American Eskimo Information
American Eskimo Dog History
The American Eskimo is a dog that is a member of the Spitz family that was originally developed in Germany. Despite it's appearance, it was not bred to be a sled dog, but rather, a companion and watch dog. This breed gained popularity in the 1940's in the United states as a circus performer and in 2004, the AKC officially recognized the breed. The CKC recognized the breed in 2006.
American Eskimo Dog Temperament
Eskies are a generally happy and boisterous breed that loves to play. They are intelligent and easily trained, but the converse of that is that they can easily become bored and destructive. They thrive on human companionship and are excellent watchdogs, barking when a stranger comes near the house. Eskies get on well with kids and are social with strangers.
American Eskimo Dog Appearance
Eskies are a medium sized dog that usually weighs between 25 to 35 pounds and stand 15 to 19 inches at the withers. They have a heavy, dense coat & a tail that curls over their back. The colour is white or cream.
American Eskimo Dog Grooming
Since these dogs have a heavy coat they need to be groomed twice a week to keep up appearances. They are heavy seasonal shedders and during that time you might have to brush your dog more frequently.
American Eskimo Life Expectancy and Health Problems
The Eskie is a generally a robust breed with few health problems. The biggest concerns are allergies & tear stains around they eyes, which are reddish brown streaks that develop around the tear ducts. More uncommon problems are Luxating Patella and Hip Displaysia. The typical lifespan of this breed is 12 to 14 years.
Pros and Cons of the American Eskimo Dog
This simplified list may help you decide if an American Eskimo will be a good fit for your lifestyle
Do You Want
- a fluffy dog with a lot of fur?
- a medium sized dog?
- a dog that makes an excellent watch dog?
- a dog that is very intelligent?
- a dog that has a lot of energy and likes to play?
Do You NOT Want
- a dog that sheds a lot and requires a lot of time to groom?
- a dog that will bark a lot?
- a dog that has a low threshold for boredom and can become destructive?
- a dog that needs a fair ammount of exercise?
- a dog that does not cope well with warm weather?
Useful American Eskimo Dog Links
The National American Eskimo Dog Association
The National American Eskimo Dog Association of Canada