The First Dogs

In the past, there have been many theories of evolution regarding the forefathers of the first dogs. But more and more it became evident that all dog breeds seem to have descended from one single species: the wolf.  "The small, less compact asiatic wolves with a thinner fur that lived in warmer climates ... can be considered as the forefathers. This wolf type shows more similarity with present-day dogs living in the wild, which leads to the presumption that the line of descendents begins here" ⁽¹⁾. Following an extensive and interesting study concerning the theories of evolution, Erik Zimen drew the same conclusion and statet that "not one single feature can be found, not an anatomical, physiological, ethological nor ecological characteristic that would not speak for the wolf"⁽²⁾. The wolf is most likely the forefather of the Irish Wolfhound, the Chihuahua and also of the Eurasier.

(1)    Morris Desmond, Warum wedeln Hunde mit dem Schwanz, Berlin-Darmstadt-Wien 1987, p. 25

(2)    Zimen Erik, Der Hund, München 1992, p. 65

 

The Origin and History of Eurasiers

From the Wolf-Chow to the Eurasier  

(Please note: Wolf-Chow stands for: Wolfspitz-Chow. Wolfspitz are known in the English speaking world as Keeshond)

The history and creation of the breed Eurasier is closely linked with the name Julius Wipfel. After the family dog resembling a sled-dog - called the Canadian - of Julius Wipfel had died, Julius Wipfel started to work intensively to develop a new breed. He found inspiration for his idea in the books written by Konrad Lorenz. Together with Charlotte Baldamus and a small group of enthusiasts, Julius Wipfel began with the realization of his BREEDING PLAN for the future Eurasier in 1960 in Weinheim a.d. Bergstrasse, Germany, by mating his Wolfspitz female Bella and three of her daughters with three different Chow Chow males ⁽¹⁾ The dogs resulting from these litters, were called Wolf-Chows: 

 

Wolfspitz females	Chow-Chow males
Bella von der Waldmuehle	Arocco vom Felsensteig
Annet von der Bergstrasse	Ko-San-Lo Pollo-Pong
Asta von der Bergstrasse	Igor von Kwy-Chu-Florian
Anka von der Bergstrasse

The later founder of the Zuchtgemeinschaft fuer Eurasier e.V., Charlotte Baldamus, belonged to these very first pioneers. She owned one of Bella's daughters, Asta von der Bergstraße. Charlotte Baldamus and her kennel "vom Jaegerhof"  had a great influence on the breed Eurasier. Initially, Julius Wipfel had planned to develop four, and shortly after that two more different lines, but only Charlotte Baldamus with her Jägerhof kennel followed this plan down to the F4/F5-generation, whereby she directed her main attention towards the character and the desired type. The remaining three lines were already mixed with each other comparably early, so that in the following years a broader breeding base - that had been planned for and would have been necessary - did not exist. Of course, the necessary range of genes was present in these other lines, but selection was only concerned with outward appearances, selection was not purposely aimed according to the same criteria as in the Jägerhof breeding, which is why these Eurasiers from the other lines were less suitable for the further development of the population. This lead to the fact that more and more Jägerhof Eurasiers were used for breeding - a proportion of over 90% towards 1972 ⁽²⁾ .

During this phase, Wipfel decided to counteract decreasing fitness by including the Samoyed male "Cito von Pol" (also named "Orion von der Bergstraße") in his breeding plan. From 1972 onwards, Cito von Pol was included eight times, all in all. At first, Charlotte Baldamus saw this incrossing of Samoyed blood rather critical, as she assumed this foreign blood would take influence on already genetically manifested features ⁽³⁾. Alfred Mueller categorizes the "Eurasiers" living at that time as "altstämmig", meaning "coming from old lines" (they had no Samoyed blood yet) and he regards them as an interim product on the way to the actual breed Eurasier, as they were "unique samples", meaning "single specimen" of one single line. One can only speak of a breed once the desired traits have been manifested on a stable and broad base. This can either be achieved by building up several similar and closely monitored blood lines or by carefully expanding with foreign blood (outcrossing) plus crossing back to maintain important characteristics permanently ⁽⁴⁾.

