As many of you know, I’m a student and once I move out of my parents' place, I’m planning on getting a dog of my own as soon as I can (either during the second year of my Master’s when I’ll be getting paid, or during my first year of work).
I’ve been looking into all the different options.
I’m considering adopting from a rescue, but the idea of getting a pedigree dog really appeals to me too.
I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the Golden Retriever’s temperament: they’re so sociable (with dogs, cats, and children), they love their walks without necessarily needing to tear around everywhere, and let’s be honest, they have such lovely faces. They have good recall if trained properly, generally listen well, and don't have much of a prey drive (I panic as soon as Hava wanders off too far to chase shadows, so I definitely don't want anything more than that).
A few days ago, I came across another breed I’ve fallen for: the Eurasier!
They seem to meet my criteria and are a bit smaller (I want a female), which is a plus for me. I’m certainly not looking to enter any obedience trials with this dog, but that’s not what I’m after anyway.
Just to recap:
I’m going to be a secondary school teacher, so I won’t be away from home for long periods. For the first two years at least, we’ll be living in a flat, but I hope to have a small garden before long (for myself, and it’s a nice bonus for the dog). I love walking—at the house, I do about 1 hour 30 mins every day, often more, but let’s go with that. In a flat, I’d be doing at least 2 hours. I’ll have a cat that gets on with dogs. I just want a companion for life that I can train well.
I’d love to hear some of your stories or experiences with these dogs if you've met them? I really like what I’ve read so far, anyway. Thanks everyone!
Translated from French
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Eurasiers look quite a bit like Samoyeds, so it's no wonder you've fallen for them! Which part of the country do you live in? A dog with that much fur might really struggle with the heat if you're based down south. Otherwise, they seem to have a really lovely temperament.
You should definitely look for a Facebook group for owners of the breed; I'm sure the members there will be able to answer any questions you have! :)
On the other hand, if you’re looking at one of the primitive breeds, the Finnish Lapphund is probably the "easiest" when it comes to training. They don’t necessarily have that constant need for "work" that you see with some shepherd breeds.
They are actually quite a bit smaller than a Golden. Goldens and Eurasiers have a similar breed standard in terms of height, though the Eurasier is probably a bit shorter in the body, so they're slightly lighter, but they do have more coat. So, they’re pretty much neck and neck in terms of build. Mind you, the problem with "trendy" breeds is that people often want the biggest, sturdiest dog possible, and Goldens are a prime example—many from show lines are actually over the breed standard. Personally, I prefer the build of a working-line Golden, as they’re much more athletic.
I reckon we’re looking at it the wrong way with primitive breeds. People often confuse how easy it is to teach commands with how easy a dog is to live with. It’s worth noting that even though Huskies aren’t far behind, the breed filling up animal rescues at the moment is the Malinois. You won't find a dog easier to train than a Mali, except maybe a Border Collie, and no, it’s not always their high energy levels that cause issues for these breeds.
As for the Eurasier, they aren’t working dogs, so they don't have much drive for either hunting or herding. Teaching recall isn’t complicated in itself; plus, Eurasiers are actually quite responsive. There are plenty of Eurasiers that absolutely love heelwork to music, for example.
But unlike a Malinois or an Aussie Shepherd, they don’t have a constant need to do repetitive drills. The trap is turning relaxing downtime—where the dog should be able to sniff, explore, and play—into a non-stop training session by calling them back every two minutes.
I once knew an incredibly obedient Eurasier that was never on a lead; its owner was actually mute.
So, obviously, you teach recall, but more importantly, you teach "natural following" from a very early age so you don't have to keep pestering your dog every two minutes on a walk. If you call an Eurasier ten times, eventually, even if you’ve got a treat in your hand, he’ll just think "you’re doing my head in" and go off and do his own thing. If you teach your Eurasier to check in and follow naturally, you won’t need to call him back more than three or four times per walk, and everything should go smoothly.
