Orlovia
Elos have only been bred in Germany since the 1980s – the smooth-haired variant of the new fashionable breed is similar to the Eurasier, but is much better suited as a family dog. When choosing a breed, the focus is on the friendly nature of the animals. Here you can find out why the Elo brand is so popular and how these friendly family companions came about.
External Characteristics of the Elos – Small, Large, Smooth, or Rough?
The Elo was bred to please families with children. There are different types that are visually very different from each other:
Small and large Elo
- Small Elos reach a height of 35 to 45 cm at the withers. They weigh about 10 to 15 kilograms.
- Large Elos reach a height at the withers of between 46 and 60 cm and weigh around 22 to 35 kilograms.
Wire-haired and smooth-haired
- Smooth-haired Elos resemble their ancestors, the Eurasians.
- Wire-haired Elos wear mustaches and their long fur stands out shaggy from the body.
- The hair is about the same length in both coat types. The structure is also similar – not harsh, but not too soft either.
Features of the Elos from head to tail
The breed standard is set by the Elo Breeding and research community in Lower Saxony. There it is expressly mentioned that external characteristics play a subordinate role in the selection of breeding animals. Individuals of the new breed are more different from each other than other pedigree dogs.
- The head is round and broad, in bitches it appears a bit smaller and narrower than in males.
- The muzzle is quite short and the stop is clearly defined. Smooth-haired Elos has short hair on their face.
- The lips are well fitted and, like the nose, are darkly pigmented.
- Large, almond-shaped eyes with dark pigmentation on the lids give the Elo a friendly expression.
- The triangular erect ears are set high on the head. They are triangular or hazelnut-shaped, and the backs of rough hair are long-haired so that the tip is not always clearly visible.
- The neck and body are well-muscled, and the chest and croup are well arched.
- The forelegs are supported by strong bones. Well-angled hindquarters indicate a relationship to Spitz-type dogs.
- The rather short tail is carried curled over the back and ends in length before the hock. She is well feathered and bushy with both hair types.
Proportions of small Elos
- Small Elos are similar to Pekingese, but have longer fur and pricked pointed ears.
- The muzzle is shorter overall and does not have as long hair as on the Greater Elo.
- The ears are well feathered and long pants form on the backs of the legs.
Colorful family friends
A very soft undercoat grows under the dense top coat of the Elo. Both fur types, therefore, feel very plush. All colors are allowed, but the following combinations and markings are preferred for inbreeding:
Preferred Colors
- Chocolate with white markings
- Red with white markings
- Black with white markings
- Gray with white markings
Popular drawings
- Ideally, the number of white markings should be greater than the amount of color in the coat. Appearance is white with colored plates that stand out with sharp outlines.
- The Dutch drawing is considered particularly beautiful. The white markings extend over the chest and front legs and as a collar on the neck. A white blaze divides the eye area on the face.
- In the coat check, the colored patches in the white fur reach over the shoulders (like a coat). The underside of the body, forelegs, chest, and collar remain white.
- Evenly spotted or piebald coats are also acceptable.
A Fashion Dog is Created According to Plan
Strictly speaking, Elo is not a breed name, but a registered trademark. The dogs were developed in Germany by crossing different long-haired breeds of different sizes. The Elo Breeding and Research Association (EZFG) is responsible for breeding and checking all breeders who want to use the brand name. Since breeding is still under construction, no official recognition as a breed is planned.
A targeted mix
- The Eloschaboro, as it was called when breeding efforts began in 1987, is a hybrid of various herding and domestic dog breeds.
- The breed’s ancestors are British Bobtails, Eurasiers, and Chinese Chow Chows, with the former being crossed more often than the latter.
- Later, the following breeds were occasionally crossed in to enlarge the gene pool: Dalmatian, Samoyed, Japanese Spitz, Mittelspitz, and Pekingese
The family nature of the Elos – A patient roommate
Elos is pure family dogs whose friendly nature is an important feature for breeding selection. All breeding dogs must complete a character test. They should have a low stimulus threshold and hardly show any hunting behavior. Aggressive, nervous, and territorial animals or those with a strong hunting instinct are excluded from breeding.
Child-friendly companion
Elos forgive mistakes in their upbringing and behave gently and always friendly, especially with children. They are easy to lead on a leash and there is no need to fear any attempts to escape when romping around freely. A garden with a low fence or an open dog area nearby is sufficient for playing. Elos also get along well with small children. It’s a well-known fact that sleeping dogs shouldn’t be awakened – but if the Elo limits are crossed, he never blames family members for this.
Elos exhibit these traits by nature
- They are not one-man dogs, but they are loyal to their owners and adapt well to single households. In the family, the extremely rarely cause problems and do not show aggressive jealousy. When cuddling on the sofa, however, they like to throw themselves into the thick of things.
- They fit in well with any family constellation. If other pets or children are added, they subordinate themselves without any problems.
- With enough toys, TV, or radio on, they can easily be left alone for a few hours. They do not exhibit destructive behavior and are rarely frustrated.
- They are alert but not prone to frequent or stressed barking. The voice is described as pleasantly deep.
- They like to get involved in games, but they do not constantly demand meaningful employment like herding dogs or hunting dogs. Some individuals are lazier and prefer to cuddle rather than play.
These characteristics are undesirable in breeding dogs
- Problematic behavior when driving or generally hectic behavior
- distrust of children
- Lack of gestures and facial expressions (the mood should always be read from the posture, the tail, and the face)
- tendency to bark
- Lack of play instinct or strong hunting instinct
- Separation anxiety or general anxiety