The Kromfohrlander is an exceptionally rare dog breed, and the Kromfohrlander temperament is absolutely fascinating.
In this article, you will be introduced to the unique and beloved Kromfohrlander temperament.
The Kromfohrlander dog is a scarce breed that originated in Europe during World War II.
The Kromfohrlander is bred exclusively for companionship and does not serve any working purpose in modern times.
The breed is known for its distinctive “smile” and the way it sneezes when it is happy to see you.
The Kromfohrlander, also known as the Kromi for short, is a small, agile, intelligent dog that excels at agility and trick training.
The Kromfohrlander is also sometimes called the Kromfohrlander Terrier, although it is not part of the terrier group. However, it does have some terrier ancestors in its heritage.
If you are thinking about adding a Kromfohrlander to your household, continue reading to learn more about some of the most common Kromfohrlander behaviors and how to deal with them.
5 Signs You're Gonna Love the Kromfohrlander Temperament
Below you will read about classic components of the Kromfohrlander temperament.
However, please keep in mind that all dogs are individuals, so there will always be some variability between individual dogs within a breed.
Not every Kromfohrlander will display the exact same personality traits, but below you will find some of the most prevalent traits in this breed.
1. Loyal Companions
The devoted Kromfohrlander temperament makes this breed a faithful companion to its master.
The Kromfohrlander is not prone to wanderlust and will rarely run away from home. However, it is still important to train your Kromfohrlander to come when called and to keep him safely contained whenever possible.
The Kromfohrlander tends to be highly attuned to his master and sensitive to his master’s moods.
The Kromfohrlander thrives when he is with people, and he does not do well when he is isolated in a kennel or in a backyard. If you work long hours, this may not be the best breed for your lifestyle unless you are willing to make accommodations such as a dog walker or doggie daycare.
Separation anxiety can occur in this breed. If you see the early signs of separation anxiety, seek help from a professional trainer.
2. Clever and Trainable
The intelligent Kromfohrlander temperament makes this breed easy to train under the right conditions.
Many Kromfohrlander owners enjoy teaching their Kromis adorable tricks such as roll over, beg, high five, and spin.
Kromfohrlanders are very bright and they catch on quickly to positive training methods. They love to learn new things throughout their lives.
The downside of having such a brilliant dog is that your Kromfohrlander can get bored easily.
It is up to you to channel his intellect into constructive outlets such as mental enrichment. For example, one way to keep your Kromfohrlander on his toes is to make him work for his meals. You can feed him his breakfast and dinner in a food puzzle, Kong Wobble, or busy ball.
You can also keep him stimulated throughout the day by stocking up on interactive toys and rotating them periodically to keep them new and interesting.
If you do not provide enough positive outlets for your dog’s mental needs, he will come up with his own things to do such as barking, chewing or digging.
3. Canine Sport Competitors
The energetic Kromfohrlander temperament makes the Kromi an outstanding competitor in most canine sports.
Kromfohrlanders compete in agility, disc dog, rally obedience, nosework, flyball, and many more fun activities!
Kromfohrlanders make terrific participants because they are intelligent, focused, agile and energetic.
Canine sports are a perfect way to give them the mental stimulation and the physical exercise that they crave.
Kromfohrlander exercise is very important! After all, a tired dog is a good dog.
Read more about the benefits for canine exercise in this article.
4. Clownish
The goofy Kromfohrlander temperament will make you laugh!
These little clowns are silly and playful.
One distinctive trait is the Kromfohrlander smile. Kromis will pull back their lips and wiggle when they are happy to see someone that they love.
Kromis are also known to sneeze in delight when they are happy.
If you are looking for a funny companion to bring joy into your life, look no further than this charming pup.
5. Wary with Strangers
Although the Kromfohrlander adores its family, it can be initially standoffish with strangers.
Guests need to take things slowly at first and let your Kromi warm up to them at its own pace.
You can ask your visitors to toss treats to your dog to help your Kromi learn to trust them.
Once they get to know new people, Kromis will happily accept their new friends into their “packs.”
Kromfohrlanders will usually bark a little bit at new people, although these dogs are not considered to be major barkers.
An Account of Kromfohrlander History
The Kromfohrlander breed emerged after World War II.
The original parent of the breed was a small terrier mix named Peter. Peter was the mascot of a troop of American ground soldiers during World War II. The soldiers found Peter in France and they brought him with them when they marched into Germany.
Peter ended up with a German woman named Ilse Shleifenbaum. She allowed him to breed with her fox terriers and she started cultivating the Kromfohrlander breeder.
She named the breed “Kromfohrlander” after the local terrain. The words “krom fohr” mean “crooked furrow.”
The international federation of dog breed clubs recognized the Kromfohrlander in 1955. The breed is still not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Kromfohrlander Size and Appearance
The Kromfohrlander is a small but hardy dog. It comes in two varieties—Rough coat or Smooth coat.
The typical Kromfohrlander height is between 15 inches and 18 inches at the withers.
The average Kromfohrlander weight is between 20 lbs and 30 lbs. Males are typically larger than females.
Acceptable Kromfohrlander colors are white with tan markings or brown markings.
The rough coated Kromfohrlander has a distinctive beard on the face. The smooth coated Kromfohrlander does not.
A Guide to Kromfohrlander Training
The clever Kromfohrlander temperament makes this breed highly trainable.
Start training your Kromfohrlander as early as possible.
