What to Think About Before Getting a Eurasier Dog
The Eurasier is an underappreciated breed that can make for a phenomenal pet for the right family. These medium-to-large dogs originated in Germany as a mix of Chow Chow and Wolfspits dogs. Generally bred as family and watchdogs, Eurasiers have beautiful coats and tend to get along well with everyone in the household.
Would a Eurasier be the right pet for you, however? Are there any specifics in the care this dog needs you should be aware of? Are Eurasiers good with kids, other pets, or strangers? Below we’ll cover that and the rest of the most popular 24 questions to consider before getting a Eurasier dog.
1. Are Eurasiers good pets?
Overall, yes, Eurasiers make for excellent pets, especially for families of any size. These dogs are calm, collected, and have a very nice temperament. Their high intelligence and social nature make them excellent companions for novice and experienced owners alike.
2. What type of dog is the Eurasier?
The Eurasier is a type of spitz dog, similar in its origin to the more popular Husky and Pomeranian breeds. They are excellent watchdogs and were bred as family companions and property protectors for centuries. They aren’t really guard dogs, however, as they are not as antisocial as some dedicated guard dog breeds like the Rottweiler or the Doberman.
3. Are Eurasier dogs affectionate?
Eurasiers are very gentle and loving dogs toward their pack/family members. While they are too big to be lap dogs, they do love cuddling on the sofa or in the bed, as well as on your feet whenever possible.
4. How smart are Eurasier dogs?
While not quite on the level of some shepherd and retriever breeds, the Eurasier is plenty intelligent in its own right. These dogs have been bred for centuries to be around people, to respond to commands, and to perform various work tasks, so they’ve got the smarts to do all that and more.
5. Are Eurasiers easy to train?
The Eurasier is not just smart but tends to be a people-pleaser as well. This dog isn’t nearly as stubborn and self-minded as some other highly-intelligent breeds and responds very well to positive and treat-based training. Still, adequate obedience training is a must if you want to raise a dog that respects your authority and follows your commands.
6. Is a Eurasier dog good for a family with young children?
Eurasiers love and respect all members of their families so children and babies of all ages should be perfectly safe around this breed. Of course, good socialization and a proper introduction to the child are still a must but that’s the case with any dog breed.
7. Do Eurasiers get along with other dogs?
Eurasiers have been bred to be pack dogs so they don’t have too much inherent aggression toward other canines. While the occasional strong-willed Eurasier may get the urge to challenge other dogs, more often than not your Eurasier will be happy to have another canine buddy.
8. Can you have a Eurasier with a cat?
These dogs don’t have a particularly noteworthy prey drive so they would often get along with cats and other small pets. It is important to socialize and introduce the two animals properly but, especially if they are raised together, there should be little conflict between them.
9. Are Eurasiers aggressive toward strangers?
Most Eurasiers are naturally distrustful toward strangers but not outwardly aggressive. That’s why this dog is considered a good watchdog but not a particularly effective guard dog. When a Eurasier perceives danger from a stranger he will start barking to alert you but will be unlikely to jump into action straight away.
So, with good socialization, these dogs can easily be taught to accept and tolerate your extended family, friends, and even complete strangers. Still, the emphasis is on “with good socialization”.
10. Do Eurasiers bark a lot?
Eurasiers don’t bark too often – only when they perceive a direct danger coming from somewhere. So, this isn’t one of those breeds that bark at shadows and random noises in the hallway, making it a good pick for apartments. And, if you want to minimize the barking even further, that can be easily done with some obedience training, socialization, and anti-bark training.
11. How much exercise does a Eurasier need?
Eurasiers are a moderately large breed but they are also quite calm and not overly active. Most of the time they can do just fine with a couple of 30-minute walks a day as long as said walks are vigorous and energetic. If you’re looking for a jogging companion, the Eurasier is a good choice as long as you don’t exhaust the dog. Alternatively, two 30-minute trips to the dog park can work as well. Add some playtime indoors or in a yard and you’ll get a healthy and happy dog.
