Eurasier Dog Breed

Below are details and specs for the Eurasier dog breed.

Eurasiers are medium sized with males standing at 21-24 inches at the shoulders and weighing in around 51-70 pounds. Females are smaller at 18-20 inches and 39-57 pounds.

This breed was specifically intended to be the ideal family companion, and that it is! Excellent and intuitive with kids, and also a perfect addition to a multi pet household due to its lack of hunting instincts. They bond very closely with their family and it is a necessity that they be in your vicinity. This is not the best choice if you want a pet to entertain strangers; while not aggressive they will be at best aloof and usually reserved around them.

Members of this breed are low maintenance when it comes to almost every aspect: they are easily trained, easily groomed and easy going about their exercise. The only exceptions occur during their twice per year shedding (where frequent cleanup will be required) and in amount of human interaction they need. Leaving them alone all day is not ideal.

This breed is a fairly recent conception of Julius Wipfel of Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany. During the 1960s he desired to find a balance between his primitive, wolf-like spitz dogs and a dog capable of being a family companion. His previous wolfspitz was impressive looking, intelligent and independent yet he wanted to mix into these traits domesticity, devotion and non-aggressive vigilance. Through interbreeding the wolfspitz with a Chow, and later a Samoyed, Wipfel created a dog praised for being a low-maintenance, medium sized dog without any hunting inclination. Many German animal scientists praised his work and Wipfel dubbed his new creation the wolf-chow. The FCI and German Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1973 but the name was required to be changed as new breed names cannot include existing breed names. Therefore, the Eurasier was so named because of the use of European and Asian breeds in its formation. A newer breed standard was published by three German kennel clubs in 1994 and these clubs have very monitored breeding requirements; this ensures the Eurasier is responsibly bred to keep them a healthy and robust breed. They were recorded into the Foundation Stock Service as recently as 2008. The Eurasier is not recognized by the AKC but they do have a breed page; they are mostly found in Europe and due to very strict breeding regulations by German kennel clubs it can be estimated that upwards of 150 reside in the United States.

The overall appearance of the Eurasier is well-balanced (slightly longer than tall), sturdy and impressive. Members of this breed are slightly longer than tall. They have a thick, heavy coat that protects them from harsh climates. The head is wedge-shaped with a flat forehead but may appear broader than it actually is due to the abundance of hair that frames the face. These dogs have double coats-- the thick undercoat and medium length outer coat that is feathered on the backs of the legs and heavy on the tail. The eyes are dark, medium sized with slightly slanted lids; also, the nose is black and at the top of the head are prick ears. The chest in this breed is not overly pronounced and the legs are of medium length and straight ending in oval feet with strong, dark nails. The Eurasiers tail is thick and bushy; they normally carry it up and over the back.

Mr. Wipfel succeeded in creating exactly the type of dog he was looking for. This breed is confident yet devoted to the owner, vigilant yet not a barker, reserved but not aggressive with strangers. He is watchful and protective but has no hunting instinct, making him an acceptable addition to a household with multiple pets. The Eurasier needs consistent training and close contact with the owner/family and, if these requirements are met, will be an excellent companion. For this breed's best traits to be observable, they must have close interaction with their family or owner. They do not seek the constant attention of the lapdog but enjoy doing the things you do and being in your general vicinity. Being without you for a long period of time will affect their happiness and possibly lead to destructive behaviors, not to mention, as puppies, they are said to be escapists.

Members of this breed don't bark or growl unless it is necessary but, while good watchdogs, are not aggressive naturally and should not be considered a guard dog. Most Eurasiers take a while to assess and warm up to new people, if at all, and are not the choice for people that want a crowd pleaser.

Eurasiers are eager to please and easily trained. These dogs are calm and even-tempered, therefore, calm, consistent training is the best method; they will be sensitive to your tone of voice. They enjoy participating in obedience and agility events and this is a great way to exercise and bond with your Eurasier. It is said these dogs are affectionate with whomever they consider their family and do not have "one" favorite person.

Eurasiers bred in Germany are under strict guidelines and they are known to be a fairly robust breed. Hip and elbow dysplasia, along with patellar luxation are some concerns. Thyroid disease is also common and can be tested for via blood sampling at your veterinarian. Other, then that they are known to have a few missing teeth, inward or outward turning eyelids or double rows of eyelashes but these are not so problematic. If kept healthy and happy, your Eurasier can live up to 14 years.