Characteristics, history, care tips and helpful details of the American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo is a happy white dog that resembles a small Husky. Contrary to what the name suggests, this dog breed started in Central America, where it has been a farm dog for many years. These friendly dogs come in three sizes, but are always white and have pointy ears.
Fun and slightly playful, American Eskimo dogs keep their owners alert with their playful energy. They tend to be a bit shy around strangers and can be too noisy for apartments, but this breed is the ideal mix of smarts and attractiveness for the right owner!
Breed overview
GROUP: Non-Sporting Group (AKC), Nordic Race Group (UKC).
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HEIGHT: 23 – 31 cm (toy variety); 31 – 38 cm (miniature variety); 38 – 48 cm (standard variety)
WEIGHT: 3 – 4 kg (toy); 4.5 – 9 kg (miniature); 11 – 16 kg (standard)
FUR AND COLOR: The thick, shiny coat is always pure white. This breed has a distinctive fur collar around the neck and chest.
COLOR: This breed is almost always snow-white. It is also acceptable for the American Eskimo to have a slightly cream color, but this is less common. The eyes, lips and nose should be black.
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LIFE EXPECTANCY: 13 – 15 years
Characteristics of the American Eskimo dog
| Level of affection | environment |
| Friendliness | Average |
| Friendly with children | environment |
| Pets allowed | environment |
| The need for movement | high |
| Playfulness | High |
| Energy level | High |
| Training | High |
| Intelligence | high |
| Tendency to bark | high |
| Degree of shedding | environment |
History of the American Eskimo dog
The American Eskimo dog, or Eskie, is a breed created by German immigrants from the southwestern United States of America, not by Eskimos. German farm owners from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio brought with them German Spitz dogs, a farm dog.
Like most Spitz breeds, the German Spitz had a curled tail, thick fur, and pointed ears. Over time the breed was perfected only in its bright white version, and its charming appearance and quick wit quickly earned it a place in circuses and vaudeville shows.
In fact, one of the most famous dogs of all time was an American Eskimo named Pierre, a balancer for the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
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The name of the German Spitz breed was changed after World War I due to anti-German sentiment. The name «Eskimo American» was chosen to honor an Ohio breeding poodle of the same name. Although the breed has a decades-long history as an all-purpose farm dog in the Midwest, it was only recognized by the AKC in 1995.
American Eskimo dogs still make great training companions for acrobatics, obedience, agility, and more, but they are generally preferred as pets rather than agricultural work animals.
Is the American Eskimo suitable as a family pet?
This cautious breed can range from friendly and helpful to overly cautious and reserved around strangers. While many American Eskimos can make great family dogs, others struggle with the hustle and bustle of family life.
These dogs require a lot of attention and care, which can be difficult for busy families. While they often play well with older children, their energetic nature can be too much for younger children.
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Each dog is an individual in its own right and it is best to work closely with a breeder or helper to find a suitable individual for your home.
American Eskimo Dog Care
Eskies are commonly known as «busy» dogs that need a little more exercise and mental enrichment than other small, white, fluffy breeds. Unlike Shih Tzus and Bichon Frises, Eskies were working dogs just a few decades ago.
Therefore, this breed requires daily stimulation. These dogs aren’t satisfied with a walk or a game of toss in the yard: they need mental challenges as well as physical exercise. Feeder toys and trick training are both fun ways to help your dog’s mind.
In fact, teaching American Eskimo dogs different tricks like «the wave» or «stay nice» can work as training to strengthen their back and core muscles.
Without adequate physical exercise and mental enrichment, that breed quickly becomes destructive and noisy.
Dogs of this breed are known for a wide variety of growls, barks, howls, and even screams that can drive your neighbors crazy if left uncontrolled. Focus on giving an Eskie what it needs using the four steps to behavioral wellness, and remember that this is a barking breed and may not live in harmony.
Tools like bark collars can calm your dog, but they are likely to cause redirected frustration in the form of digging, chewing, or other behaviors that indicate distress. Frequent hikes, active walks, training games and dog sports can help keep your American Eskimo happy.
Overall, this breed is intelligent and easy to train. In fact, these dogs are so much fun to train that you might be motivated to take a dog tricks class. Try giving your dog one hour of activity a day and three different activities a week.
Focus on keeping training easy and fun, and don’t expect perfection. If a session becomes frustrating, try making it easier or shortening it for the day.
Grooming American Eskimo dogs requires constant attention—this small, furry breed can quickly get out of hand. Brushing these dogs several times a week will keep their coat under control and help reduce shedding. Pay particular attention to removing tufts of hair around the harness, collar, ears and areas with remaining hair.
Dogs with long and double coats generally require a variety of grooming tools, including comb large and rare brushrotating tooth combs and wire brushes. Don’t groom Eskie dogs even in summer: this can damage their double coat and reduce their ability to tolerate heat or cold.
Common health problems
The American Eskimo is a relatively healthy dog breed, likely due to its recent history as a working dog. This breed is vulnerable to conditions such as:
- Hip dysplasia: A condition in which the dog’s hip joints form abnormally.
- Patella luxation: Condition in which the knee dislocates from its normal position.
- Diabetes: A metabolic disorder in which the glucose-insulin connection does not work properly.
Although diabetes has a significant genetic component, it is important to provide regular meals of high-quality foods. Free-feeding your dog (providing food at all times) and high-fat diets can contribute to the development of diabetes, even if your dog is not overweight.
It is best to avoid some of these problems by finding a good breeder and doing the proper health testing.
Keep in mind that a well test is much more than just a veterinary check-up: parent dogs typically undergo genetic testing and/or medical imaging to rule out genetic problems. Once your dog is in your home, you can ensure that he lives a long, healthy life with enough exercise and high-quality food.
Diet and nutrition
Although athletic by nature, the American Eskimo puts on weight quite easily. This may be due to genetic factors or the fact that thick fur prevents weight gain.
Rubbing your dog’s ribs can help you gauge his actual size. You should be able to make out the outline quite easily by touching the dog’s hips and some of the ribs, although these should not be prominent.
Puzzle food bowls calm the dog and burn energy and can really help the dog enjoy high-quality food. Avoid high-fat foods in this breed as this may increase the already high risk of diabetes.
See also: Energetic dogs for active people
Advantages
- Playful
- Intelligent
- Easy and fun to train
disadvantage
- High maintenance (requires a lot of attention and care)
- Annoying barking
- Tendency towards destructive behavior if not sufficiently stimulated
Other dog breeds and further research
Before you bring an American Eskimo dog home, you may want to research some other similar breeds to compare their personalities and needs. Be sure to talk to owners, breeders and shelters and meet some American Eskimo dogs in person to learn more.
If you are interested in related breeds, check out:
Otherwise, check out all our dog breed profiles. There is a perfect partner for everyone!
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