Our Wolfdog Raven: Irreplaceable Friend and Host

Our dog, a Saarloos wolf dog named Raven, isn't just any dog. That may be what everyone who has a dog and loves it so much says, but in our case, I dare say that this is really a dog that is not just a dog. He suits us like no other dog could ever have done.

‍‍Life with Raven

Together with my wife Saran, we have been running our Altai concept for years, offering unique overnight stays and a Bed & Breakfast. I sometimes joke that if Raven were gone, our Bed & Breakfast would probably not go so well! He has always been so loved by our guests. But also: some guests sometimes initially ask if Raven can be kept at a distance, because they are somewhat afraid of big dogs. But when they leave, they often give him a close hug, because he is so incredibly sweet to everyone. Raven is already 10 years old, which, no matter how painful, is already quite elderly for a Saarloos wolfdog. You wouldn't tell; for us, he's still the puppy we picked up by car from Berlin 10 years ago.

The start of our adventure

On January 4, 2015, we picked up Raven from Berlin. Wow, our life looked so different back then! We didn't have children yet, but that had been our biggest wish for years. Unfortunately, nature just didn't allow it. After I started my own company at the end of 2013, I got more freedom, and the opportunity to live with a dog slowly came to me. I loved German Shepherds so much, but my father told me about the Saarloos Wolfdog, a cross between a German shepherd and a wolf. Soon I was hooked.

I ended up with a very nice lady, Sylvia Weyrich in Berlin, who just had a litter of Saarloos wolf dogs available. Even in the picture, I saw one stand out; his gaze, I don't know, but I felt that this was going to be our Jiro. Because that was the name I had in mind for my first son. Even though he wasn't a real son, he was a bit of the first for us, in the shape of our first dog. That's why Raven is officially named Raven Jiro, born in Sylvia Weyrich's J-nest. Later, in 2015, miraculously, our real son, named Jiro Jamukha, was born.

‍‍The challenges of puppyhood

Raven quickly turned out to be a story in itself. Parenting was never easy. How naughty he was! Demolish, bite, challenge and not be alone; that was a typical Saarloos. “Just wait until your child is born,” people said to me. Well, I can tell you that raising that newborn was nothing compared to the puppy that Raven was. But he was also so sweet and so beautiful at the same time. We really enjoyed him, but it was also a pain in the ass. For weeks, I slept next to his crate to sleep a little further away from his crate each day, so that he got used to his own place alone. He really needed that bench, so he could isolate himself at night and not wander around (and demolish things). With a lot of persistence, it worked; now, 10 years later, he still loves sleeping in his crate, his safe place at night.

‍‍Exploring the world together

Al from an early age, I took him with me everywhere. He found people and children interesting, I noticed that very quickly. He also liked dogs, but that quickly diminished. I noticed that he kind of took over my character; that's not strange either, because I spent every day with him. Really every day. “Like owner, like dog,” they also say. We got to know each other better and Raven became a dog like no other, like I said at the beginning. He grew up in Julianadorp, near the beach, where we loved to visit, especially in the cold season (because it's so nice and quiet on the beach). When he was 3 years old, we left for the countryside of Breezand, between the bulb fields. That's where we got the space and we were able to let sheep, pigs, chickens and turkeys roam in our garden. Raven liked it though. Of course, it was a bit exciting at first, but I quickly noticed that he understood the situation well; those animals are also part of our family and our lives. How nice it is to see how he deals with those naughty chickens that come in the front door while cooking to pick up some leftovers, the pigs that can also be incredibly naughty and have now grown into giant animals, and the sheep that grew up in our yurt and had to be raised by the bottle because their mother had ostracized them. Raven really looks like me; on the one hand, very withdrawn, self-contained, but also full of love for everything and everyone on the other. Man or animal, he likes it all!

We went everywhere together; on holidays abroad, looking for Easter eggs in the woods with the family, to the beach (even in the high season!) , taking the bus to the city, visiting family and birthday parties, cycling or skating together, and our endless walks in the dunes and woods. Even when I had to sit alone in my office at home, he was always there. But he wasn't just involved with me; he was involved with the whole family. When he was just over 6 months old, our son Jiro was born and they grew up as brothers, always together. I enjoyed it so much and was constantly amazed. So sweet and protective, a real big brother. Of course, he knew that there was often something to eat when Jiro threw something on the floor again, haha! But seriously, it was much more than that. When me and my wife (and child) were separated, for example when I worked in the garden and my wife was inside, he would lie in the middle of the garden, as close to everyone as possible, in order to keep everyone safe together and keep an eye on things.

‍‍Raven and the Bed & Breakfast

A few years later, my wife and I began making serious plans to promote Mongolian culture in the Netherlands, including a yurt Bed & Breakfast. That meant strange people coming across the floor every day. And if there was one thing that wasn't strange to Raven, it was strange people. I also called him the anti-guard dog; he is only too happy to welcome strangers and show them around the yard, like a real host. Of course, I'll be close by then. Honestly, I'm afraid to tell you what his behavior is when I'm not around; then he can be stressed and peering into the distance for hours, waiting for a glimpse of me only to welcome me back with a loud shout (and look a little annoyed at why it took me so long to come back). But he remains a true friend to everyone. And I keep saying it; he is very independent and can be alone for a day if he has to. But he also remains mischievous and sneaky as before; definitely don't leave a cookie or a packet of butter on the table, because before you know it, you'll find the empty package somewhere out in the grass.

‍‍Getting older

And now that he is 10 years old, it is still the same. For me, he's still the young dog he used to be. He still has so much energy and welcomes guests with great enthusiasm every time. That can sometimes be quite overwhelming, because he really is a big boy. We regularly get guests who ask us if the dog can be kept at a distance, because they find (big) dogs exciting. But they soon come to the conclusion that Raven really is a “big friendly giant”. Endless hugs from children and even guests who initially said they found it exciting. His cups and the heavy leaning his full weight against your body remain so cute. Sometimes he asks for a bit (too) much attention and can be a little jealous when I talk to one of our guests again (or pay some attention to the pigs)... but it only proves how incredibly sweet and social he is.

‍‍The future without Raven

But, of course, he's getting older. I notice that he needs more of his own space. In the evening, he really wants to rest, not too much hustle and bustle, just his own pillow or his own corner. Then leave him alone until early in the morning. But even now, with our youngest son Kenji Jangar, born in late 2023, I see so many things about how it all started with our son Jiro, who grew up with Raven. So many great memories are coming back to the surface. And even with the big move to East Groningen in the same year (even deeper into the countryside!) Raven adapts again without problems, even with all those big changes around him.

That's why I say over and over again: what should I do if Raven is gone? He brings people together and fills a gap that I know will happen one day. At the same time, sometimes I also think — and I'm really honest — that if he's gone, I'll be a lot freer. No matter how mature, independent and easygoing he is, he still demands my full attention every day. But I can say that Raven is an addition to my life, like I would never have dreamed.

I sometimes think it's a bit of an exaggeration that people see their dog as a “child”, but to be honest, Raven sometimes really seems like my first child. A dog child, though.