Happy 15th Birthday Diesel!

I got Diesel when he was 9 as a rescue from a kill shelter in Ireland. To get him at 9 I was happy to give him a few extra years to enjoy and live his best life. For him to still be here 6 years later and and turning 15 on June 30th, I can't believe he is still here! He seemed like a very old man when I got him, and had a lot of health problems. We then found out he had hypothyroidism. Within months of medication he was acting like a puppy again and improved massively!

Me and Diesel have a very special connection. I feel he's my soul mate and I would love him to be around forever! 

Diesel is one in a million and I feel blessed to have a Eurasier in my life!                                    By Jadie Cooley

Walk Richmond Park 23rd June

Kopi - does this biscuit look like me?

After arriving late due to a few of us being stuck in traffic, we met up with our Eurasier pack. It was a lovely walk round Isabella Plantation and the weather was just the perfect temperature for human and canine.
All the pack sniffed and played along the walk with Jenson becoming quite taken with Annie. Blue was his normal self and found a small stream to cool himself off in. Genie gave us her best smile showing of her gorgeous white teeth. It was so lovely to see all the Eurasiers in all their glorious colours together. They really did look quite magnificent. 
After the walk, Brigitte handed round her home-made Eurasier-shaped biscuits; they were very tasty indeed and all eyes were on us as we ate them. You can Purchase the cookie cutters as well as the the book 'Eurasiers Yesterday and Today', which I can highly recommend as a must-read for all potential and already Eurasier owners. After catching up and comparing Eurasier stories it was time to head home.
A wonderful walk was had by all.     by Becky Mayer-Esaw

Winning the War on Worms

We have canine reporter Murphy (assisted by Ann Winter) offering a paws eye view on the subject of mini monsters aka worms !

Greetings (Woof Woof) dear furry cousins and pet parents. I have been asked to share some experiences with you further to an interesting delivery arriving at my home. As usual, accompanied by my Mum – Bubbles, we did our best to see off the ‘man in red’, but strangely the door was opened to him and a package accepted. What I learned next made my toes curl and my tail droop!

This package contained an assortment of plastic pots, lids, tiny spoons and oh my god – rubber gloves. At this point I thought it best to make a hasty retreat but as always ‘Mum’ ( Bubbles ) was convinced that there must be something edible in the box and so I watched carefully to see what happened next.

Our ‘ hu mum’ sat intently reading some paperwork that accompanied the items before wrapping it all back up and putting it out of our reach. The leaflet floated down to the floor, however, landing under my nose and this is what I learned: It said worms can become a big problems to our pets (I think that is the word that describes us, your furry kids) often with no discernible symptoms and that a ‘burden’ can form in our intestines or lungs. Whilst there are a variety of parasites, the two most common examples are roundworms in puppies which proliferate in the intestines; upon reading this I was horrified to think a mother would give such a thing to her children, and I needed some reassurance this did not happen to me – PHEW - and lung-worm which can cause coughing, breathing difficulties and can stop blood clotting.

Symptoms can be varied from being ravenous, weight loss, upset stomachs, pot bellied appearance, (no definitely not me!) coughing, vomiting, lethargy and loss of condition. Scooting is not always a sign of worms - I have a cousin that occasionally does this – UGH. If all that is not bad enough common dog worms can be passed to humans and whilst adults can generally cope, for the noisy little people there can be more serious consequences. So now I know why my ‘hu mum’ is always keeping an eye on me when I am trying to have some ‘private time ‘ – poop scooping helps to reduce these risks as worm eggs can live many years and only become dangerous once they have incubated. The risks to us by these nasty critters is related to our individual circumstances /habits (if you know what I mean) climate and to different parts of the country. Yes, worms are most certainly gross and potentially harmful and in addition to roundworms and lung-worms there are hookworms, whip-worms, heart-worms, tapeworms and ringworms – what a nightmare! Fortunately it is not all bad news as a healthy diet builds a strong immune system – 80% of the immune system is in the gut. Now when it comes to food I know what I don’t like but I appreciate not everyone is so discerning for instance when I witness my Mum tucking into something that makes my nose wrinkle.