For example, if you acquire your Kromfohrlander as a puppy, sign up for a puppy kindergarten class. Puppy classes are a perfect way to start training and socializing your puppy with other dogs. Your puppy will learn valuable social skills with humans as well as with other dogs.
If you adopt your Kromfohrlander as an adult, try to find an introductory obedience class with a positive reinforcement trainer.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Kromfohrlander dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
Always remember Kromis learn best through positive reinforcement methods. Never use harsh punishments or forceful training methods with these dogs. Steer clear of painful tools such as shock collars, pinch collars or choke chains.
Instead, keep training sessions short and upbeat. Use treats and verbal praise to reward good behavior. This will make the training experience fun for you and your dog.
A Guide to Kromfohrlander Grooming
Kromfohrlanders are not high maintenance when it comes to grooming, but their coats do have some basic needs.
The wire haired coat needs occasional hand stripping. Find a professional groomer that has experience with other wire coated breeds. The wire haired variety should never be shaved.
The smooth haired variety needs periodic brushing and bathing.
Both varieties should have their ears cleaned, teeth brush, and their toenails clipped on a regular basis.
Does the Kromfohrlander Shed?
Yes, but shedding is moderate and manageable.
Is the Kromfohrlander Hypoallergenic?
No, this breed is not hypoallergenic. If you are looking for a breed that is hypoallergenic, please consult this article.
Staying Healthy: Kromfohrlander Health Issues
Like all breeds, the Kromfohrlander is prone to some genetic health concerns.
If you acquire your dog from a breeder, talk with the breeder about these health issues and ask about genetic screening.
Discuss these health problems with your veterinarian before you bring home a Kromfohrlander to make sure that you can handle these potential issues and to make sure that you know about the early warning signs of these diseases:
- Epilepsy (seizure disorder)
- Cystinuria (buildup of amino acids in the urine)
- Keratosis (skin condition)
- Patellar Luxation (knee issues)
- Cushings Disease (hormone imbalance)
- Von Willebrand’s Disease (blood clotting defect)
Like all dogs, your Kromfohrlander should visit a veterinarian at least once per year for a physical exam and annual vaccinations.
It is vital to keep your dog on flea prevention, tick prevention and heartworm prevention at all times.
With excellent care, the Kromfohrlander lifespan is generally between 13 years and 15 years.
Note: Don't let the Kromfohrlander health issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely Kromi pet from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancy.
Kromfohrlander Rescue and Adoption
Kromfohrlanders are extremely scarce, so finding one to add to your family will take time and patience.
One great option is to adopt an adult Kromfohrlander that needs a new home. There are many benefits to adopting an adult dog. For example, adult dogs are calmer and do not require as much exercise or training as a puppy. They frequently come to you with some prior training, including housetraining. Also, adoption fees are much less expensive than purchasing a puppy from a breeder.
Kromfohrlanders are almost unheard of in American animal shelters, which is a good thing.
However, you can still visit your local shelter and describe the qualities of the dog that you are looking for. You can leave your name and number on file just in case a Kromfohrlander or Kromfohrlander mix becomes available.
The staff can also direct you towards other available dogs that share similar traits to the Kromfohrlander temperament.
You can also search for available dogs through internet websites such as Google, Facebook, Petfinder, Adoptapet and Getyourpet.
Another excellent resource is the Kromfohrlander Club of America. The club keeps close tabs on the breed, and if there is a Kromfohrlander for adoption somewhere in the country, they will probably know about it.
Finding a Kromfohrlander for Sale from a Reputable Breeder
There are very few Kromfohrlander breeders in the United States.
If you decide to purchase a Kromfohrlander puppy, you will probably be placed on a waiting list for a year or more.
Some people choose to travel to Europe to purchase a puppy.
The best way to find a high-quality breeder is to contact the Kromfohrlander Club of America. The club can direct you towards reputable breeders in the United States. However, you should still be prepared to do your own research and assessment of the breeder.
Never purchase Kromfohrlander puppies, or any puppies, over the internet or through a pet store. Reputable breeders will not sell their puppies this way. Be wary of any breeder that wants to take your money over the internet or by phone without meeting you face to face.
Responsible breeders will want to meet you in person and discuss the breed before accepting any payment.
When you meet the breeder, ask about genetic screening and medical records of the parent dogs. Ask to meet the breeding dogs and view the facility to make sure that the conditions are humane and that the breeding dogs are friendly and healthy.
How much does a Kromfohrlander cost?
This is a very rare and expensive dog breed. According to the Kromfohrlander club, the Kromfohrlander price in the United States is usually over $1800.
Buyers that travel to Europe can expect to pay between $1800 and $3000 for a puppy, excluding travel expenses.
If this price tag is beyond your budget, visit your local animal shelter for a selection of equally lovely dogs at a more affordable price point.
Conclusion: Why the Kromfohrlander?
The Kromfohrlander temperament is adorable and charming.
With its cute face and spunky personality, it is easy to see why “Kromi lovers” are so infatuated with this breed.
The Kromfohrlander is smart, loyal, entertaining, and the Kromi’s small size is perfect for many people.
However, the Kromfohrlander temperament is not for everyone. Likewise, the steep cost is prohibitive for many prospective buyers.
Allie has worked in the field of animal welfare for over ten years and as a freelance writer the space for many years. She has had many different kinds of dogs (and cats) throughout her life—all adopted. She currently shares her home with a lovable pit bull mix named Huckleberry.