The Miniature American Eskimo Dog

The Miniature American Eskimo dog has a beautiful appearance with its thick white coat. This dog also has a dense and soft undercoat, which is common in Spitz breeds. Their coat is easy to take care of but they shed a lot. These dogs have wedge shaped heads and triangular shaped ears. Some of these dogs have blue eyes but most have brown. The Miniature American Eskimo dog is approximately 12 to 15 inches in height. They weigh somewhere between 25 and 35 lbs.

Another name for the Miniature American Eskimo dog is an Eskie. These dogs came to the United States during the 19th century with German immigrants. They may be descendents of the German Spitz, white Keeshonden, or large white Pomeranians, which also were brought to America. Eventually the American Spitz was called the American Eskimo Dog. During the 1930's and 1940's the American Spitz dogs were trained to use in the circus and were excellent performers.

The Miniature American Eskimo dog is very vigorous and loves to be entertained. They get along good with considerate and well-behaved children. This is a very intelligent and obedient type of dog that can be easily taught tricks. These dogs make a good family dog because they love companionship and plenty of attention. If you don't want an active dog that barks a lot than this dog may not be for you. The Miniature American Eskimo dog is a great watchdog because of their barking and alertness. Even though they make a good watchdog, they will not attack anyone unless they're aggravated.

Since the Miniature American Eskimo dog is very intelligent, you need to stimulate them with activities and socializing. Without stimulation and interesting things for them to do, they can become bored or have problems with their behavior which could result in destructive chewing. They also need to be around people often so they don't become fearful of strangers. It's best to start socializing your dog between 7 weeks and 6 months. It's also important that they are taught socialize during adolescence, which starts between 6 and 9 months and ends between 1 and 3.

This breed of dog usually lives to be around 14 years of age but some have lived longer. Some health problems these dogs may get are hip dysplasia, luxating patella, deafness, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and urinary tract stones. They may also develop allergies such as flea allergies, which could cause acute moist dermatitis. Some other health concerns are diabetes, epilepsy, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.

The Miniature American Eskimo dog can live in cold or hot climate. These dogs have extremely dry skin and shouldn't be bathed too often. Once every two or three months is fine unless they get extremely dirty or have an odor. Usually brushing their coats is all that's needed between baths. They are a very clean type of dog and groom themselves regularly. Before you buy this type of dog, remember they're constantly on the go and shed a great deal.

These types of dogs may not like some kinds of food. Try feeding them a few times a day with small meals. The food should be of good quality to benefit their health. Fresh food such as chicken or turkey is a good choice. It's best to buy Miniature American Eskimo dogs from a breeder that's experienced and can tell you everything you need to know about their care.