But I digress. Apparently, kibble-fed dogs are potentially more susceptible because parasites love the starch and sugar in kibble. However, fermented foods (e.g. fermented vegetables such as carrots (recipes available online – I know I would not care for this!)) have probiotic properties and can help prevent and eliminate worms. Other good foods to consider are milk kefir (which I have tried and found quite tasty), pumpkin seeds, grated carrots, watercress, greens, squash, fennel, cucumber, pineapple, papaya, pomegranate, garlic (safe in moderation), apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, parsley and bone broth. Apart from products prescribed by vets, there are holistic and herbal options available as well. So, the good news is, whilst we cannot be complacent, we can win the war on worms.

Oh, and as for those little kits, they were filled and sent away, collected by the ‘man in red’ to be analysed, and the verdict in response gave us the all clear!

A Hairy Memento

by Ann Winter

If you have ever wondered what to do with all that fur you remove after grooming, then this may be of interest to you. Chiengora  ( she-an-gora ) refers to the yarn spun from dog hair. Chien being the French word for dog and gora is derived from ‘angora’ the soft fur from rabbits.

Spinning dog hair is an ancient art going back to pre historic times in Scandinavia and was the main fibre spun on the North American continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep. Chiengora is usually made from the soft undercoat of breeds such as Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies , Alaskan Malamutes, Chow Chows, Retrievers & Newfoundlands.

Fact - chiengora is up to 80% warmer than sheep's wool and sheds water well. It does not smell like your wet dog !! The fibre is not as elastic as wool and is similar in its luxurious feel and appearance to angora. It is typically used to make scarves & gloves rather than jumpers (to avoid overheating!), but It can also be blended with other fibres during the carding process to reduce the heat insulation.

Do not worry about doggy odour as once collected the fur is washed , it is then carded, rolled into rolags, spun ( and this also removes natural oils ) and then the yarn is made into a skein which is washed again . The yarn can then be used to create beautiful items and keepsakes.

So now whenever you brush your dog, you could consider collecting the shed fur – keep in a cloth bag (an old pillowcase) and do not compress. You will need at least 1-2 ounces for a small keepsake.

If you are interested in having a memento made from your dog’s fur there is of course information online, alternatively please contact Ann (ann.winter3@btinternet.com) whose ‘petit chien ‘ was created in France .

Eulogy to Winnie (Alphacanis Allegra)

Winnie (Alphacanis Alegra) 2008-2019 by Mark Cousins

One of Pamina’s first litter, she was remembered by Brigitte as the “flying Winnie”, and boy did she live up to it; leaping around our old collie/lab Megan like a mad thing. She charmed us by her daft antics as well as affectionate behaviour as much as she annoyed Megan. In her younger years, Winnie became famous for long mad chases after the local rabbits (more enthusiasm than talent there) and particularly her extraordinary “pronking” in the tall crops nearby (after rabbits again)  –  an incredible feat of strength. 

In the garden (Kent) summer 2008

Glamour dog - Tooting Park around 2014

But throughout her life, she was known everywhere as an incredibly glamorous dog; never a day went by when people wherever we went in the UK gasped and asked us 'what breed is she'? To strangers, she was a bit of a Diva and had to be won over to get her affections – but those honoured enough to earn them became putty in her paws. To her extensive family she was a bumbling beauty, butting into us and burning with excitement when we got home. Her affectionate and cuddly nature will never leave us - but we were forced recently to relinquish her to a sudden fatal condition – thankfully only over 3 days. It was very hard, but we will never forget our “furry shadow” and thank Brigitte for allowing us to have her in our lives. 

Love from Mark, Joyce, Elizabeth, Emma, Alex, Lucie and Greg (among others).

