Eurasier Dog Breed

Black Eurasier Puppy
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  • Other names:
  • Eurasian
  • Eurasian Spitz
Overview

The Eurasier, or Eurasian, is a recently conceived companion dog from Germany and are mostly found in Europe. The breed is neither sporting nor working. This dog was bred to be not only impressive looking, but robust and long lived; the German kennel clubs monitor breeding carefully in order to keep the breed so. They are more than good with kids and do quite well with other pets due to no hunting instincts. They will view strangers with reserve but are not aggressive and, while rarely barking, make excellent watch dogs. The heavy coat makes it able to endure very cold climates but also ensures they are seasonal shedders. Ideally they will live indoors and will have some human interaction throughout the day; although they are not constant attention seeking lapdogs, they need to remain in the vicinity of their owners for all of their amazing traits to be displayed. Playful by nature, they enjoy toys, a daily walk and some outdoor playtime.

Eurasier Breed Details

Breed Specs
TypeLifespanHeightWeight
Purebred12-14 yrs.18-24 in.39-70 lbs
  • Friendliness
  • Overall
  • Family Friendly
  • Kid Friendly
  • Pet Friendly
  • Stranger Friendly
  • Maintenance
  • Easy to Groom
  • Energy Level
  • Exercise Needs
  • General Health
  • Shedding Amount
  • Behavior
  • Barks / Howls
  • Easy to Train
  • Guard Dog
  • Playfulness
  • Watch Dog
  • Ownership
  • Apartment Friendly
  • Can Be Alone
  • Good for Busy Owners
  • Good for Novice Owners
  • Intelligence
* The more green the stronger the trait.

Below are details and specs for the Eurasier dog breed.

Eurasier Breed Description

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.

Eurasier Breed History

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.

Eurasier Appearance

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.

Eurasier Coloring

The coat of this breed is typically either wolfgray, fawn, black, or sable; blue markings may or may not be present. However, all colors are acceptable except white or liver (solid or markings).

Eurasier Size

The Eurasier is a medium sized dog and, although thick haired, the coat should not be so heavy as to obscure their build. Males will generally stand 21-24 inches at the shoulders and weigh around 51-70 pounds. Females will be slightly smaller, at 18 to 20 inches and 39 to 57 pounds.

Average Adult Height

18-24 in
*Height is measured in inches from the front paws to the top of the shoulder while the dog is standing on all four legs.

Average Adult Weight

39-70 lbs

Eurasier Temperament

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.

Eurasier and Children

Eurasiers were bred to be the ideal family dog and the consensus is that they certainly are. They are excellent around children, if trained and socialized appropriately, and it is said they behave appropriately around each age group. They are calm and soft with young children and babies while playful and energetic around older kids.

Eurasier and Other Pets

Eurasiers get along very well with other pets-- dogs and cats alike. They, like most curious animals, will sometimes chase other small creatures but have little to no hunting instincts. They are not aggressive and if challenged by another dog will likely not engage.

Eurasier and Strangers

Members of this breed only bark or growl unless necessary and are not aggressive; however, they make excellent guard dogs due to their watchful protection of their household. When meeting new people, do not expect them to warm up quickly, they will likely be distant and reserved. The maybe aloof for quite some time and they will take their time to observe the person. Your Eurasier will likely not want to pet by strangers.

Eurasier Photos

Below are pictures and images of the Eurasier dog breed.

Red Eurasier
Black Eurasier Puppy
Fawn Eurasier Puppies
Wolf Grey Eurasier Puppies
Fawn Eurasier
Fawn Eurasier

Eurasier Maintenance

Overall, Eurasiers are quite low maintenance. Although their coat is thick and abundant, they don't need much more than a weekly to biweekly brushing. Twice a year for a few weeks they will shed so expect a little more cleanup during this time. Exercise is also straightforward for this fun loving breed; a daily walk, some outdoor playtime with toys or just whatever you do to exercise will make them exceedingly happy. They are easily trained and eager to please their owner, however, they are sensitive to your voice so a consistent yet gentle command to show them their place in the "pack" is all that is necessary. The only area of the Eurasier that is not so easy is their need for your companionship; they should not be left alone all day or with a friend for vacation period. Leaving them alone affects their happiness and can lead them to destructive behaviors.

Grooming Requirements

Members of this breed have an impressive coat, however, they don't require much grooming. They rarely have a "doggy" odor so bathing is only called for when absolutely necessary. Once to twice per week brushing will keep the hair in good shape. Check the eyes and ears daily to see if they need wiping. Other than that, monitor their nails for trimming and teeth for cleaning and you're set! It should be noted that twice per year these dogs shed heavily for a few weeks, so be prepared during this brief period to do some extra cleanup.

Exercise Requirements

Eurasiers will occupy themselves with being watchful over the house and playing with other pets. They will be happy to accompany you on any outdoor activities you may do. A daily walk and some outdoor playtime will keep this breed fit; they will like playing with other dogs and can typically be relied upon to walk off leash when trained. They enjoy agility training and are eager to please; this is an excellent way to bond with as well as exercise them. Members of this breed also like toys and games with them except for repetitive ones such as fetch.

Living Requirements

Members of this breed are versatile in their living environments. They can even live in an apartment, given it has a decent amount of space but, ideally, will not be solely outdoor dogs. They are happiest when in your vicinity because they bond deeply and devotedly to the family. Eurasiers should not be left alone all day without any family or owner interaction, this will affect their happiness and lead to destructive behaviors, plus they tend to be escapists while puppies.

Temperature Range

Eurasiers enjoy cool or cold climates as well as snow. They do fine is warm weather too, however, if it is very hot or humid they may decide to find a shady spot to hang out instead of being super active and playful.

Eurasier Health

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.

Eurasier Breed Recognition

The following dog breed registries and organizations recognize the Eurasier as a dog breed:

  • Australian National Kennel Council
  • Dog Registry of America Inc.
  • Federation Cynologique Internationale
  • Foundation Stock Service
  • North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
  • American Canine Association, Inc.
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