Strictly speaking, Europe and Asia are one huge continent. This entire area is known as Eurasia. This very region is the origin of a very special dog – the Eurasian. He has his name because his original breeds come from both Europe and Asia. This dog, which combines all the positive characteristics of its ancestors, is an ideal family dog and is becoming more and more popular.
History of the “new polar dog
The history of this dog breed began in Germany. Julius Wipfel, who is considered the founder of the Eurasier, made the plan to breed a new dog breed. He was supported by Charlotte Baldamus and a group of dog lovers. They wanted a family-friendly dog of Nordic type – but by no means a lap dog. Wipfel was inspired by studies by Konrad Lorenz. The founder of behavioural research and Nobel Prize winner had conducted these with a Chow mongrel. So they began to cross Wolfsspitz bitches with Chow-Chow males. The wolf-chow was born. It was the first step on the way to the Eurasier. About 12 years after these first breedings, Samoyeds began to be crossed. In 1973, the Eurasier was recognised by the VDH and the FCI. Apart from these, there are other breeding associations that focus on the Eurasier. Under the umbrella of the VDH, about 400 puppies are born every year, and just as many outside the club.
A wolf-like, but gentle family friend
The Eurasier is a medium-sized dog. At first sight, it resembles a mixture of a Spitz and a wolf and appears wild and earthy. Weighing about 23 to 32 kilograms, the male should have a height at the withers between 50 and 60 centimetres. The bitch weighs between 18 and 26 kilograms and the withers are between 48 and 56 centimetres. The conformation appears very harmonious. The coat is of medium length with a dense undercoat. Muzzle, ears, face and the front of the legs are short haired. The back of the forelegs, the hindlegs and the tail are longhaired. The hair on the neck is hardly longer than on the body. The Eurasier comes in many different colours. They can be red to fawn, wolf-grey, wolf-coloured, black or black with light markings. Almost all colours and combinations are permitted. However, Eurasiers must not be pure white, liver or white pied. The coat colour is of secondary importance for breeding. More important are the temperament, the health and the typical appearance of the breed.
Successful breeding
For the breeding of the Eurasier, Wolfsspitz, Chow-Chow and Samoyed were used. The breeding goal was a family-friendly dog, which combines the best qualities of all three breeds. The breeders succeeded very well – the Eurasier is convincing and has taken a firm place among purebred dogs. Visually, the Eurasier appears to be a primitive dog, but his friendly nature is very contemporary. The Eurasier is sensitive and sociable. He is easy to handle and an excellent family dog, who can keep calm even in our hectic times. While many dog breeds concentrate on one reference person, the Eurasier spreads his loyalty and love over the whole family.
A pleasant nature that suits everyone
The Eurasier is self-confident, calm and balanced. Due to its pleasant temperament and calmness, this dog is relatively easy to train. Nevertheless, training should begin in puppyhood and consistency should not be lacking. Patience and a lot of love make the Eurasier’s upbringing easier, just like that of any other dog. The Eurasier gladly accepts the guidance of his owner. Nevertheless, he will always keep his own head. Trust and affection are the two main ingredients for successful training. If the Eurasier has the opportunity to get to know many other dogs at an early age, he will develop a very good social behaviour. The Eurasier prefers to do things with his humans or to be kept busy. He loves variety, but is not a dog who demands regular mental exercise. He is content with everyday life as a family dog. Nevertheless, he is of course just as happy about exciting games as any other dog.
The Eurasier is not a dog for top sports.
As far as physical exercise is concerned, the Eurasier is a good companion for cycling, jogging or hiking. He also makes a good companion for horseback riding. Dog sports are also interesting for the Eurasier. However, it should be varied. The Eurasier does not want stubborn repetition of exercises. This does not correspond to his nature. Top-class sport is not an issue for this dog, so he will probably not become a successful and celebrated agility star. He is also certainly not a dog that is suitable as a protection dog. The presence of his caregivers is important in any activity or training. He should never be left in the hands of others for training. The same applies to holidays or absences. He is so strongly fixated on his family that a boarding kennel would be very stressful for him and therefore a bad experience. You will rarely hear the Eurasier bark. He is alert to strangers, but does not bark for long or persistently. He is neutral or reserved towards strangers. The hunting behaviour of this dog is hardly pronounced.
A dog that is easy to care for
The Eurasier is a long-haired breed. Nevertheless, grooming is uncomplicated, because this dog is very clean. The coat consists of a dense undercoat, which is covered by the awn coat. This is protected by a greasy film and thus has dirt-repellent properties. The complete absence of the usual dog smell has a very positive effect. An adult Eurasier only needs to be brushed twice a week. During the change of coat, daily brushing is optimal. Bathing is not necessary. As far as nutrition is concerned, the Eurasier is very uncomplicated. The Eurasier should be allowed to go for three walks a day, one of which can be longer – about one and a half hours.
