscher with a Pug owner for a while and on return discovered that the dogs had mated, producing puppies which looked like miniature Rottweilers.

It was in 1998 that a breeding program began and a Boxer was also brought into the mix to improve the characteristics of the dog. The dog is still being developed and isn’t recognized by the major kennel clubs.

Dutch breeder Leendert Saarloos began to breed German Shepherds to a European wolf. His goal was to bring out a dog that was more hard working.

The Dutch Kennel Club recognized this dog breed in 1975, and to give honor to the breeder, they gave the name to the dog - Saarloos Wolfdog. The dog was also recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale.

Today the Saarloos is regarded as a pet and companion. It was in 2015 that a study found that this dog showed more genetic association with the gray wolf.

The Carlin Pinscher has been developed to be a social and loving companion. Started as a cross between a Miniature Pinscher and Pug, other breeds have also been brought in. He still has varied appearances, often looking like a tiny Rottweiler but also looking like anything between the Miniature Pinscher or the Pug.

This is a small sized dog standing at anything from 27- to 33 cm and weighing 5 or 6kg. The body is compact with sturdy legs coming from the Pug side. The skull is a dome shape, the ears can be erect or floppy and unless the tail is docked it can be long, curling somewhat over the back. The coat is short and smooth and comes in shades of tan, brown and black.

Temperament:

The Carlin Pinscher is small but with a strong personality, being gentle and sweet in nature. He promises to be a loyal and affectionate companion for his human family, loving to be involved in all their activities.

He is an energetic, playful little dog and also intelligent, so apart from a walk and ball games, he’ll need some toys for indoors too that can provide physical- and mental stimulation. With early training and socialization, the Carlin Pinscher is a good friend of children and he will get on well with other pets in the house too. He is a small dog so children should be supervised and taught to handle him with gentleness and kindness.

The Saarloos Wolfdog is a large dog standing at between 60–75cm male and female and weighing between 30 and 45kg. He is athletic and muscular with a short, dense coat. Colors are wolf-grey, white and red. The Saarloos has wolf-like expressions so the ears are erect, the muzzle pointed and the tail long and plumed. They eyes are a yellow color. The face is bright and alert, showing how intelligent he is.

Temperament

The Saarloos Wolfhound is full of energy so will be looking toward his owner to come up with good exercise for him.

A walk will always be welcome, but for such a lively dog, he’ll want something more energetic such as a hike, swimming, being allowed to run off his leash in the park and lots of vigorous ball- and rope games.

He is an independent dog and for this reason you’ll want him trained and socialized to make him obedient. He is loyal and loving but some of his wolf-like characteristics might mean that he isn’t a good choice for the first-time dog owner. If the first time dog owner is firm, consistent, strong and kind, then everything will be alright.

The Carlin Pinscher makes an ideal little pet and he will be content to live in a small home in the city or in the country, just so long as he is with an owner who loves and cares for him. They are balanced, easy-to-get-along-with dogs, being even-tempered, playful and outgoing.

He is active, intelligent, strong-willed, stubborn and brave. It is true that people who have kept mixed-breed dogs rave about them. Certainly mixed breed dogs have earned themselves a reputation for being superb family pets. They’re healthy, feisty, quaint and entertaining.

These days many mixed breeds are no longer pavement specials but part of careful breeding, such as with the Carlin Pinscher. He is full of personality and makes a great family pet, getting along with other animals and also being good around children.

The Saarloos Wolfhound is a beautiful wolf-like dog that is full of life and energy. When you bring him into your life, you’re going to to have a wonderful addition to your family.

He is an independent dog that is strong-willed so it pays to have him trained and socialized, and then he becomes a balanced, well mannered dog that is loving and loyal with his beloved human family.

The Carlin Pinscher is a feisty little dog who can live to be up to 13, 14 or 15 years of age. He is a fairly healthy breed too, but there will always be some issues that the Carlin Pinscher might be prone to. Typical dog ailments include eye problems, hip dysplasia, liver problems, skin- and dental problems.

Liver Disease:

All liver problems with a dog are serious and will need veterinary intervention. A noticeable symptom of liver disease is jaundiced yellowing of the white of the eye. You might even see a yellowing on the underside of the ear flap. Your pet will have loss of appetite, constipation as well as highly colored urine.

A well bred Saarloos Wolfhound is regarded as very healthy, and with good care they can reach up to 12, 13, 14 or 15 years of age.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common canine disease which comes about when a dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. For a dog diagnosed with hip dyslasia it can be painful lying down and getting around.

Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, but diet also plays a part as well as environmental factors. All dogs breeds are susceptible to hip dysplasia. Try and avoid your dog putting on too much weight as then it puts excessive strain on the joints. There are different treatment options to make it more comfortable for your pet.

Grooming:

With his short, smooth coat, the Carlin Pinscher is a low to moderate shedder who is easy to maintain. The short coat will simply need a brush-down twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. If he is dusty, you can wipe the coat down with a warm, damp cloth.

Diet:

Every dog, large or small needs a balanced diet that consists of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. A well balanced diet keeps a dog healthy but also in shape. A dog requires certain ingredients in its diet, depending on age, activity levels, size and stage of life such as pregnancy or illness.

For starters, dogs need fresh, cool water at all times. If you’re confused about dry kibble or semi-moist dog food for instance, speak to your vet about what your Carlin Pinscher needs. It’s always good to give your pet variety, so mixing in some rice, vegetables and meat will be wonderful for your pet as will some raw meat from time to time.

Exercise:

He’s an active dog so he will need a good dose of exercise to keep that muscular, lean look.

Grooming:

You will need to brush the dense double coat twice a week to ensure the removal of loose hairs and to keep the coat shiny and glossy. Trim his nails and check inside his mouth as he can’t tell you when he has a rotten tooth which can cause a lot of pain.

Diet:

Feed puppies 4x a day.

Puppies 6 months on can have 2 meals a day.

Always feed your dog premium-quality dry food. Twice a week you can add home-made food to the dry kibble as a tasty treat. Add boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up and a portion added to the kibble. The rest can be frozen and then a portion warmed up for another meal.

Try and add some raw meat to his food occasionally as this helps to keep skin problems at bay.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Your pet needs a warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep to call his own.

If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, make sure there is both shade and sun.

Spaying and Neutering – beneficial if you don’t want puppies.

Vaccinations for puppies and adults to stave off deadly canine diseases.