Few breeds know their birth year so precisely. In 1960, Julius Wipfel crossed a Chow Chow with a Wolfspitz; the offspring were first called Wolf-Chow. After introducing the Samoyed in 1973, the breed gained its current name and FCI recognition. The aim was a calm family dog, still stated in the standard today.
| FCI | Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds, Standard No. 291, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 52 to 60 cm, females 48 to 56 cm (ideal 56 and 52 cm) |
| Weight | Males 22 to 30 kg, females 18 to 26 kg (ideal 26 and 22 kg) |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | dense undercoat with medium-length, loosely fitting outer coat; longer tail, feathering and breeches |
| Colours in the standard | all colours and combinations except pure white and piebald |
Origins
The Eurasier is a German breed founded by Julius Wipfel, according to the standard. Chow Chow and Wolfspitz produced the Wolf-Chow from 1960; the Samoyed became the third founding breed in 1973. The FCI lists it among Asian Spitz as a companion without working trial.
Temperament
Confident, calm and even-tempered, with a high threshold for reacting, watchful without much barking, composed and unobtrusive towards strangers: that is the standard’s description. It also names the condition for this. The Eurasier needs constant, close family contact and understanding but consistent training. Kennel life does not suit it.
Exercise and activities
This is no high-performance athlete. Daily varied walks, scent work and outings together are enough, provided the dog can join in. Some hunting instinct occurs, so early recall practice is worthwhile.
Grooming
Despite its abundance, the coat is manageable: brush weekly, daily during shedding. Do not clip it.
Health
We found no reliable study figure for lifespan. An inherited cerebellar malformation, however, is well studied. A study led by the University of Munich described 14 closely related Eurasiers with congenital, non-progressive unsteadiness from the fifth to sixth week of life (Bernardino et al. 2015). A team from Bern and Munich universities identified the responsible VLDLR gene variant, inherited recessively (Gerber et al. 2015). Because the variant is known, breeding dogs can be tested. Ask for results and eye examinations for the parents.
Who is a Eurasier right for?
Families and people seeking a calm, affectionate companion who are often at home and train consistently but kindly.
Who is it less suitable for?
Anyone seeking a dog for dog sports or long hours alone, and people wanting a dog that cuddles strangers.
Our breed quiz shows whether such a family-oriented dog fits your daily life; our book offers more thorough help: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For starting with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find your Eurasier as a picture in our dog portraits from your own photo or as a digital artwork to download.
Further reading
- Siberian Husky: why so many end up in shelters at two years old
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
- The socialisation period: why “as much as possible” is the wrong advice
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 291 Eurasier (fci.be, version dated 17.02.2020); Bernardino F et al., Inferior cerebellar hypoplasia resembling a Dandy-Walker-like malformation in purebred Eurasier dogs with familial non-progressive ataxia: a retrospective and prospective clinical cohort study, PLOS ONE 2015; Gerber M et al., A deletion in the VLDLR gene in Eurasier dogs with cerebellar hypoplasia resembling a Dandy-Walker-like malformation (DWLM), PLOS ONE 2015; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (Eurasier not analysed there).
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