A dog with robust health
The Eurasier is robust and very vital. A life expectancy of 12 to 15 years is not uncommon for this dog and relatively high for a dog of its size. Breed-typical diseases play a minor role in this breed and are fought against in the breeding clubs. An eye examination is obligatory. It is important to take care that the Eurasier does not develop excess weight. This would increase the risk of hip dysplasia.
For whom is this dog suitable?
The Eurasier is a dog that is basically suitable for every dog lover. He feels just as comfortable with single people as with a family. Due to its calmness, it is also a good companion for elderly people. Other pets are welcome to live in the same household. The Eurasier is an ideal partner for children. He will be patient and very good-natured towards them. He will also enjoy playing with them. The Eurasier will feel at home in any neighbourhood. It does not matter to him whether it is a house in the country or a flat in the city. Important for him is the closeness to his family and long walks. Because of his attachment he is not a dog for people who travel a lot and do not want to or cannot take the dog with them. He is also not a dog for kennels. That would break him. Until today, the Eurasier is only bred according to demand. Thus, today’s breeders follow Wipfel’s ideals and breed only when there are enough interested people for a litter. If you decide to get a Eurasier, you have to expect to wait a while for your dog. In the spirit of the breed’s founder – to be responsible for a puppy for its entire life – breeders are happy to support the owners even after the dog has been placed.
A dog for all situations
The Eurasier is a perfect companion for humans. It is adaptable and robustly bred. If you feed your Eurasier a healthy diet and make sure that he does not eat too much, you can look forward to a long dog friendship. Eurasiers can live up to 15 years (in some cases even longer), if they do not suffer from HD due to overweight. Eurasiers should be walked regularly, at least one hour a day. He also likes to go for a jog, but he is not a dog from whom great athletic achievements can be expected. Due to his nice nature and little aggression potential, he is a perfect family dog who gets along well with small children as well as with old people. His space requirements are not excessive, so he can be kept not only in a house with a garden, but also in a rented flat. It is an advantage if the Eurasier is bought as a puppy from a breeder who is a member of the Eurasier Breeding Clubs in the VDH. With a safe puppy purchase, the pedigree is known and the breeders can test the puppies for hereditary diseases before selling them. The visually appealing and robustly bred Eurasiers are strong in temperament, follow their “master” if well trained, but know exactly what they want.
A mix of consistency and love
Eurasiers have a very charming nature, which they can use purposefully if they want to achieve something as a dog with humans. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that even the small Eurasier puppies are brought up in a loving and consistent way. This way, power games between dog and human can be kept to a minimum during the following years together. The more consistently the dog owner follows the rules that the Eurasier has already learned as a puppy, the easier it is to live together. Dogs that know exact rules, which are also followed exactly by the human, can better assess the whole daily routine, which additionally offers them a personal security. With a Eurasier, who is smart and sweet at the same time, it is not always easy for the owners to be really consistent. But this has to be done, because otherwise the dog will, over the years, extend and change the “rules” he learned at an early age to his advantage. No dog owner needs to have a bad conscience if the “rules” of the first hour are strictly adhered to and consistently followed. The Eurasier does not feel bad if he does not get away with his own wishes and the learned set of rules is kept in the long run.
A loyal and close relationship between humans and animals
Eurasiers develop a very close relationship with their caregivers. They are loyal and loving. For this reason, the dog should not be left alone if possible. A holiday without the family dog, which is placed in a boarding kennel during this time, is actually not possible. It would break the Eurasier’s heart if he could not live in the familiar and beloved family environment for some time. Despite its long coat with the soft undercoat, the grooming of a Eurasier is easy and not very time-consuming, as the coat is self-cleaning. If the dog is brushed twice a week or stroked with a grooming glove, the coat care is already sufficiently done. He likes to go for walks and is not afraid of rain. In order that the long coat does not stay wet for too long after the walk, it is advisable to dry the dog a little with a terry cloth towel (dog towel) in the house. When it comes to food, the Eurasier is also very uncomplicated. He can be fed with a high-quality wet food as well as with dry food. As every dog usually has its own preferences when it comes to food, which are sometimes already imprinted by the breeder when the dog is a puppy, there are no rules when it comes to the Eurasier’s choice of taste. When buying a puppy, it is best to first ask the breeder how the dog has been fed so far and which particularities might have to be considered. The breeder knows the puppies from birth and can give the new dog owner sound and clear information.
Do not expect too much from the dog
Eurasiers are loving and intelligent family dogs. They take part in everything that happens in the family environment. However, they should not be overstrained. Eurasiers are neither suitable for training as a protection dog, nor for training as a super athlete. If you take these hints into consideration and train and shape your Eurasier consistently and lovingly, you will have a faithful companion over a long period of time, who will see himself as a full member of the family. The dogs, which at first sight resemble a teddy bear, keep what they promise. They are benign and loyal, just as most families want their family dog, who not only looks to fall in love with, but also convinces by his nature.
