Kromfohrlander

Temperament:

Friendly, Companionable, Adaptable
Size: Medium
Height: 38-46 cm
Weight: 9-16 kg
Lifespan: 13-15 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Brown-white, white with brown spots
FCI Group: Companion and Toy Dogs

The Kromfohrlander is one of the youngest German dog breeds. It is also still little known among dog lovers. It is suitable as a companion dog for single people. But it is also suitable for families with children. However, it should not be harassed and should be allowed to retreat. Seniors must be sprightly. They need sufficient exercise and activity.

Kromfohrlander
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Characteristics

The Kromfohrlander is a dog breed of German origin. It is recognized by the FCI. The breed is assigned to Group 9 (companion and companion dogs).

The Kromfohrlander resembles a terrier in appearance. Its color is white with light, red or dark brown markings. There are two types of hair: rough-haired and smooth-haired. Both hair types have a short and soft undercoat. Rough-coated Kromfohrlander have a beard. There are three hair lengths for rough coats: rough-short, rough-medium and rough-long.

The breed originated from a cross between the Fox Terrier and the Grand Griffon Vendéen. It is a so-called hybrid dog. This is a dog in which two dog breeds are deliberately crossed with each other. The aim is to create a new dog breed with positive characteristics. A major problem here is inbreeding. This has led to many diseases in the Kromfohrländer.

The breeding association ProKromfohrländer e. V. is trying to counteract this by crossbreeding the robust Dansk-Svensk-Gardhund. In this context, there is also a crossbreeding project by the Verein für Rauhaarige Kromfohrländer e. V., which crosses phenotypic dogs. This association has committed itself to the original, rough-haired version of this breed.

The loyal and good-natured Kromi, as the Kromfohrlander is affectionately called, is very affectionate. He always seeks to be close to his human. The breed tends to be a "one-man dog". However, with its good-natured and playful nature, it is also suitable for families with children. The Kromfohrlander is said to retain its cheerfulness and playfulness well into old age.

In a family, the Kromfohrlander chooses a caregiver who will become the most important person for him. All other family members should be sufficiently involved with him right from the start. This will enable them to build up a close bond with the family dog. He will then enjoy going for walks with them and will obey. And even without his favorite person, he will stay with them.

Statements about the character of the young breed are still contradictory in some cases. The typical character traits vary from Kromi to Kromi. On the one hand, it is said to be sociable and compatible with other dogs. On the other hand, they are also reserved towards other dogs. Not every Kromi is compatible with every other dog.

The Kromfohrlander is a spirited, playful and intelligent dog. It therefore needs plenty of exercise and mental activity. It learns quickly and can learn many commands in a short time. Walks are not a problem. He does not have a pronounced hunting instinct. This is surprising when you consider that his ancestors were hunters.

However, it is said that he sometimes tends to be stubborn. And he tests his limits. This is why he needs consistent training from an early age. The Kromfohrlander is always alert and a good watchdog. He is very reserved towards strangers, including children. A Kromi does not like to be touched by strangers.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.

Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.

Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.

Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Health & Care

On the whole, the Kromfohrlander is easy to care for. Unlike other dogs, it has no unpleasant "dog smell" or inherent odor.

The smooth-haired Kromfohrlander's coat is easy to care for and only needs to be brushed occasionally. During the shedding season, when he has a lot of hair, you should brush him more often. Smooth-haired dogs change their coat twice a year.

A rough-haired dog needs more grooming, you have to trim it. If you have never done this before, ask the breeder or dog club to show you how. There is no shedding in rough-haired dogs, the hair does not fall out by itself. The rough coat reaches its final length every eight months and needs to be trimmed.

If this is not done, the coat becomes shaggy and matted. He no longer feels comfortable in his skin and suffers from itching. When trimming, simply pluck out the dead top coat by hand. This allows the new hair to grow back better. Plucking does not hurt. It is best to get your dog used to being trimmed as a puppy.

You should only bathe your Kromi in rare exceptional cases, for example if his coat is full of mud or he has rolled around in smelly garbage. Normally, his coat is self-cleaning, i.e. dirt falls out of the dog's coat by itself.

You can also simply brush the dirt out of the dog's coat. The claws and ears of the Kromfohrlander need the usual dog grooming. The vet can show you how to do this. And you should check your dog regularly for parasites such as fleas and ticks.

Suitable accessories

The Kromfohrlander does not need any special dog accessories. You only need what every dog needs: Collar, lead, bowls and basket. An alternative to a collar is a dog harness. Toys should be dog-friendly and not endanger your dog's health.

Your Kromi also needs a suitable brush or comb, depending on the hair type and length. Your hands are sufficient for trimming. In addition, the coat should only be plucked and never clipped. Provide your Kromi with its own towels, blankets, treats and chews.

Other accessories that are part of every dog's basic equipment: tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. It's best to ask your vet what should be in the first aid kit.

Kromfohrländer history picture

Origin & History

There are many stories surrounding the origin of the Kromfohrlander. Fiction and truth lie close together. The story of the Kromi began in 1945 in North Rhine-Westphalia near Siegen. An animal-loving woman named Ilse Schleifenbaum took in a stray male dog. She gave him the name Peter.

Peter was probably a French Griffon Vendéen. He is said to have escaped from American soldiers who were traveling through Germany during the post-war turmoil. Ilse Schleifenbaum owned a German Fox Terrier bitch. The dog's name was Fiffi. Elsewhere it is said that Fiffi was not her own dog, but that of a neighbor.

In any case, a love affair developed between Peter and Fiffi. This love affair resulted in a litter of very well-behaved and consistent puppies. Mrs. Schleifenbaum was so taken with the dogs that she deliberately bred the next litter.

The woman, who was experienced with dogs, recognized a special feature in the mixed breeds. She wanted to breed a new breed. The dogs were to be medium-sized, loyal, docile and easy to care for. Only such dogs had a chance of survival in the difficult post-war period in Germany.

From 1946, Fox Terriers and Grand Griffon Vendéen were selectively crossed. Breeding continued with the offspring in the following years. Peter and Fiffi's children and grandchildren gave rise to the Kromfohrlander breed. In 1955, it was officially recognized as a new German dog breed.

The name Kromfohrlander goes back to the small village of Krom Fohr. The first breeder lived there in 1945 with her dogs Peter, Fiffi and their offspring. "Krom Fohr" means "crooked furrow".