12. Can Eurasiers live in apartments or do they need a yard?
The low-to-moderate exercise needs and low barking tendencies make the Eurasier a good dog for apartment dwellers. The relatively large size of the dog means that the apartment will need to be spacious enough, however. Still, as long as you give the dog enough outdoor exercise, living with no yard shouldn’t be a problem.
13. How long do Eurasiers live for?
The average lifespan of Eurasiers is estimated to be between 12 and 14 years. And that’s just an average – healthy pups that are well taken care of can live even longer than that. This is an excellent lifespan compared to other breeds of similar size such as Labradors and German Shepherds.
14. Are Eurasiers healthy?
The Eurasiers is a very healthy breed overall, especially when you get your pup from a reputable breeder who avoids inbreeding and overbreeding. Always ask the breeder for a health certificate as well as to see the parents personally. If you do that, you will more than likely get a very healthy pup.
Some of the issues you should watch out for are conditions the Eurasier inherits from its Chow Chow and Wolfspits parents. These include:
15. What type of coat do Eurasiers have?
Eurasiers have the classic spits double coat with a fluffy upper layer and a thick underlayer. Never shave a Eurasier as the undercoat is important to keep the dogs thermally isolated not just in the winter but in the summer as well.
16. What colors can a Eurasier come in?
Eurasiers inherit the colors and patterns of Wolfspitz and Chow Chows. These include black, red, fawn, black and tan, as well as wolf sable.
17. Are Eurasiers hypoallergenic?
No dog is fully hypoallergenic and neither is the Eurasier. Still, it is worth mentioning that they seem less triggering for people with allergies than other spits breeds. But even then you’d better go for a poodle or something similar if you have allergies.
18. Do Eurasiers shed a lot?
Like all spits dogs, Eurasiers shed quite a bit. This is especially the case during spring and fall when they’ll blow their entire undercoats in your living room if you haven’t groomed them properly. Visiting a groomer before that happens is strongly recommended.
19. How much brushing and grooming do Eurasier dogs need?
Several brushings a week are recommended for this breed. Going with daily brushings below the spring and fall blowouts is also a good idea. Aside from that, bi-monthly baths are not a bad idea, as is the occasional trim, eye and ear care, nail clipping, and toothbrushing. If this sounds overwhelming, consider visiting a groomer every once in a while.
20. Do Eurasier dogs smell?
Every double-coated breed can smell a bit if not bathed or groomed properly and the Eurasier is no exception. However, this breed isn’t particularly worse than other double-coated and spitz breeds.
21. How much does a Eurasier puppy cost?
The average price of Eurasiers from reputable breeders can vary anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500. This can feel steep at first but the initial price is always worth it getting a healthy pup that will have a long and happy life whilst keeping your vet bills low.
22. Do Eurasiers like to swim?
Some Eurasiers are avid swimmers but others are more Husky-like and prefer to stay dry. This is not that atypical for spitz breeds as living in cold temperatures has given them the instinct that cold water can be a health hazard. Still, if you get your pup used to swimming from an early age, it will likely keep liking it when it grows up.
23. How big is an adult Eurasier?
Eurasiers are similar in size to Labradors and GSDs. Adult Eurasiers are about 20 to 24 inches tall at the shoulders (51 to 61 cm) and weigh somewhere between 40 and 70 pounds (18 to 32 kg).
24. What other names do people use for the Eurasier breed?
This breed is known by many names, including Eurasian, Eurasian Spitz, Wolf-Chow, and Eurasian dog.
As you can see, The Eurasier’s name is far from the only cool thing about this breed. A greatly underrated spitz breed, these dogs come in a medium and quite manageable size, they are athletic but not hyperactive, and they are calm and reserved without being aggressively antisocial, and they are gentle and loving with all family members.
That latter point does mean a significant proclivity for social anxiety, unfortunately, but that’s true for all social dog breeds. Another “con” of this breed is the excessive shedding but that also applies to most other spitz breeds. So, all in all, the Eurasier is a truly wonderful and awesome family pet we’d recommend to most people.
