Cool, calm and collected. Eurasiers are slightly reserved around strangers but a strong companion to their family, making them lovable family pets. Developed in Germany during the 1950s their founder wanted to create a mixture between a Chow Chow and a German Wolf Spitz. The breed has become very popular in their country of origin, however they remain slightly less well known in the UK. Nonetheless, gradually more and more people are beginning to discover the qualities of this gorgeous and calm natured pet.
Height: 52-60 cm (Males); 48-56 (Females)
Weight: 23-32 kg (Males); 18-26 kg (Females)
Despite Eurasiers medium-sized body, they boast a lovely fluffy coat which is immediately impressive at first glance. This coat comes in two layers, with a harsh but thin top layer and a more thick but soft bottom layer. Their coat develops a more feathery appearance on their legs and tail. The Kennel Club certifies in total 10 different colours for this stunning coat including variations of; Black, Fawn, Grey, Red and Sable. Whilst their heads are wide they don’t appear massively out of proportion to the rest of their body. Their ears are held pricked and their tail is either curved or curled towards their back.
Are Eurasier dogs intelligent? Yes
Are Eurasier dogs affectionate? Yes, around people that they know or are comfortable with
Do Eurasier dogs have high or low energy levels? Moderate. They love being outdoors but can be calm and docile when in the house.
Are Eurasier dogs loyal? Yes
Are Eurasier dogs playful? Yes
Are Eurasier dogs aggressive? The majority aren’t aggressive.
Are Eurasier dogs easy to train? Yes
Are Eurasier dogs good guard dogs? No
Eurasiers generally have a loving and kind nature. When combined with their intelligence and willingness to please their owners, they are great for first-time owners who are willing to shower their dogs with time and attention. They have moderate energy levels needing at least an hour of exercise a day and they love mental stimulation on top of this. However, having received some extra playtime and attention throughout the day, they are happy to relax in the house and can be quite independent dogs in this regard. Such independence means they are less likely to suffer from separation anxiety when left for small amounts of time, however as with all breeds they shouldn’t be left at home for extended periods. Eurasiers are not good guard dogs due to their even-tempered nature, whilst they are happy to alert their owners to strangers outside the house by barking, they will often just settle down once the door is open, making them great family pets.
Eurasiers don’t generally have a high prey drive, therefore as long as their recall is good and their owner is confident of their temperament they can be allowed off the lead to interact with other dogs. Although as ever, they need to be socialised with dogs from an early age. When they are socialised with cats from an early age they can get along with them, however care should be taken around other smaller pets or cats that they haven’t grown up with. The breed loves having the attention of a child, however playtime should always be supervised by an adult. Whilst Eurasiers are loving and loyal family pets, they can be cautious around strangers that they don’t know or are uncomfortable around, but this caution usually doesn’t cause them to become aggressive.
Are Eurasier dogs good for first-time owners? Yes
Are Eurasier dogs hypoallergenic? No
Are Eurasier dogs prone to drooling? No
Are Eurasier dogs a good breed for apartment living? No
Do Eurasier dogs shed a lot? Yes
Do Eurasier dogs bark a lot? No
Can Eurasier dogs be left alone at home? Yes, for short periods.
Can Eurasier dogs handle the heat? Moderately
Can Eurasier dogs handle cold temperatures? Moderately
Are Eurasier dogs sensitive to loud noises? Noise
The excitable yet even-tempered and independent nature of Eurasiers makes them a great breed for first-time owners willing to dedicate sufficient time and attention to their daily needs including exercise, training and playtime. Their exercise requirements and independent natures mean that they are not suited to apartment living as they prefer to have a garden they can either run around in or simply wander around at their leisure. Such independence does mean they are less likely to suffer from separation anxiety than other dogs, however they shouldn’t be left at home for extended periods. Something to bear in mind is that their coat requires a lot of grooming and attention. They shed a lot and ideally need to be brushed once a day to prevent any matting of their hair.
How long do Eurasier dogs live? - 11-13 years
Whilst Eurasiers don’t inherit some of the hereditary diseases which pedigrees often suffer from, they are prone to:
Hip and elbow dysplasia: When the hip joint does not grow properly, which can wear as the dog gets older and cause pain or lameness.
The Kennel Club recommends using breeders who have undertaken the BVA/KC scheme to diagnose these issues.
Eye issues such as; entropion, where the eyelid rolls inwards, causing the eyelashes to irritate the cornea; ectropion, where the lower eyelid rolls outwards which can dry out the lower tissues in the eye; and distichiasis, where eyelashes may grow in abnormal places along the eyelid margin rather than the eyelid, causing irritation or sores.
