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American Eskimo Dog

Loyal / Smart / Versatile
Non-Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

9-12 inches (toy)

12-15 inches (miniature)

15-19 inches (Standard)

Weight

6-10 pounds (toy)

10-20 pounds (miniature)

25-35 pounds (standard)

Life Expectancy

13-15 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    39% 39%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    100% 100%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    70% 70%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    59% 59%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    39% 39%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    100% 100%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    70% 70%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    59% 59%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The American Eskimo Dog is a perfect example of a brains-and-beauty combo, blending remarkable excellent looks with a quick and sharp mind. Eskies are neither timid nor aggressive; instead, they are always alert and sociable, albeit a little reserved when making new companions. Standard, miniature, and toy sizes are available for the American Eskimo Dog, which can reach heights of up to 19 inches at the shoulder or as low as 9 inches. A lion-like ruff around the chest and shoulders, a dense, glittering white coat, a smiling face with black nose, lips, and eye rims that transmit a keen, intelligent attitude, and a plumed tail carried over the back are all distinguishing features. Some Eskies have markings that are described as being the delectable color “biscuit cream.”

They walk with a confident, quick pace. Due to their sociable nature and insistence on being included in family life, eskies can exhibit problematic behaviors when ignored or poorly taught. The witty, family-friendly Eskie is one of the most trainable breeds and almost coined the term “eager to please.”

 

 

What To Expect When Caring For a American Eskimo Dog

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

A responsible breeder will screen his or her breeding stock for diseases like hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy. As with any other breed, an Eskie's ears should be checked monthly to remove dirt and prevent wax accumulation, and the dog's teeth should be brushed on a regular basis.

Grooming

The fluffy, white double coat of the American Eskimo Dog'a short, dense undercoat beneath the larger outer coat is surprisingly easy to keep clean. Eskies, on the other hand, shed virtually frequently. Thorough brushing twice or three times a week will remove dead hairs before they can be shed and will aid in the prevention of matting. Because the oil in an Eskie's fur keeps dirt from clinging to it, a good brushing is typically sufficient to remove it. Bathing an Eskie on occasion is fine, but bathing him more than once per few months can cause his skin to become dry and sensitive. The Eskie's nails, like those of all breeds, should be cut on a regular basis.  

Exercise

The Eskie is an active dog with a lot of energy that is also quick and interested, necessitating a lot of exercise and mental challenges. When an Eskie is left alone or does not get enough exercise, he or she can soon become destructive. A securely enclosed yard and a selection of toys will help keep an Eskie entertained and out of mischief. However, he should not be left alone in the yard all day. Despite his warm coat, the Eskie is an indoor dog who builds close ties with his people and is most content when they interact with him. Eskies often grow more sedentary as they approach middle age.

Training

Early socialization and puppy training sessions are advised for all breeds. Fortunately, the American Eskimo Dog is one of the easiest breeds to teach. Eskies were staples of trained-dog acts when touring circuses, vaudeville troupes, and Wild West shows crisscrossed the country. They are exceptionally bright and eager to please. They pick up new commands rapidly, often just by observing other dogs.

Nutrition

The American Eskimo Dog should thrive on high-quality dog food, whether purchased commercially or cooked at home with your veterinarian's supervision and consent. Any diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be a valuable training aid, but feeding too much can lead to obesity. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not. If you have any concerns regarding your dog's weight or diet, consult with your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.  

History

The name American Eskimo Dog is a misnomer: the Indigenous people known as “Eskimos” had nothing to do with the breed’s creation.

Beginning in the early 1800s, numerous waves of German immigrants arrived on American shores, having a tremendous impact on the development of the Midwest. German farmers seeking opportunity in America brought their Old World ways to areas such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio, where the German influence may still be felt today. Lutheranism, the brewing sector, and the region’s obsession with German-style dishes are cultural touchstones that these immigrants brought with them to their new home. Another was the German Spitz, a Nordic breed used as all-around farm dogs. These tiny white dogs were the forerunners of the contemporary Eskie. It was getting harder to keep these lovely, very trainable dogs down on the farm by the latter part of the 19th century. The world of show business called.

German Spitz became a staple of trained-dog acts during the pre-electronic era when touring circuses, vaudeville troupes, and Wild West shows traversed pre-electronic America because of their intelligence, agility, and flashy appearance. (This continued long into the 20th century; Pierre, an Eskie tightrope walker with the Barnum & Bailey Circus, was maybe America’s most well-known performance dog of the 1930s.)

When America entered World War I in 1917, a bias against all things Germanic swept the nation. The German name of the breed was altered to “American Eskimo” Dog to match the name of an Ohio spitz breeding kennel. Although the breed has a lengthy and colorful history in the United States, the AKC did not register its first American Eskimo Dog until 1995.

Pet owners looking for adaptable, enjoyable companions today seek out the little white wonder dogs who once performed a variety of tasks on Midwestern fields and then enchanted crowds beneath the circus big top.