Primitive breeds aren't "difficult" dogs, but you shouldn't bombard them with constant commands every single day. That doesn't mean you shouldn't teach them anything or do dog sports with them like heelwork to music, tracking, agility, or canicross (though that’s more for the sled dog types), etc. They enjoy learning and being active, especially if there are treats involved.
But you have to teach them to obey without barking orders at them every five minutes. While a Malinois will absolutely love that kind of intensity, an Eurasier won't. Mind you, you shouldn't see it as a problem—having a dog that doesn't have a constant need to be learning or "working" twelve hours a day isn't a bad thing at all. Personally, I’m convinced that’s one of the main reasons so many Malinois end up in rescues.
Their owner is one of my clients. He’s got a toddler and they’ve moved from a big house in the Drôme to a flat in Montpellier. He takes them out to a park near his place and tells me that’s plenty for them (I bump into him now and then when I’m out for a run near the park, and he always takes the mickey out of me and my two hyper ones). Then again, they don’t seem particularly playful... but I only ever see them in passing 😂
@Caroline-Eg yeah, the thing that scares me most about a Nordic breed is the recall, but from what I’ve seen, they have very little prey drive, if any at all, so it should be much easier!
I’ve also read that they can look quite imposing without barking much and aren't aggressive. I find that quite reassuring for when I'm out walking after dark...
Hava totally ignores people when we're out, and even when she doesn’t, she still won't let them stroke her, even though she's known most of the other owners since she was a puppy! I don’t mind that side of her at all; on the contrary, it means I’m certain it’s me she’s following and not someone else 😂
My friends and family are really used to dogs; we never leave children alone with them or let them pester the dogs. Playing is fine, and cuddles too if the dog wants them, but that’s it.
I’m looking for a female (I have a huge preference for their temperament), and about 44 to 48 lbs (around 3 stone) would be perfect, though I wouldn't mind if she were a bit heavier.
I don’t know if you might know of any Eurasier forums (or something like that?) so I can find out a bit more if no one here knows the breed... I know they’re rare.
I only know one family with two Eurasiers (mother and son). Following a job change, they’re in a flat now and apparently they’re doing just fine. Mind you, they do seem bigger than the Goldens I know...
According to the breed standard, a female is between 44 and 57 lbs; the coat definitely makes them look bulkier, that’s for sure! Most female Goldens I come across are usually between 62 and 70 lbs... so I’d imagine them to be smaller.
I’d like to get mine used to all sorts of situations, and it’s really great to hear that the ones you know have managed to adapt so easily.
Personally, I’ve also fallen for the Eurasier; it’ll definitely be my next dog.
They’re quite adaptable dogs, though you’ll never make them obedience champions. Like many primitive breeds, repetition isn't really their cup of tea, but they are relatively obedient. With the guarding instinct of a Spitz, the cheerfulness of a Samoyed, and the calmer side of a Chow Chow, they’re honestly brilliant dogs.
However, do watch out for proper socialisation as some can be a bit wary of strangers. It’s not a problem in itself, but you don't want that wariness to turn into fear. Eurasiers rarely make a fuss of strangers—they probably get that from the Chow Chow side. So, guests shouldn't treat them like a cuddly toy, especially their kids.
Eurasiers come in various sizes. Personally, I’m after a dog that can guard, so I’ll probably look for a male with large parents—about 60cm (24 inches) at the shoulder and 30kg (around 66lbs or 4st 10lb). But while you get females around 25-26kg (approx 55-57lbs or 4 stone), you also get much smaller ones around 20-22kg (about 44-48lbs or 3st 6lb). You really have to check the parents for that. I find Eurasiers, much like Australian Shepherds, vary quite a bit in size. Some can be quite imposing, whereas others are much less so.
I only know one family with two Eurasiers (mother and son). Following a job change, they’re living in a flat and it seems to be working out fine. Mind you, they do seem bigger than the Goldens I know...
