Dog breed
Eurasier
The Eurasier is a medium-sized spitz-type dog developed in Germany in the 1960s as a well-balanced family dog. It has a dense, fluffy coat, a soft expression and a calm, even temperament. It is deeply bonded to its family and reserved with strangers, and above all it needs to be close to its people to be happy.
- FCI Group V · Spitz and primitive · standard no. 291
- Weight
- 18–30 kg
- Height
- 48–60 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Origin
- Germany
Temperament
The Eurasier was created for home life, not work, and it shows in its character. It is calm and alert without being nervous, and fairly quiet indoors; it usually barks only when there is a reason. It bonds very strongly with its family and is happiest close to its people; it copes badly with long hours alone. It is reserved with strangers: it will not walk up to everyone wagging its tail, but rather watches from a distance. That is not fearfulness but spitz independence. The Eurasier is sensitive and reacts badly to shouting or jerking on the leash, but it is happy to cooperate with a calm, consistent owner. It is usually patient with the family's children, and it mostly lives peacefully with other dogs and the family cat if it knows them from puppyhood. Its prey drive is moderate.
- Energy
- calmvery energetic
- Affection
- independentvelcro pet
- With children
- not idealgreat
- With other pets
- difficultgreat
- Trainability
- stubborneager to learn
- For first-time owners
- for experienced ownersyes
- With strangers
- waryoutgoing
- Playfulness
- dignifiedeternal puppy
- Shedding
- minimalheavy
- Grooming
- easydemanding
- Being left alone
- strugglescopes well
- Apartment living
- needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
- Barking
- quietvocal
- With other dogs
- difficultgreat
- Protectiveness
- lowhigh
- Drooling
- hardly anya lot
- Cold tolerance
- feels the coldexcellent
- Heat tolerance
- strugglescopes well
Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits
Who is the Eurasier for?
The Eurasier is a good choice for a family or person looking for a calm, quiet and devoted medium-sized dog, including for apartment life in the city. It works for beginners, as long as someone is home for most of the day. Do not choose it if you work long hours away from home, want a dog for sports, or want a dog that greets every stranger with enthusiasm.
Pros
- calm and well balanced
- barks little
- very devoted to its family
- good health and long life
Challenges
- copes poorly with being alone
- reserved with strangers
- heavy shedding
- sensitive to heat
Size and looks
| Height at the withers | males 52–60 cm, females 48–56 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | males 22–30 kg, females 18–26 kg |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years |
| Coat | medium |
| Colors | all colors and color combinations except pure white and piebald |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Classification | Group V: Spitz and primitive types |
| Also known as | Wolf-Chow, Eurasian |
Care and exercise
The Eurasier is not a demanding athlete; an hour to an hour and a half of walks a day is usually enough, ideally in varied terrain with time to sniff. It enjoys games with its owner, trick training and leisurely hikes, but it does not need intense training. The dense double coat needs brushing once or twice a week, and more often during the seasonal shed. Do not shave a Eurasier's coat, because it protects the skin from both cold and overheating. In summer, though, be careful about heat: walks in the morning and evening, shade and water. Training should be gentle and consistent. Socialize the dog with strangers calmly, without forcing contact. Eurasiers cope badly with long hours alone, so plan your day so that the dog is not left by itself all day.
How much should the Eurasier eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.Health and breed-related conditions
The Eurasier is considered a healthy, long-lived breed; the AKC gives 12–16 years. The breed has been bred with an emphasis on health from the start, and the US breed club requires health testing of all breeding dogs before mating. Among the conditions that can occur, it lists hip dysplasia, luxating patella, distichiasis (extra eyelashes that irritate the eye), thyroid disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and bloat. Recommended tests include joint X-rays, a patella check, eye and thyroid exams, and a DNA test for a cerebellar malformation similar to Dandy-Walker syndrome. The UK Kennel Club also recommends elbow X-rays.
- hip dysplasiaThe breed club requires joint screening before dogs are bred.
- luxating patellaListed by the breed club among the conditions seen in Eurasiers.
- distichiasisAn extra row of eyelashes that irritates the cornea; detected in an eye exam.
- thyroid diseaseThyroid hormone disorders; the breed club recommends testing breeding dogs.
- exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and bloatThe breed club lists both conditions as possible in the breed.
Health tests to ask the breeder about
- hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
- patella check
- eye exam (ECVO)
- thyroid testing
- DWLM DNA test
This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.
Breed history
The Eurasier is a young breed. According to the FCI standard, in 1960 Julius Wipfel crossed a Chow Chow with a Wolfspitz (Keeshond), looking for a dog that would combine the best traits of both breeds: calmness, alertness and devotion to family. The first dogs were called "Wolf-Chows". Later the Samoyed was brought into the breeding program, and the breed was renamed the Eurasier, the "Eurasian" dog, in a nod to its European and Asian roots. The FCI recognized the breed. From the start, the goal was a family dog with a stable temperament, not a working dog, and that aim is still visible in Eurasiers today.
Fun facts
- The breed was created by Julius Wipfel, who crossed a Chow Chow with a Wolfspitz in 1960.
- Before the breed got its current name, the dogs were called "Wolf-Chows".
- The FCI standard allows all colors except pure white and piebald.
- According to the standard, the ideal male stands 56 cm and weighs 26 kg, and the ideal female 52 cm and 22 kg.
Frequently asked questions
Do Eurasiers shed a lot?
Yes, the Eurasier has a dense double coat and sheds quite heavily by season. Day to day, brushing once or twice a week is enough, more often during the shed. Do not shave the coat, as it protects the dog from cold and sun.
Can a Eurasier be left home alone?
For short periods, yes, but it copes badly with long hours alone. It is a breed deeply attached to its family, developed as a companion dog. If you are away at work all day, arrange care or choose a more independent breed.
How big do Eurasiers get?
Under the FCI standard, males weigh 22–30 kg at a height of 52–60 cm, and females 18–26 kg at 48–56 cm. The standard also gives ideal values: 56 cm and 26 kg for a male and 52 cm and 22 kg for a female.
How long do Eurasiers live?
Usually 12–16 years, according to the AKC. The breed is considered healthy, thanks in part to mandatory health testing of breeding dogs in breed clubs. Regular checks of the eyes, thyroid and joints help keep the dog in good shape.
This breed also appears in
Sources
- 1FCI standard nr 291 – Eurasier (PDF)fci.be
- 2AKC – Eurasierakc.org
- 3Royal Kennel Club – Eurasierroyalkennelclub.com
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
