Kromfohrlander puppies

About the Kromfohrlander

The Kromfohrlander was created in Germany after the Second World War from a stray terrier type crossed with a wire haired griffon, and unusually for a dog of that shape they were bred as a companion rather than for work. They weigh 9.1 to 15.9 kg and stand 38 to 46 cm, in a scruffy wirehaired coat or a smoother one. They fix on one person and follow them from room to room, and they are lively and funny at home while being cautious about anything new.

They have real energy and want long walks in open country plus games of fetch. Grooming means regular hand stripping to keep the coat weatherproof; it should not be clipped or shaved, and dirt tends to fall out of it on its own. Dog parks are not their scene, since they prefer dogs they already know. They rate well with children, with supervision. Start nail trimming in puppyhood, because the breed is notably sensitive about their feet, and expect a long wait for a puppy from a very small gene pool.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Kromfohrlander 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. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. 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.

• Hyperkeratosis of the footpads, detectable by DNA test
• Von Willebrand's disease, an inherited clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
• Autoimmune conditions, diagnosed by a vet from blood work and biopsy, with no genetic test available
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by a vet once other causes of seizures are ruled out
• Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination

Your Kromfohrlander 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 Kromfohrlander.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 9.1 to 15.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 15.9 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

Previous: Korean Jindo Dog · Next: Kuvasz

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 Kromfohrlander breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/kromfohrlander/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

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