Eurasier

Also known as: Eurasian

The Eurasier was developed in mid-20th-century Germany by crossing Chow Chow, German Spitz and Samoyed to produce a Spitz-type dog without a strong guarding or hunting drive, one suited simply to family life. Julius Wipfel and his fellow breeders selected specifically for a calm, balanced temperament rather than working ability, unusual for a Spitz breed. The medium-length, dense double coat echoes the Chow's texture and sheds heavily on a seasonal cycle. A male weighs up to 32 kilograms, sturdy without being heavy. The breed bonds tightly with its own family but stays reserved with strangers and rarely barks without reason. Life expectancy runs 11 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Eurasier: how old in human years?

48–60 cmHeight
18–32 kgWeight
11–13 yrsLife expectancy

Norwegian Elkhound (Grey)

FCI group: Spitz and Nordic/Ancient-type Dogs
FCI section: Section 5: Asian Spitz and related breeds
FCI: 291
Country of origin: Germany

Energy level

3/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

5/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 52–60 cm

Females 48–56 cm

Weight

Males 23–32 kg

Females 18–26 kg

Life expectancy

11–13 yrs

Coat

double coat, medium-long length (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Eurasier's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 5/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Eurasier's energy and exercise needs are low.

Energy level 3/5
Exercise need 3/5
Apartment friendly 3/5
Prey drive 2/5
Hunting instinct 1/5

Guarding & Alertness

Eurasier's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Eurasier's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 4/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the Eurasier

You walk into the kitchen, and a few seconds later the Eurasier appears. You move to the study, and it is already lying by the door. It doesn't cling, doesn't demand attention and rarely barks; it simply wants to be wherever you are. This spitz-type breed from Germany was created to be a calm family companion, and it does the job beautifully.

Its energy needs are moderate: two good walks a day, some time off the lead and the occasional puzzle, and it is content by evening. It is clever and learns willingly if you teach calmly and gently; a sensitive Eurasier remembers harshness for a long time. Because it is quiet and undemanding, flat life can work, as long as the walks are there.

With its family it is affectionate and patient, friendly with children and easy with other dogs. With strangers it is reserved, sometimes wary: not hostile, but not one to greet every passer-by either, so meeting all sorts of people from puppyhood pays off. Long hours alone are hard on it; this is a dog for whom your company matters most.

Grooming and coat

The Eurasier wears a medium-long double coat: a dense undercoat beneath a longer, loosely lying topcoat that is lovely to stroke and, unfortunately, just as easy to find on the sofa. Brush it right down to the skin two or three times a week, paying attention to the spots behind the ears, the ruff around the neck and the back legs, where the undercoat tangles first. When the coat sheds, the undercoat comes out in whole tufts, so during those weeks the brush will be in your hand daily. As you go, part the hair and look at the skin for redness, flakes or thinning patches.

The eyes need only a quick check that they are clear, and a soft damp cloth for the corners when needed. The small upright ears get plenty of air, but soft hair grows inside and around them, so look in once a week to check they are clean and don't smell. Trim the nails when they start clicking on the floor.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

Eurasiers live eleven to thirteen years, and their health questions mostly concern the organs inside, the thyroid, pancreas and stomach, as well as the joints. Many of these show themselves through small changes, a different appetite, weight or mood, so your attention counts for a lot here. When buying a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing; after that, regular vet check-ups do the rest.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Hypothyroidism

Autoimmune thyroiditis is when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which gradually ends up making too little hormone. Your Eurasier may become more sluggish than usual, gain weight for no clear reason, and its lovely coat may thin or lose its shine. Changes like these are worth showing to your vet, who will decide whether tests are needed.
Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a condition in which the body can no longer control the level of sugar in the blood properly. You might notice your dog drinking and peeing much more than before, asking to go out at night, or losing weight while still eating well. If you see changes like these, see your vet.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)

EPI is when the pancreas makes too few digestive enzymes, so food passes through undigested and the dog gets little from it. A Eurasier with EPI may lose weight despite a hearty appetite, and its droppings become large, pale and greasy. This needs a vet, who will decide which tests are needed.
Cancer

Stomach cancer is a malignant tumour in the wall of the stomach that develops slowly and is barely noticeable at first. Signs can include repeated vomiting, a fading appetite and weight loss, which is easy to miss under a Eurasier's thick coat. If changes like these persist, don't wait: take your dog to the vet.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)

Bloat is when the stomach fills with gas and can twist, cutting off its blood supply. The dog becomes restless, tries to vomit without bringing anything up, and the belly swells and turns hard. This is an emergency: your dog needs a vet immediately.
Orthopaedic (bone and joint) problems

This is an umbrella term for a range of bone and joint disorders that can get in the way of a medium-sized, active dog moving comfortably. You might notice your Eurasier getting up stiffly, limping after a longer walk or being reluctant on stairs. A vet will assess the joints, and when buying a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (32 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 330 g of dry food a day, from €17,98 a month For a neutered, normally active 24,8 kg dog. Calculate for your dog