Eurasier

About the breed

The Eurasier is a medium-sized spitz from Germany, bred on purpose as a companion dog. FCI Standard No. 291 gives its utilisation as "companion dog" and places it in Group 5 (spitz and primitive types), Section 5 (Asian spitz and related breeds), without a working trial. The standard asks for constant, close domestic contact with the family and understanding but consistent training.

Origins: Wolfspitz, Chow Chow and Samoyed

The Eurasier was created deliberately: according to the FCI standard, it began in 1960 with a cross between a Chow Chow and a Wolfspitz, and a Samoyed was added later; the breed was founded by Julius Wipfel. The Eurasier Klub Weinheim (EKW) reports that the first "Wolf-Chows" came from mating Wolfspitz bitches to Chow Chow males. The Samoyed cross dates from 1972: the German club Kynologische Zuchtgemeinschaft Eurasier (KZG) gives 27 March 1972. The EKW dates the renaming to Eurasier to 1972, whereas the KZG and the German-language FCI text give 1973. The FCI accepted the breed on a definitive basis on 27 July 1973.

A companion, not a guard or working dog

The FCI lists the Eurasier as a companion dog. The EKW warns that it is unsuited to protection-dog training or to training in someone else's hands; the KZG says training without its owner would spoil it and it would wither in a kennel. The standard calls it watchful and alert without being noisy, and the Eurasier Society UK calls it a good watchdog but not a good guard dog.

Size and weight under the FCI standard

The FCI gives 52–60 cm and 22–30 kg for males and 48–56 cm and 18–26 kg for females, with ideals of 56 cm/26 kg for a male and 52 cm/22 kg for a female. The body is slightly longer than tall; balance of proportions matters most, and medium height and weight are the aim. The KZG calls the figures guidelines and notes that types range from slender to heavier-boned, so a slender bitch under 20 kg can be quite appropriate.

Coat, colours and the blue tongue

The coat has a thick undercoat and medium-long, straight, loosely lying guard hair. It is short on the muzzle, face, ears and front of the legs, and longer on the tail, the back of the forelegs (feathers) and the hindlegs (breeches); on the neck it does not form a mane. The FCI permits all colours and combinations except pure white and piebald, both of which it lists as disqualifying faults. The EKW stresses that colour can change throughout a Eurasier's life and that the club does not breed for colour. It explains that the Chow Chow's blue tongue and the pink tongues of the Wolfspitz and Samoyed combined into all the spotted variants, and calls tongue colour, from pink to blue or spotted, unimportant for the breed.

Reserved with strangers, not fearful: what it means for socialisation

The Eurasier is calm, self-assured and even-tempered, and measured rather than fearful with strangers. Sources word this differently: the current FCI standard (2019) says relaxed towards strangers and not obtrusive; the UK Kennel Club standard and the Eurasier Society UK describe a dog reserved with strangers, without any signs of aggression; the EKW says reserved but not unfriendly; the KZG says neutral. The EKW says it dislikes being petted by every stranger and makes contact when it chooses. The Eurasier Society UK notes that this varies a great deal: some dogs back away from a stranger's hand, others are outgoing. The FCI lists aggressive or overly shy dogs as disqualifying.

Socialisation is therefore a planned task with this breed. The EKW requires its breeders to raise puppies in the living area and accustom them to many kinds of people, noises, car travel and grooming, and the KZG recommends a puppy class. Calm, gradual introductions to visitors, the vet and grooming are worth starting early.

Attached to the whole family, not one person

The Eurasier belongs with its family and is not made for long hours alone. The FCI speaks of a very strongly developed link to the family, and the KZG adds that it is no one-person dog but fixes on the whole household. The EKW says kennel housing is out of the question, and its buyer checklist adds that a dog, as a pack animal, should not be left alone for longer than four hours.

Training: consistency without harshness

The EKW describes the Eurasier as quick to understand and motivated by praise and treats; it is bored by repetition and answers harshness with a will of its own. The Eurasier Society UK calls it intelligent and keen to please but, like most spitz breeds, independent: it may "go deaf" when busy with something more interesting. The KZG advises anyone who expects absolute obedience to choose another breed.

Exercise and hunting instinct

The Eurasier is calm indoors but needs regular daily exercise. The EKW's checklist for future owners counts 1–2 hours of walks a day, the KZG recommends two to three long walks, and the UK Kennel Club lists up to one hour of exercise. According to the EKW it has no pronounced hunting instinct, but in most cases will chase a startled rabbit and then return quickly; the Eurasier Society UK adds that this varies widely, so recall should not be taken for granted.

Shedding and coat care: brush, not bath

A brush once or twice a week is usually enough (EKW: one or two thorough brushings; KZG: daily while shedding), and the undercoat comes out in tufts in spring and autumn. The EKW says the dog needs neither bathing nor clipping. The KZG reports that after neutering the coat often grows longer, softer and more matt-prone, and the natural coat change is missing in many dogs, so grooming takes more time.

