Home / Breeds / Compare / Keeshond vs Eurasier
The Keeshond is a medium sized spitz breed from Netherlands, developed to work as an all purpose northern farm, hunting and companion dog in a hard climate. The Eurasier is a spitz breed of medium size from Germany, developed to serve as an all purpose northern farm dog, hunter and companion in a hard climate. This page puts the two side by side on the numbers that actually differ: size, exercise, grooming, what each costs to keep, and the health tests a breeder should show you.
The biggest gap is size: the middle of the Eurasier weight range is about 55 lb against 40 lb for the Keeshond.
The next biggest gap is energy: the Eurasier is rated 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the Keeshond.
The third gap worth noting is grooming needs: the Eurasier is rated 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the Keeshond.
| Keeshond | Eurasier | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Non-Sporting | Non-Sporting |
| Origin | Netherlands | Germany |
| Height | 17 to 18 in | 19 to 24 in |
| Weight | 35 to 45 lb | 40 to 70 lb |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years | 12 to 14 years |
| Coat | A thick double coat with a dense undercoat and a weather resistant outer layer. | Long, thick double coat. |
| Temperament | Bright, vocal, independent and cheerful | Bright, vocal, independent and cheerful |
| Energy | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Trainability | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Shedding | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Barking | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| With children | Good with children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | With early socialization | With early socialization |
| With strangers | Reserved with strangers | Reserved with strangers |
| Apartment fit | With enough exercise | With enough exercise |
| Daily exercise | 45 to 90 min | 45 to 90 min |
| Food per month (model) | $28 (2.6 cups a day) | $35 (3.3 cups a day) |
| Insurance per month (model) | $35 to $63 | $34 to $60 |
| Monthly total (model) | $63 to $91 | $69 to $95 |
| Yearly total (model) | $753 to $1,089 | $830 to $1,142 |
| Lifetime total (model) | $9,033 to $16,331 | $9,966 to $15,995 |
| Breeder health tests | 5 recommended tests | Panel not published yet |
| Health watch | Hip screening and a DNA test for primary hyperparathyroidism are the breed standards, plus elbow and eye checks. A generally healthy spitz. Ask to see health test results for both parents before you commit to a puppy; a good breeder will offer them before you ask. | Hip dysplasia screening and thyroid checks are the breed's standard, and the Eurasier was deliberately bred for health and temperament, which shows in a relatively clean bill of health. |
Keeshond: scores 14 on the first-time-owner rule (trainability weighted double, then calmer energy, grooming and barking), against 12 for the Eurasier.
Keeshond: matches the Eurasier on the apartment rating ("With enough exercise") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks: barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Both are listed the same way for children and tie on the tie-breaks; supervision matters more than the breed label here.
Eurasier: sheds less, rated 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Keeshond. Shedding is only a proxy for loose hair in the home; no breed is allergen-free.
Keeshond: runs about $5 a month less than the Eurasier on modeled food plus insurance ($77 against $82 at the midpoints).
The five verdicts on this Keeshond and Eurasier page follow published rules: first-time owner = 2 x trainability + (6 - energy) + (6 - grooming) + (6 - barking); apartment = the apartment rating, then barking, exercise and weight; children = the children rating, then trainability and stranger friendliness; allergy = lowest shedding, then grooming; budget = the lowest monthly modeled total. Level scores are declared ties.
On the modeled figures the Eurasier costs more month to month: about $82 a month at the midpoint of food plus insurance, against $77 for the Keeshond. Run across the lifespan ranges, the model gives $9,966 to $15,995 for the Eurasier and $9,033 to $16,331 for the Keeshond. These are planning estimates, not quotes.
They are level: both plan on 45 to 90 minutes a day, and energy is rated 3 of 5 for the Keeshond against 4 of 5 for the Eurasier.
The Eurasier sheds less, rated 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Keeshond. Coat notes for the Eurasier: Long, thick double coat.
Not equally. The Keeshond is the better fit for an apartment: it matches the Eurasier on the apartment rating ("With enough exercise") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks, barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Choosing between more than two? Open the comparison tool and put up to four breeds side by side, or read all written breed comparisons.
Breed facts here follow the standards and club guidance summarized on the Keeshond and Eurasier profiles. The cost figures are modeled estimates for planning, each labeled with its basis; none is a quote, and none is veterinary advice. The health test panels are those published by the breed clubs and CHIC, as set out on each breed's health testing page.