For these issues, the Kennel Club recommends a BVA/KC eye screening for the breeders to carry out on their dogs.
Patella luxation: Where the dog’s kneecap can become dislocated
Unanesthetized testing can be done on any dog by a veterinary surgeon
How much exercise does a Eurasier dog need? - 60 minutes per day
Do Eurasier dogs like water play? Yes. However, as with any breed they should never be forced if they don’t take to swimming.
As previously mentioned, Eurasiers have moderate energy levels and therefore need at least an hour of exercise a day, with some mental stimulation and playtime on top of this to keep them truly happy and healthy dogs, especially if they are later left at home. Eurasiers are well-known for happily getting stuck into any activity that is going on around them, however after their 60 minutes of leisurely walking per day coupled with a bit of playtime and company around the house, they are happy to relax at home. They are highly intelligent dogs, without a high prey drive, and therefore with a good recall they can be let off the lead on walks, however in the garden make sure they are fenced in really well to avoid their curiosity getting the better of them by escaping. Country walks where the Eurasier can have a good run around are great for this breed, however they can also be satisfied in parks with a lot of footfall even if they are wary of any strangers they may meet along the way.
Are Eurasier dogs prone to weight gain? Sometimes after spaying or neutering, or as they grow older.
How much should I feed a Eurasier puppy? 3-4 small portions a day
How much should I feed an adult Eurasier dog? 2 portions a day
Eurasiers can sometimes be fussy eaters and do not tend to overeat or tuck into their food too quickly. There are no breed-specific dietary requirements, however it is always best to follow the meal plan that breeders have brought the puppies up on to avoid their stomach rejecting any sudden changes in their diet. For some fussy Eurasiers, they can get bored of eating the same food, at which point you can slowly introduce them to a new type of food. The amount of food the breed needs to be fed will differ depending on their weight and the amount of exercise they do.
Grooming: Due to the Eurasiers gorgeous furry coat, they ideally need brushing once a day to avoid matting and also to remove any loose hairs from their coat as they shed heavily. They should be groomed by professionals a few times a year to keep on top of their coat. Their eyes should also be checked regularly in order to catch any of the eye conditions mentioned previously.
Emotional Care: Eurasiers are happiest when they are around their family. However once they have received their 60 minutes of exercise and additional playtime or mental stimulation, they can be more independent and slightly lazier as they wander around the house or garden, this means they are less likely to suffer from extreme separation anxiety. Nevertheless, no dog should be left alone for long periods of time and too much of this can cause Eurasiers to become bored and develop destructive habits.
Training: Eurasiers are very intelligent dogs, and they are also people-pleasers, therefore they love to spend time with their owners, obeying their training commands.
Julius Whipfel, a German breeder, mixed the Chow Chow and German Wolf Spitz in the 1960s, at which time the new breed was called a Wolf Chow. The Samoyed breed was later added to the dogs’ bloodline and their name was later changed in 1973 to Eurasier at which point the breed was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (an international federation of many different national kennel clubs).
As they are a fairly new breed, only recognised by the UK Kennel Club in 2003, they are still mainly popular in Germany and Switzerland. However their kind nature and brilliant companionship are now becoming more well-known around the world and their popularity is increasing.
The name Eurasier, which originated in 1973, was created to represent both the European and Asian heritage of the breed.
As they are relatively new breeds and their popularity is only just expanding outside of Germany and Switzerland, prospective owners would need to go on a waiting list.
The breeder Julius Whipfel created the breed in order to combine the intelligence and independence of Spitz wolves with a family-orientated nature.
In line with its Chow Chow inheritance, the Eurasier has a blue-black tongue.
How much does a Eurasier cost to buy? £700 -£2500 on average
How much does a Eurasier cost to feed? £40-£50
How much does insurance for a Eurasier cost? Basic Pet insurance is around £25 a month depending on the dog's age and health, whereas a lifetime cover could cost about £45 a month.
As a more recently created breed, buying a Eurasier puppy often entails being placed on a waiting list as there are not many that are bred each year and their cost can be quite high.
However due to their fast increasing popularity, some breeders are over breeding their mother dogs (Dams) without sufficient care for the mother or its puppies. Therefore prospective owners should look into the breeder they are buying from and make sure all the health checks listed above have been carried out. Please see our buying guide which provides more insight on what to research and ask of your breeders. It is also important to be careful of scammers and to visit the puppy before buying.
Click here to see any active Eurasier puppy listings for sale on our website currently.
Adoption & Rescue
When considering buying a puppy, it is always worth considering whether adopting and re-homing a rescue dog might be more suitable.
The RSPCA, Battersea Dog Home, and the Dogs Trust all have some great advice and listings on dogs that need re-homing.
