American Eskimo Dogs
Friendly And Protective!
Background and Description
American Eskimo Dogs, are descendents of the Nordic/Spitz families which includes the Samoyed, white Keeshound,
the white Pomeranian, the white German Spitz, and the white Italian Spitz - Volpino Italiano, among others.
Historically, Spitz type dogs - primarily white coated, arrived in the United States along with the flow of German immigrants during the
19th century and eventually were referred to as American Spitz.
Subsequently as the lines developed within this group, the American Eskimo Dog became
a separate breed from its Spitz relatives.
The American Eskimo Dog Club of America was formed in 1985 with the goal of acquiring AKC recognition for the breed.
In 1995, this came to fruition when the AKC officially recognized the breed, fulfilling the Club's original intention.
This handsome dog has a look of kindness and substance; brown eyes that convey both alertness and intelligence, and a
profuse white coat that can only be described as stunning. Since he is a modern day dog breed, his purpose apart
from early success as a circus entertainer, is as a family companion and renowned watchdog.
Appearance:
American Eskimo Dog information from the AKC indicates that this breed is placed in the non-sporting group, but is separated according to size into three divisions:
Toy American Eskimo Dog, Height 9 to 12 inches inclusive
Miniature American Eskimo Dog: Height: over 12" up to 15" inclusive
And the Standard size: Height: over 15" up to 19" inclusive
Dogs exceeding 19 inches or less than 9 inches in height, or those with blue eyes, would be subject to
disqualification.
Weight is not stipulated in the AKC Standard, but a general guideline would be
between 6-10 lbs. for the Toy, 10-20 lbs. for the Miniature, and 18-35 lbs. for the Standard size.
Color variations: Pure white or white with biscuit cream.
Coat and Care:
A very profuse double coat consisting of a thick undercoat with longer growth extending to form the straight
outer coat. The coat is much thicker around the around the rump and rear legs and further adorned by a rich very full
tail carried over the back. Likewise the ruff has a thick mane-like appearance.
Regular brushing is recommended to keep this beautiful full coat in order. An excellent tool to handle periods
of shedding, is
the FURminator 
which countless owners wouldn't be without!
Personality and Traits:
American Eskimo Dogs have a loving and friendly temperament that makes them ideal family companions. They
are noted for their keen watchdog abilities, while at the same time not being aggressive or threatening. However, over-zealous barking
can occur, but with proper training and socialization early on, this can be modified.
This breed tends to become very tuned into to the moods of their
human companions and will respond in kind. Keep this in mind when you are training your
AED to be sure you are conveying a "confident" stance!
The Eskie, as he is often called, needs to be well-socialized and trained by an experienced owner.
They are intelligent, clean and eager to please, but training should be done without harshness. These dogs respond
much faster to training sessions that are short and sweet with a playful bias. Housetraining is usually handled
with ease.
Some people have been so taken with the charm and good looks of this dog breed that they rushed to own
one without thinking too much about the grooming work, training and socialization responsibilities that are
a part of owning one. As a result, some have been relinquished or abandoned. Fortunately, there is an active American Eskimo rescue group
at work to foster these remarkable dogs in need until new homes are found.
This breed has done well in competitive agility trials, obedience and detection work for law enforcement.
Activity Level:
American Eskimo dogs, need a good amount of exercise not only to maintain physical and mental health, but also to prevent
problems such as hyperactivity.
Take care to time your dog walks with an eye to the temperature in consideration of his warm coat.
Space Needs:
The Eskie can adapt to an apartment or house, but no doubt a house with yard would be his preferred choice. If
he is unavoidably housebound, daily outdoor exercise becomes a high priority. Like most nordic dog breeds, they are best suited to cooler climates.
Children:
This breed does best with older more controlled children. As always, no matter what the breed of dog, caution and supervision is recommended
whenever children are interacting with pets.
Elderly:
Providing exercise requirements can be handled, American Eskimo Dogs make loving and protective companions
for the elderly.
They are extremely good in therapy situations.
Book Recommendation:
Complete owner's manual covering a wealth of expert information on the breed. Includes personality characteristics, behaviors,
puppy selection, feeding, training, and health care.
Great color photos.
Share Your American Eskimo Dog Pictures
A great way to share photos of this handsome dog
as well as all your family photos.
Give it a "free" try - you'll be glad you did!
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