After working together for more than twelve years, the "Eurasier pioneers" separated, and Charlotte Baldamus (Jaegerhof) founded the Zuchtgemeinschaft für Eurasier e.V. (ZG) together with Dr. Werner Schmidt in 1973. In cooperation with Dr. Werner Schmidt (biologist and geneticist) and other enthusiasts, Charlotte Baldamus followed her aim in breeding by skilfully choosing the ideal mating partners. They could now consider new bloodlines resulting from Wolfspitz x Chow, from the incrossing of the Samoyed Cito von Pol and from an incrossing with a Chow.

Scientific guidance and assistance was then received from well-known canine researchers such as Konrad Lorenz or Eberhard Trumler. Erik Zimen describes the Eurasiers in those days as "very beautiful animals, independent and yet affectionate and attached to the family home, watchful, without being aggressive, and without any desire to hunt: a really ideal family dog of medium size" ⁽⁵⁾. His advice to the representatives in charge of the breeding programmes was to give first priority to the pleasant character traits and not to concentrate exclusively on certain features of appearance (e.g. coat or colour). And they followed his advice, as they all basically agreed that health and character were more important than creating uniformity in type.

The following may also be of interest ⁽⁶⁾: Zimen, Schmidt and Trumler knew each other from their studies and work with Konrad Lorenz. Trumler was the first to hear of this new breed. He was interested and informed the others about it. Werner Schmidt heard it from him, and, having read the literature written by Konrad Lorenz, he immediately took up contact with the Jaegerhof and ordered a dog. Via Schmidt's reports and his dog - Lotus vom Jaegerhof, born 29.08.1970 - Konrad Lorenz  learned about the Eurasier and contacted Mrs Baldamus. Konrad Lorenz absolutely wanted to have a dog like that, as it reminded him so much of his previous dog (Stasi was a mix resulting from an accidental mating between a Chow and German Shepherd in the Lorenz household ⁽⁷⁾). Only after this contact between Konrad Lorenz and Charlotte Baldamus had been well established, did Wipfel make use of it. In 1972, Prof. Dr. Konrad Lorenz received the Eurasier female Nanette vom Jaegerhof from Charlotte Baldamus. He called Nanette "Babett".

References:

(1)    Feder Annelie et al., Eurasier - Heute - , Muerlenbach/Eifel 2000, p. 23 and Joachim Hoffmann, Der Eurasier, Stuttgart, p. 78

(2)    Mueller Alfred

(3)    Mueller Alfred, Eurasier-Nachrichten, Jubiläumsausgabe 1973 - 1998, Berlin-Friedrichshagen 1998, p. 19f

(4)    Mueller Alfred, Eurasier-Nachrichten, Jubiläumsausgabe 1973 - 1998, Berlin-Friedrichshagen 1998, p. 36

(5)    Zimen Erik, Der Hund, Muenchen 1992, p. 184   

(6)    Mueller Alfred

(7)    Konrad Lorenz, King Solomon's Ring, Meridian-Penguin Books, 1997,

        und Konrad Lorenz, Man Meets Dog, Kodansha New York-Tokio-London, 1998

 

 

The full story is on the website of the Zuchtgemeinschaft fuer Eurasier e.V. (VDH / FCI) : 

 

Alfred Mueller:  Origins and History of Eurasiers

 

 

Historically interesting links in connection with the Zuchtgemeinschaft for Eurasier e.V.:

 

 

Gisela Aach:  Eurasier Information - Head of the Breeding Board, Zuchtgemeinschaft f. Eurasier e.V., in English

 

Family Bohley and their Eurasiers:  Since 1979 Eurasiers accompany family Bohley

 

Eurasier von den Sander Tannen:  Since 1981 successful breeding in the kennel "Von den Sander Tannen", a documentation in pictures.

 

 

On the website of the ZG:

 

In Memoriam Julius Wipfel, the founder of the dog breed Eurasier

 

In Memoriam Dr. Erik Zimen

 

 

Information about the dog breed Eurasier,  the origins, development, and history of the Eurasier

Eurasiers, Description of the Dog Breed The Origins and History of the Eurasier Eurasier Philosophy - Interpretation Foundation Breeds of the Eurasier FCI Standard No. 291 Eurasier Puppies, Eurasier Breeders, Breeding Eurasier Breeders International