Kromfohrlander
- Medium
- Foundation Stock Service
The Kromfohrlander, or Kromi, is a rare German companion: a medium, intelligent dog who climbs, jumps, and shadows its favorite person. Lively and devoted, it warms slowly to strangers but bonds for life.
- Height
- 15 to 18
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 20 to 35
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 13 to 15
- years, median 14
- Senior from
- 10.5
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Temperament
- Intelligent, active, sensitive
- Coat
- Smooth, Wiry, short
- Origin
- Germany
The Kromfohrlander, or Kromi (said krome-ee), is an intelligent, playful, agile companion dog from Germany. The Kromfohrlander loves to climb and jump, excels at agility and trick training, and stays devoted to its family.
The breed comes in two coat types. The wirehaired Kromi carries a distinctive beard and resembles its terrier roots, while the smooth-haired variety, with a smooth face and long, soft hair, looks more like a Spaniel.
Lively, good-natured, and loyal, the Kromfohrlander is good with children and family and tends to be a one-person dog, very attached to its owner. The Kromfohrlander alerts to strangers and makes a good watchdog, yet it retains very little hunting instinct despite its terrier heritage. The Kromfohrlander can be hesitant around new people and children at first, but once it warms up it becomes a lifelong friend.
The Kromfohrlander originated in Germany in the 1940s, said to descend from a dog found by U.S. troops during World War II. The name comes from the Krom Fohr area of Siegerland in Western Germany, and the breed likely arose from crossing a fox terrier with a Griffon-type breed. The breed remains rare.
Temperament and needs
Scored 1 to 5 for the breed overall. Individual dogs vary.
- Affectionate with family5 out of 5
- Good with young children4 out of 5
- Good with other dogs3 out of 5
- Openness to strangers4 out of 5
- Playfulness4 out of 5
- Watchdog and protective nature3 out of 5
- Adaptability4 out of 5
- Trainability4 out of 5
- Energy level4 out of 5
- Mental stimulation needs3 out of 5
- Barking level3 out of 5
- Shedding2 out of 5
- Grooming frequency1 out of 5
- Drooling1 out of 5
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
The Kromi can be a picky eater, so a high-quality food matters for both weight and energy in this active breed that burns through what it eats.
Free feeding works for most Kromis, since they are typically not overeaters. Keep an eye on how much your dog eats, though you are unlikely to worry about this breed taking in too much.
What you feed is an individual choice. Ask a veterinarian to set meal frequency and an adult feeding plan. Keep clean, fresh water available at all times.
Grooming
Kromfohrlanders are notably clean dogs. They carry little to no doggy odor, and dirt tends to fall right off the coat, which makes them low-maintenance.
Most Kromis grow a scruffy, wiry coat that should not be clipped or shaved. Regular hand-stripping or grooming keeps the coat tidy. The breed typically sheds twice a year, so vacuum or sweep regularly to clear fallen hair.
Keep up regular nail clipping. This can become difficult because of the breed's typical sensitivity, so stay consistent with the routine.
Exercise
Kromfohrlanders want to be at the side of their special person at all times and would happily rest there all day, but regular outdoor exercise still matters.
This sporty, athletic breed loves to play and run, and enjoys fetching a ball or other dog toy. Once a Kromi reaches about age three and its joints have matured, it can jump in the air for a disc. A long walk in a natural setting seems to be its favorite kind of exercise.
This is not a dog-park breed. Kromfohrlanders prefer dogs they already know over dogs they do not, and the same goes for unfamiliar people and situations.
Training
The Kromfohrlander is intelligent and responsive to early training. As puppies they need proper training and socialization, or they will test the limits of their owners.
Kromfohrlanders are independent and responsive to varied, reward-based training.
Advancing to activities that demand more independence, such as competitive agility, can be a challenge because of the breed's typical sensitivity, so patience helps. As eager learners, Kromfohrlanders thrive with positive reinforcement.
Health conditions
2 conditions are documented for the Kromfohrlander.
A predisposition is not a diagnosis. Ask your vet which screenings make sense for your dog's age.
- Hereditary Footpad HyperkeratosisSkin & Connective Tissue
- Von Willebrand Disease Type IBlood
Sources
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