Origin: The United States
Height: The American
Eskimo is recognized in three different sizes -
Toy (9-12 inches at the shoulder), Miniature
(over 12 inches - 15 inches), and the Standard
(over 15 inches up to and including 19 inches
high at the top of the shoulder)
Weight: 6-10 pounds for
Toy, 10-20 pounds for Miniature, and 18-35
pounds for the Standard American Eskimo
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 10-12
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings: Spits
Alternate Names: Eskimo Dog
Known for his sparkling white coat, happy
appearance and triangular, pointed ears, the
American Eskimo Dog is a wonderful companion
breed that is believed to have developed through
the crossbreeding of various dogs brought into
the country by European immigrants. Known as the
first dog to ever walk a circus tightrope, the
American Eskimo is an intelligent and attentive
breed of dog.
His name is misleading, because the American
Eskimo was not bred or raised by Eskimo people.
In fact, it is believed that the American Eskimo
is the descendant of stock that journeyed over
to America with various European immigrants,
such as the white Keeshound, German Spitz,
Pomeranian, Volpino Italiano, and perhaps even
some Japanese Spitz, following World War II.
Commonly found with German immigrants, there
were numerous small white dogs that strongly
resembled the Spitz breed; grouping them
together, these little white canines came to be
known as the American Spitz.
The American Spitz dog was not known simply as a
companion animal to immigrants, however. Late in
the 19th century, these intelligent little dogs
made a name for themselves in various traveling
circuses, where they became extremely popular in
various trick-dog routines. Highly intelligent,
quick and adaptable, they thrived in this role
and the circuses helped in making the breed more
popular, introducing them to the general public.
The reasoning for this is unknown and highly
debated, but in 1917, the name “American Spitz”
was changed to “American Eskimo Dog.” It wasn’t
until 1986 that the American Eskimo Dog,
affectionately known as the “Eskie,” would be
given his own club, and it wouldn’t be until
1995 that he was given full recognition by the
American Kennel Club (AKC).
The American Eskimo Dog is most easily
recognized for his snowy white coat - he is
always white or can be white with just a hint of
cream accent. Any other color is considered a
disqualification. In addition to this, the Eskie
must also possess black points (his nose, lips
and rims around the eyes), making his features
all the more prominent, striking and beautiful.
Covered in a thick double coat of fur, the
American Eskimo has a very short, dense
undercoat with longer, harsh guard hairs growing
through to create the dog’s outer coat. Thicker
around the neck and chest of the dog, his ruff
is often said to resemble a thick lion’s mane
and the American Eskimo’s tail is carried in a
proud and relaxed position, loosely draped over
his back. Also characteristic of the breed are
the large tufts of fur covering the dog’s
hindquarters and backs of his legs, making him
appear as if he was wearing fluffy breeches.
Classified in three different sizes, the
American Eskimo Dog can range in size from 9-19
inches tall at the shoulder, and can weigh
anything from 6-35 pounds. There is no size
preference between the three categories and the
dogs all seem to possess a very intelligent and
easy-going nature.
“Personality-plus” is a term that best suits
these adorable little dogs. Very friendly and
loyal to their family, they make excellent
companion animals and are good, both with
children and with other animals. The American
Eskimo Dog is a willing friend and enjoys
learning new tasks and tricks, showing a very
outgoing and eager-to-please nature. They can,
however, be somewhat protective of their family
and their possessions, showing a bit of
territorial streak. While this makes them
excellent watchdogs, who will eagerly sound the
alarm if they sense anything strange, it does
mean that they should be supervised closely when
new pets or family members are introduced to the
home - while quick to adapt, it’s best to adjust
them slowly and make it a positive experience
for all.
The American Eskimo puppy is a very active
and energetic individual though they do tend to
calm somewhat, once they mature. Even as adults,
however, most Eskies enjoy rousing, romping
games of fetch, chase, and do quite well in
obstacle courses and events. Additionally, the
American Eskimo Dog enjoys learning new tricks
and thrives on praise; encouraged to keep going,
he loves to perform and will do so until his
heart’s content.
While the American Eskimo does best with access
to his own back yard, where he can frolic and
play, they can adapt well to apartment living,
provided they are taken out for daily walks or
are allowed the liberty of a run in the dog
park. If started early, the American Eskimo Dog
does well in a social setting and will learn to
enjoy the company of other canines.
The American Eskimo Dog is relatively simple
to groom and maintain. To prevent risk of mats,
he should be brushed a couple of times a week
with either a wire slicker brush or a comb,
paying special attention not to scratch his
skin. Be forewarned that the American Eskimo
does shed and they are known to “blow their
coat” a couple of times per year. Blowing the
coat refers to periods when the dogs shed
profusely (mainly in the Spring and Fall). The
hair will come out in clumps during this time,
discouraging many from shedding breeds such as
this. To the Eskie lover, however, this shedding
is all part of the joy of owning one of these
wonderful little dogs.
An American Eskimo Dog shouldn’t need to be
bathed too often; once or twice a month is
usually a good bet, unless you have an
individual who really enjoys getting dirty.
Aside from this, the only other major grooming
needs that an Eskie requires are keeping his
nails clipped, his ears clean and, if he will
let you, his teeth brushed. Should
tooth-brushing be an issue, however, there are a
variety of toys and treats now available, which
help to reduce tartar build up and tooth decay.
The American Eskimo Dog is a keenly
intelligent breed and one that desires to please
his owner. For these reasons, he is generally
very easy to train and receptive to the praises
that he receives for good behavior. Obedience
classes are highly recommended, if you are
inexperienced with training dogs - not only does
it teach your dog basic commands and obedience,
but it also teaches you how better to understand
your new puppy, and what methods he bests
responds to. Positive reinforcement and
consistency of routine usually work best.
Like any breed of dog, the American Eskimo is
subject to a variety of health concerns. Your
best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
American Eskimo puppy, check around with several
breeders and ask about the various health issues
that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A
reputable breeder should be well-versed in the
health concerns and should be able to give you
more details, as well as showing you the sire
and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the
health problems that can affect American Eskimos
include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Cataracts
- Legg Calve Perthes disease
- Epilepsy
- Flea allergies
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The American Eskimo Dog is a very friendly,
attentive, and outgoing individual. Possessing a
very high intelligence and fast learning rate,
he is quick to learn the basics and excels at
various tricks and challenges. There is also a
bonus in that they come in a wide variety of
sizes, guaranteeing that there is an Eskie to
fit every size requirement. If you don’t mind a
shedding down with long white hair and you don’t
mind his sometimes protective personality, the
wonderful American Eskimo Dog may very well be
the perfect breed for you.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the American Eskimo dog breed. We've compiled a list of
American Eskimo information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the American Eskimo dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a American Eskimo information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the American Eskimo breed,
please contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our
editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
American Eskimos are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
American Eskimo pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become a American Eskimo owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of American Eskimo dogs,
American Eskimo puppy photos, funny American Eskimo photos and more.
Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the American Eskimo is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible American Eskimo breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
American Eskimo puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To
buy a puppy from a responsible American Eskimo breeder, you may need
to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time
will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet
store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great
deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end
up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring American Eskimo breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the American Eskimo breed and is in it for the love
of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured
of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised American Eskimo
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
American Eskimo clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the American Eskimo dog breed, help you locate a
responsible American Eskimo breeder, or help you find a American
Eskimo dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving, forever
home. We've compiled the following list of American Eskimo clubs and
American Eskimo rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your American Eskimo puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
American Eskimo. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new American Eskimo
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new American Eskimo puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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