Flat, children, first-time owners: the answer is "it depends"

A Eurasier can live in a flat if it is with people most of the time and gets regular exercise. The KZG says it adapts to farm, flat or house alike, provided the owner has time, social contact and exercise to offer; the EKW adds that a house with a garden is not essential. With children and other pets the EKW reports good relations given sensible handling and gradual introduction, and the Eurasier Society UK calls it usually very good with children, though small children should always be supervised. The EKW considers it suitable for first-time owners; the Eurasier Society UK cautions that it is not the perfect dog for everyone.

Health testing: what clubs require and what they recommend

The EKW, which describes itself as the breed's original club, requires dogs to show a hip X-ray (including assessment of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra), a patella examination, an eye examination, a hypothyroidism test and a dental check before breeding approval, and to pass a behaviour test. The KZG uses only dogs examined for hip dysplasia, patella, thyroid and eye disease in breeding; the same examinations are the prerequisite for its offspring inspection (Körung). The Slovenian breeding rules for FCI group 5 (KZS, adopted December 2023) mention the Eurasier only in the minimum age for a breeding examination (12 months) and do not list it among the breeds with mandatory hip X-rays, so it makes sense for a breeder to show results under the EKW or KZG programme.

The UK Kennel Club recommends BVA/KC hip, elbow and eye schemes to breeders; according to the 2020 UK breed health plan, hip testing is required under its Assured Breeder Scheme. The two UK breed clubs add patella, thyroid and DWLM DNA testing. Ask for both parents' results.

Thyroid, DWLM, knees, eyes and lifespan

Hypothyroidism is the most prominent topic. The UK breed health plan summarises Swedish Agria insurance data (2011–2016; 2,500–5,000 dog-years at risk) in which the relative risk of hypothyroidism and endocrine disorders was more than three times that of other breeds, though it warns of a small sample. The plan (with data from the International Federation for Eurasier Breeding, IFEZ) also says experienced breeding officials' estimates suggest roughly a fifth of Eurasiers are affected, with no exact figures. The KZG says that by current knowledge the breed is not among the strongly affected ones, yet it noted a slight rise in reported cases and added a thyroid blood test; it adds that there are no typical signs and that hypothyroidism is very treatable with replacement hormones.

DWLM (cerebellar hypoplasia resembling a Dandy-Walker-like malformation) is inherited and autosomal recessive according to research: affected puppies show non-progressive ataxia at 5–6 weeks, and a DNA test exists for the VLDLR mutation. In a series of 14 related dogs (2015), ataxia improved in adults (in six, per the UK plan) and some had epileptic seizures (four, per the UK plan); the series does not show how common the disease is in the breed. For eyes, the UK breed clubs advise at least an examination for entropion and distichiasis, and IFEZ also records eye screening (e.g. glaucoma). The UK plan lists hypothyroidism together with other autoimmune conditions (e.g. EPI, diabetes), patella luxation and DWLM among its priorities.

Clubs give roughly 12–15 years for lifespan: the EKW says the average is a good 13 and that 14 or 15 is not unusual, the KZG that 12–15 is not unusual, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) gives 12–16 years. These are club and organisation estimates, not registry statistics, so read them as a range.

Eurasier, Chow Chow or Samoyed: how they differ

The Eurasier is related to the Chow Chow and the Samoyed, but FCI standards set them apart by purpose, colour and neck coat. The FCI lists the Eurasier as a companion dog, the Chow Chow as a guard dog and companion that is independent, loyal and aloof, and the Samoyed as a sledge and companion dog, very social and not usable as a guard dog. The Eurasier may be any colour except pure white and piebald; the Chow Chow is whole-coloured, the Samoyed pure white, cream or white with biscuit. Eurasier males stand 52–60 cm, Chow Chow males 48–56 cm. The Eurasier's neck coat does not form a mane, whereas the Chow Chow standard describes a mane or ruff.

What to ask a breeder

Ask for a pedigree from a recognised kennel organisation, both parents' results (hips, patellae, eyes, thyroid) and a DWLM DNA test. According to the EKW, its puppies go home microchipped, vaccinated and with a veterinary certificate. Ask for a written contract. On 29 September 2026 Klub 5, the Slovenian club for spitz and primitive-type dogs, listed two Slovenian Eurasier kennels on its breeder list. Find a breeder in the directory.

Who it suits and who it suits less

The Eurasier suits people who are home most of the day or take the dog along, want a calm, moderately active companion and accept seasonal shedding and patient socialisation. It suits less those seeking a guard or protection-sport dog, those expecting absolute obedience, owners away for long hours, and anyone wanting a dog that greets every visitor with delight. Conditions: verified parental results, early socialisation, consistent training and time.

Pros & cons