Eurasier puppies

About the Eurasier

The Eurasier is a modern German companion breed, made by crossing the Chow Chow, Wolfspitz and Samoyed to produce a spitz that is calm, clean and closely bonded to their family. This is a medium sized dog with prick ears, a curled tail and a thick double coat that comes in many colours. Eurasiers are quiet, watchful and undemonstrative with strangers, reserved without being nervous, and they attach intensely to their own household. They were never bred for a working job.

Exercise is moderate: a good daily walk, some free running and play with other dogs is enough, though the breed is much livelier outdoors than in. The coat needs a thorough comb once or twice a week, then daily work for the two to three weeks a year when the undercoat comes out in sheets. Training should be gentle and never harsh. This breed copes badly with being left alone for long working days, so plan for company.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Eurasier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Distichiasis and other eyelid and eye problems, screened by an ophthalmologist eye exam
• Thyroid disease, found on a thyroid blood panel
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, diagnosed by a blood test for trypsin like immunoreactivity
• Gastric torsion, a sudden and life threatening stomach emergency

Your Eurasier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Eurasier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 18.1 to 31.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 31.8 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Eurasier

Previous: Estrela Mountain Dog · Next: Field Spaniel

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Eurasier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/eurasier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Ekta at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.