ABOUT THE EURASIER
The Eurasier is a Spitz type dog that originated in Germany in 1960, developed by crossing Chow Chows with German Wolfsspitz. Later, the Samoyed was also added to improve character, appearance and health. In 1973, the breed was renamed Eurasier and was recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The breed was intended to have the natural, "northern" look of the Spitz dog, but with a calm demeanour to make it more suitable to family life.
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The Eurasier is a medium sized, Spitz type dog that comes in many different coat colours. They should be balanced and harmonious in appearance, and free from any extremes or exaggerations. Their coat should be thick and full, but lying flat with textured guard hairs, rather than profuse and standing up, as in the Keeshond or Chow Chow. This coat type makes for much simpler maintenance than the more profuse or cottony coat types. As the breed is still fairly young, there can be quite significant variety, both in appearance and temperament. However there are certain hallmarks of the breed that all Eurasiers should possess.
TEMPERAMENT
Highly adaptable and easy-going, the Eurasier can fit in to a variety of home situations. However, prospective owners should be aware of the Eurasier's need for close contact with its family. This is so important for the development of the Eurasier and its character that it is even included in the breed standard. The type of home best suited for a Eurasier is one where the owners are home often, or will bring their Eurasier along with them for daily activities. This not to say that a Eurasier owner cannot work outside of the home, however one should bear in mind their schedule and if they are away from home more often that not. Any dog requires regular care throughout the day and should not be left for long hours alone on a regular basis, however this is especially true for the Eurasier. Considering this, it is also important to begin training from a very early age to prevent the development of separation anxiety. While not exceptionally prone to this, the Eurasier is more likely to develop separation anxiety than more independent breeds, given their tendency to bond very strongly with their family. Our puppies begin the foundations of this training starting at 5 weeks, where they begin to have individual time in a crate with a rewarding chew. Continuing this training from when your puppy comes home will help to prevent any issues as an adult. With proper training, a Eurasier owner can reasonably expect their Eurasier to be comfortable and relaxed at home for several hours at a time without issue.
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Another consideration for the prospective Eurasier owner is that this breed can be more reserved and require ongoing socialization and exposure starting from a young age. A Eurasier owner should not expect for their dog to love every person they encounter (some do, but not all!), however the Eurasier should be comfortable and neutral in these situations. Neutrality should be the main goal of socializing your Eurasier, rather than expecting them to interact with all strange people and dogs. The ideal Eurasier is neutral and indifferent, and should not be anxious or fearful. The Eurasier is a slow to mature breed, both physically and mentally, but proper socialization and training will make for an excellent life-long companion.
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With family and people the Eurasier knows well, they are exceptionally affectionate and in tune with their owner's emotions. They are a very intuitive breed and seem to communicate with their people effectively. Most Eurasiers also have an incredible sense of humour and provide endless entertainment! They are typically rather calm dogs indoors and so make for excellent indoor companions, while also having the energy and willingness to participate in activities with their people. They are just as happy relaxing on the couch as they are out for a hike. As long as the Eurasier gets adequate exercise for its physical health and a mental outlet for their energy, they will happily spend the rest of the day napping inside or engaging in quiet activities at home.
TRAINING
The Eurasier is an intelligent and adaptable breed, and is therefore very easy to train. While perhaps not as biddable as some of the herding and sporting breeds who were bred to work for man, with the right motivation they can be trained to perform all sorts of behaviours. While the vast majority of Eurasiers in North America are household pets, there are quite a few that have shown their versatility in training in sports such as obedience, agility, scent detection etc.
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Positive reinforcement is the best approach for training your Eurasier. Corrections may be applied sparingly where needed, but a verbal interruption is often more than enough to redirect an unwanted behaviour. Aversive training tools are typically not necessary for this breed and punishment-based training should absolutely be avoided.