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American Alsatian

American Alsatian
Other names	North American Shepalute, Alsatian Shepalute
Origin	United States of America
Traits Height 63 - 81 cm (25 - 32 in) Weight 36.3 - 45 kg (80 - 95 lb) Coat Coarse and thick coat in the winter, with a thinner coat in the warmer months Color Silver, gold, or black sables, or a solid cream Life span 9 - 13 years
Dog (domestic dog)

The American Alsatian is a large breed of dog first bred in California in 1988. The creation of this breed was the result of the Dire Wolf Project, a project devised by Lois Schwarz to produce a breed that resembled that of a dire wolf but with the temperament of a domesticated dog. They are known for their long sable-colored coats, large build, pointy ears, and large heads. Female American Alsatians have a standard size of up to 25 - 28 inches while males can grow up to 26 -32 inches. To attain these qualities, some breeds such as the English Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, Great Pyrenees, and the Anatolian Shepheard were involved in the breeding of the American Alsatian.

The Dire Wolf Project

Lois Schwarz's goal was to create a domestic dog that looked like a dire wolf, a well-studied prehistoric wolf breed that became extinct about 9,500 years ago. She created this idea after recognizing the popularity of dogs with similar qualities to wolves, such as the Wolfdog hybrid as pets. Because wolves and wolfdog hybrids tend to be aggressive and do not have the same behavioral qualities that make domesticated dogs good pets, Schwarz wanted to create a breed that had a temperament fit for a companion dog. She also wanted to breed the American Alsatian so that it was easy to train.

When Lois first started breeding the soon-to-be American Alsatian in 1987, the two dogs used were the Alaskan malamute and the German Shepherd. On account of these two breeds, in 1988, the American Alsatian was originally called the 'North American Shepalute' by Schwarz as a combination of the words Malamute and Shepherd. By 2010, the name had been changed to the American Alsatian. Other dogs that were used in the breeding were chosen based on their appearance and temperament. From selectively breeding various dogs, Schwarz was able to form a breed that possesses a combination of the previous dogs' traits. By the year 2000, Schwarz had finished selectively breeding and had achieved her vision of creating a dog that looked similar to a dire wolf.

Description

Appearance

The American Alsatian is known for its large size due to its heavy bones. They have a long saber tail that curves downwards at the rear or is held straight when the dog is excited. Other physical traits common in the American Alsatian include yellow-colored eyes, black noses, and tall ears.

The coat of the American Alsatian comes in a variety of colors. Silver Sable is the most common, however, other sable coats such as gray, gold, tri-colored, and black are also possible. They are characterized by their long and wiry coat, similar to that of a wolf. Their fur is especially dense and long at the neck and gradually shortens at the shoulders. Their coat also has qualities that make it hard to collect debris or dirt and it is also known to be relatively odor-free.

Because of how thick their fur is, this breed requires frequent grooming to tame their long coats. By the start of May or June, American Alsatians will also shed much of their undercoat.

Temperament

Despite looking like a wolfdog hybrid, American Alsatians are considered to be a composed, gentle, and aloof breed. Their natural attachment towards people makes them good lap dogs and a trustable companion breed but they will require time to learn how to properly socialize with other dogs and people. They are also an intelligent and confident breed. The American Alsatian is also not very playful but to stay healthy will need at least one hour of exercise a day. They are a large breed but, these dogs are not suited for hard work or strenuous exercise.

Breeding

Currently, there are only two certified breeders of the American Alsatian. There is the original breeder, Schwarz Dogs, and the affiliated Vallecito Alsatians. Although other breeders may exist, since the original breeders have a requirement for the accepted traits of the American Alsatians, other breeders may not hold up to these standards.