40-57 lbs
19-22"
Germany
The Eurasier comes from Germany and is devoted to his family. It will take him a while to warm up to strangers. He is not aggressive or shy with strangers; he simply does not want them to pet him. The Eurasier is a good choice for families with children, although he should be watched with toddlers who may pull on him unnecessarily. He will do well with other pets if he is raised with them from puppyhood. While not a typical barker, he will sound the alarm when strangers come near his property. The Eurasier does not thrive in a kennel situation or chained alone in the backyard. He is a social animal and requires daily interaction and being in the home with his family.
The Eurasier is a relatively new breed, developed in the 1950s-1960s by Julius Wipfel, a German breeder. Julius Wipfel wanted to create the ideal family companion dog that is medium sized and even tempered. After consulting with other breeders who had the same ideals and goals, he began crossing the Chow Chow with the Wolf Spitz. These crosses were originally called the Wolf Chow. Julius Wipfel then added a male Samoyed to the breeding program. The Wolf Chow was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1973, he was renamed the Eurasier. He is a part of the Spitz or Primitive Group. The name was to symbolize his combined heritage of Asian and European. Julius Wipfel has been called the father of the Eurasier. The Eurasier is popular is Germany and Switzerland. There are very few in the United States. There is an estimate 8,500 Eurasier dogs around the world. Most of these dogs are located in Germany, his country of origin. As his popularity grows in the United Kingdom and the United States, more people will begin to see the benefits of having a Eurasier as a family companion. He was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1996 under the name Eurasian. He is categorized as a Northern breed. This allows the Eurasier to compete in all UKC sanctioned events. Fanciers of the breed within the United States began campaigning to have him recognized by the American Kennel Club. In 2008, the AKC began accepting the Eurasier into its Foundation Stock Service. This is the first step in becoming officially recognized by the AKC.
The Eurasier is a medium sized dog with a thick, double coat that is medium length. The hair on the back of his legs and tail is longer than the hair on his body. His coat is a double coat, meaning he has an undercoat that is soft and thick and an outer coat that is coarser and straight. He has dark, almond shaped eyes that are dark brown in color. His nose, eye rims and lips are black. His ears should stand up on top of his head; they should not bend or flop over. The Eurasier has a rugged, alert expression that can be intimidating to those who do not know him.The Eurasier can be found in a variety of colors that mimic that of a wolf. These colors include solid black, wolf sable, black and tan, black and silver and solid red. He should not have any white markings on his body, face or feet.
Most people think that since the Eurasier has such a dense, double coat, his grooming needs must be extensive. However, he is actually relatively easy to groom. He needs to be brushed once or twice a week to remove any dead hair and dirt from the coat. He is a seasonal shedder and will shed heavily twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. During times of heavy shedding, he will need to be brushed regularly using a pin brush and a metal comb. The Eurasier does not need to be bathed often. It is recommended that he be bathed twice a year, usually when he begins his seasonal shedding to help loosen the hair and hasten the shedding process. His nails will need to be trimmed as needed, about every two to three weeks. Check his ears weekly and clean them as needed. Set up a routine dental plan that includes deep cleanings once a year.
The Eurasier is a laid back, confident dog who craves the closeness of his family. He is not the type of dog who can be left in a kennel or the back yard without much human interaction. He will become extremely destructive if he is kenneled or left alone. The ideal family for him is one that has a stay at home person. He has a natural aversion to strangers and will be standoffish until he gets to know them. Do not force him to interact with strangers; this will cause great stress for him. Early socialization for a Eurasier includes going to new places and seeing people, but not necessarily having strangers come up and pet him. He will choose when it is an appropriate time for a stranger to touch him. The Eurasier does excellent with older children, but should be watched with toddlers who may pull on him or fall over him. He does great with other pets, especially when he is raised with them.
Written by Kathleen Egger
Published: 10/22/2017, edited: 08/18/2021
More articles by Kathleen Egger