Joy - Until we meet again!

Nordstern's Belle Ode to Joy" (Joy)
by Ute Molush
29/06/2004 - 28/05/2019

Run free, little wolf-girl, over the rainbow bridge, and let the wind caress your soft fur. Wait for me on the other side ~ I will follow and we will be together again.


I had to say good-bye to my "soul dog" Joy at the age of 14 years and 11 months. She leaves a gaping hole in my heart and I will try to find a way to live with it. Born at our house, into my hand, daughter of my beloved Laika who left so early. Joy had big shoes to fill - she became the leader of the pack - with dignity and pride and the innate ability to command respect. Nobody dared to challenge her.
We were so close. She read my mind, I read her eyes. Communication without words - endless dedication and unconditional love on both sides. The wolf-girl and I were one.
Even during her last hard days her eyes searched for mine - for guidance and approval in a world that had become painful and confusing to her. 

Almost 15 years. My heart is shattered. Until we meet again...

Grooming your Eurasier

By Marissa Armstrong

To groom your Eurasier at home, you will need the following basic tools:

• A metal comb (I like the Chris Christensen #000 fine/coarse)
• A pin brush (Again, I like the Chris Christensen #27 oval)
• A slicker brush
• Trimming shears
•  Nail clippers or dremel
• Undercoat rake (Not one with a blade)
• Grooming spray (I like Plush Puppy OMG spray) or a mist bottle filled with water
• Dog shampoo

A high velocity dryer is also a very helpful tool to have, but they are a bit of an investment. Avoid tools such as the Furminator as they cut and damage the coat.

The first step for grooming your Eurasier is to thoroughly line comb the coat.

This is made easier with a good grooming spray. If you don’t have any, mist the coat with some water before you start. Brushing a completely dry coat can result in broken hair and static.

To line comb, hold a section of hair down with one hand and with the other, comb down to the skin and out, pulling forward a small section of hair at a time. I start on the back legs and work my way towards the head, spraying the coat as I go. Don't forget between the back legs and the belly. Start with the coarse end of the comb and then move on to the fine. This should be done once a week.

If your Eurasier is prone to matting behind the ears, a quick comb through with the fine end of the comb every day will eliminate this problem. If a mat has already formed, carefully cut the mat out with the shears.

Once the coat is all combed, use the pin brush to brush out the tail and pantaloons. Use the slicker to brush around the face and on the legs. If your Eurasier is blowing coat, use the undercoat rake at this time to remove any extra loose coat that did not come out during the combing process.

Finally, it’s time to clip the toenails and clean up the fur on the feet. Maintaining proper nail length is important to the overall health of your dog. Nails that are too long alter the way your dog stands and moves, which can cause unnecessary wear on the joints. The nails should be short enough so that they do not touch the ground while standing. I prefer to use a dremel as it is easier to get the nails to a good length and with little risk of “quicking” the nails. Use the shears to trim the hair between the foot pads and any long hair on the top of the feet. Eurasier coats should not be trimmed anywhere else.

It is fine to bathe your Eurasier if you’d like to. As long as you use a high quality dog shampoo, there is no risk of drying or damaging the coat with regular bathing.

Show Grooming

Grooming for show follows the same process, however there are few additional steps. After the initial line combing, you should bathe your Eurasier thoroughly so that the skin and coat are clean. I don’t typically recommend using a conditioner, just a good shampoo. After towel drying, I use the high velocity dryer to blow dry against the growth of the coat, while simultaneously brushing with the pin brush until completely dry.

Congratulations to Darchen Eurasiers!

Big congratulations to Caroline Allen from Darchen Eurasiers on the birth of her litter of 6 healthy puppies (5 boys, 1 girl) from Alphacanis Danae (Danni). 
Sire is Canadian Arnold (CH Naku's Major Dutch Shaefer, Arnold) owned by Marissa Armstrong.