American Eskimo - Facts You Must Know Before Adopting An American Eskimo

The American Eskimo is a Spitz type breed of dog originating in Germany. They are small to medium sized dogs that are widely recognized for their attractive white to cream-colored coat. There are three size variants for this breed, namely:

Toy: 6-10 pounds, 9-12 inches
Miniature: 10-20 pounds, 12-15 inches
Standard: 18-35 pounds, 15-19 inches

Coat

The American Eskimo Dog has a stark double coat. Their coats have a dense undercoat, and a longer hair that grows through it, forming the outer coat. This breed has straight coat, without waves or curls. They have a ruff around their necks that is much more apparent in males than the females. Their coats are white, and could also be white with cream or biscuit markings.

Activity

Extremely active, American Eskimos should be given sufficient exercise daily. If they are not properly entertained and exercised, they tend to be destructive and noisy.

At least 25 to 45 minutes on a leash daily is enough, although it can be separated into two daily walks to keep their energy level under control. If supervised activity is not possible, they can exercise themselves in an enclosed yard by playing with their favorite toy. It is a good idea to tire them out with a great deal of activity to prevent them from being troublesome. Yet if their routine activities don't keep them under control, you may consider adding more to it. The more active American Eskimos are, the happier they will be.

Temperament

The American Eskimo is bred exclusively to be companions. Being part of the family is what they thrive on, and this charming, and fun-loving breed is great with children. They love to bark, and very suspicious of strangers, making them an excellent guardians of their home and family. Eskies are not to be left alone for long periods of time for they tend to engage in disparaging activities when isolated.

Overview

With their compact size, loyalty and intelligence, Eskies are considered to be an ideal pet, and even a guard dog. Their natural agility and sharpness makes them an exceptional household breed.

Care

The American Eskimo dog needs firm bristle brushing twice every week to avoid tangling and matting. Daily brushing may be required when they are shedding. Eskies have drier skin than most of the other breeds, so bathing is suggested only when necessary. This breed is susceptible to hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and cataracts.

Training

Highly talented in obedience training, the American Eskimo is easy to train. Training should be firm, fair, consistent, and with positive reinforcement. Eskimos are gifted in guarding, competent in obedience, and narcotics detection. It is important that they are socialized as early as possible to prevent aggressiveness.

Character

The American Eskimo dogs are playful, fun-loving, and charismatic. They are great with children, and make excellent household pets. Some, but not all, have independent traits, but they usually obey their master's commands when trained. A highly intelligent breed, Eskimos are alert, smart, and easy to train. They aim to please, and are excellent at mastering tricks.