Home / Breeds / Compare / Rottweiler vs Saarloos Wolfdog
A well raised Rottweiler is a calm, confident and deeply loyal family guardian. Netherlands produced the Saarloos Wolfdog, a large herding breed bred to move sheep and cattle with eye, bark and body, working all day beside the shepherd or farmer. This page puts the two side by side on the numbers that actually differ: size, exercise, grooming, what each costs to keep, and the health tests a breeder should show you.
The biggest gap is size: the middle of the Rottweiler weight range is about 107.5 lb against 84.5 lb for the Saarloos Wolfdog.
The next biggest gap is monthly cost: the modeled total is about $153 a month for the Rottweiler against $108 for the Saarloos Wolfdog.
The third gap worth noting is lifespan: the middle of the Saarloos Wolfdog range is 11 years against 9.5 years for the Rottweiler.
| Rottweiler | Saarloos Wolfdog | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Working | Working |
| Origin | Germany | Netherlands |
| Height | 22 to 27 in | 24 to 30 in |
| Weight | 80 to 135 lb | 79 to 90 lb |
| Lifespan | 9 to 10 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Coat | Short to medium double coat, straight and coarse on top. | Dense double coat: a harsh, straight outer coat of medium length over a thick, woolly undercoat that changes with the seasons. It sheds heavily at the blow out. |
| Temperament | Loyal, confident, calm and protective | Alert, hardworking, sensitive and deeply bonded |
| Energy | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Trainability | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 2 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Shedding | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Barking | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| With children | Better with older children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | With early socialization | Usually good with dogs |
| With strangers | Wary of strangers | Reserved with strangers |
| Apartment fit | Not ideal | Not ideal |
| Daily exercise | 60 to 90 min | 60 to 120 min |
| Food per month (model) | $58 (5.5 cups a day) | $48 (4.5 cups a day) |
| Insurance per month (model) | $70 to $120 | $42 to $77 |
| Monthly total (model) | $128 to $178 | $90 to $125 |
| Yearly total (model) | $1,541 to $2,141 | $1,084 to $1,504 |
| Lifetime total (model) | $13,867 to $21,408 | $10,844 to $18,053 |
| Breeder health tests | 5 recommended tests | Panel not published yet |
| Health watch | Hip and elbow dysplasia, osteosarcoma (bone cancer), heart defects and cruciate ligament tears are the main risks. Look for hip and elbow scores and heart screening from breeders. | Hip screening and eye checks are the core of responsible breeding in herding breeds, and several herding lines also DNA test for drug sensitivity (MDR1) and hereditary eye conditions. Ask the breeder what their lines are tested for. |
Rottweiler: scores 17 on the first-time-owner rule (trainability weighted double, then calmer energy, grooming and barking), against 16 for the Saarloos Wolfdog.
Rottweiler: matches the Saarloos Wolfdog on the apartment rating ("Not ideal") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks: barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Saarloos Wolfdog: is listed "Good with children" while the Rottweiler is listed "Better with older children".
Saarloos Wolfdog: sheds less, rated 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Rottweiler. Shedding is only a proxy for loose hair in the home; no breed is allergen-free.
Saarloos Wolfdog: runs about $45 a month less than the Rottweiler on modeled food plus insurance ($108 against $153 at the midpoints).
The five verdicts on this Rottweiler and Saarloos Wolfdog page follow published rules: first-time owner = 2 x trainability + (6 - energy) + (6 - grooming) + (6 - barking); apartment = the apartment rating, then barking, exercise and weight; children = the children rating, then trainability and stranger friendliness; allergy = lowest shedding, then grooming; budget = the lowest monthly modeled total. Level scores are declared ties.
On the modeled figures the Rottweiler costs more month to month: about $153 a month at the midpoint of food plus insurance, against $108 for the Saarloos Wolfdog. Run across the lifespan ranges, the model gives $13,867 to $21,408 for the Rottweiler and $10,844 to $18,053 for the Saarloos Wolfdog. These are planning estimates, not quotes.
The Saarloos Wolfdog needs more: 60 to 120 minutes a day, against 60 to 90 minutes for the Rottweiler. Energy ratings point the same way at 5 of 5 against 4 of 5.
The Saarloos Wolfdog sheds less, rated 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Rottweiler. Coat notes for the Saarloos Wolfdog: Dense double coat: a harsh, straight outer coat of medium length over a thick, woolly undercoat that changes with the seasons. It sheds heavily at the blow out.
The Rottweiler, on the published ratings: "Not ideal" for apartment life against "Not ideal" for the Saarloos Wolfdog, barking rated 3 of 5 against 4 of 5, and a daily exercise plan of 60 to 90 minutes against 60 to 120 minutes.
The Saarloos Wolfdog rates higher for trainability at 5 of 5 against 4 of 5 for the Rottweiler. Temperament notes describe the Saarloos Wolfdog as: Alert, hardworking, sensitive and deeply bonded
The Saarloos Wolfdog has the longer typical range: 10 to 12 years against 9 to 10 years for the Rottweiler. Individual dogs vary widely, and weight control and vet care move the number more than breed averages suggest.
Choosing between more than two? Open the comparison tool and put up to four breeds side by side, or read all written breed comparisons.
Breed facts here follow the standards and club guidance summarized on the Rottweiler and Saarloos Wolfdog profiles. The cost figures are modeled estimates for planning, each labeled with its basis; none is a quote, and none is veterinary advice. The health test panels are those published by the breed clubs and CHIC, as set out on each breed's health testing page.