American Eskimo Dog

All you need to know about the American Eskimo Dog

American Eskimo Dogs, often referred to as “Eskies” are a sociable and energetic dog breed known for their fluffy white coats. These dogs originally came from Germany, and are a part of the Spitz dog group.

These pups are highly sociable and will love spending time surrounded by people. They also like playing with children, which is a plus for those with families.

They have a good nature but do require quite a bit of commitment from you. If they aren’t properly socialized they can become restless and nervous so always try to think of new ways to stimulate them.

American Eskimo Dogs are highly intelligent, which means training them won’t be an issue. Make sure to spend time with your Eskie and give it plenty of exercises and it will always be a white, furry bundle of joy.

So you’ve found an Eskie that managed to completely steal your heart? Do you wish to know more about the breed to prepare yourself for owning one? Read on, we have you covered on all of the important info about this breed.

Fast Facts

Group - Non-sporting

Weight - Toy 6-10 Pounds; Miniature 10-20 Pounds; Standard 18-35 Pounds

Height Male: Toy 9-12 Inches; Miniature 12-15 Inches; Standard 15-19 Inches

Hair Length - Medium, Long

Shedding - Moderate

Lifespan - 12-15 Years

The Appearance of the American Eskimo Dog

When it comes to looks, the pure white coat of the Eskie always manages to stand out! It is long and fluffy and reminds us of snow! 

Eskies are available in three different sizes, standard, toy, and miniature. Their friendly, smiling face is impossible to resist and will surely win you over after just one look.

These dogs are almost exclusively white. There is one other color their coat comes in, and that is white with biscuit cream.

The coat of these pups is lush and heavy. It has a plush undercoat and can be quite thick around the neck area. This makes it seem as if these dogs had a lion’s mane sometimes, giving them a unique, distinguished look.

Eskies have erect ears, sitting atop their wedge-shaped head. Their muzzle is medium length and they have a black nose. Their tails are plumed and carried high, often curling over their backs.

The body of an American Eskimo Dog is strong, muscular, and compact. This gives these dogs great agility. 

When you look at an Eskie’s face, however, you will see a joyful look, often with a smile. Their dark, large eyes stand out in contrast to their coat, and the face of these pups always looks friendly and approachable.

All about American Eskimo Dog personality

American Eskimo Dogs are cheerful and friendly. They will learn quickly to behave well which makes them amazing pets and companions. If we were to choose one trait that specifically stands out in this breed it would be loyalty. 

Your Eskie will be extremely loyal to you and your family, but will always be gentle with other people. Children can be safely allowed to play with these dogs.

Eskies are highly sensitive and will devote themselves completely to you and your family members. They understand the tone of your voice well and will recognize the way you feel by it. They will relate to any emotional stress you’re going to and be by your side during it.

American Eskimo Dogs also have tons of energy that needs to be used up daily. You should definitely make sure to take your pet Eskie on a walk every day. If you don’t do that, they might become destructive because they got bored. If this happens expect them to chew things or start digging around.

While you’re playing with your Eskie always try talking to them and guiding them. They respond well to directed exercises and prefer that to aimless running around. Any sort of puzzle toy, agility training, or game will keep your dog happy.

As we mentioned, these pups are very loyal, which means they tend to be shy around strangers. It takes a while before a new person can gain their trust. 

If they suspect that any sort of danger is near expect them to bark. They aren’t usually yappy, except in these situations. This makes them great guard dogs.

Discipline is important with Eskies, but do it in a gentle manner. They should see you as the leader of the pack, but you should never assert your dominance in a mean or loud way.

You shouldn’t pamper your Eskie too much because it might want to take over your role of leader. If this happens expect it to bark and become temperamental.

How much Grooming does the American Eskimo Dog need?

One look at the coat of an American Eskimo Dog and you must be thinking how hard they must be to keep clean. Well, you’d actually be wrong. While they do require a certain amount of grooming, it is nowhere near what you’d expect.

You will only need to bathe your Eskie once every few months. They are good at keeping themselves clean. If you notice your Eskie is dirty, just brush the coat a bit and the dirt will come right off.

Make sure to brush your pet Eskie often because these dogs do shed quite a bit. You should brush its coat at least two to three times a week to get rid of dead hair. Naturally, with this amount of shedding these dogs are not hypoallergenic. Avoid them if you suffer from allergies.

Brush the teeth of your dog regularly using a doggy toothpaste your vet gave you. This is important because it will help you avoid a lot of possible health problems. Do it at least once every week and your dog should be fine, especially if you start doing it while it is still a puppy.

Check the ears of your pet from time to time as well. Clean them using a soft and damp cloth. Be extremely careful while doing this, and only do it if you notice they are dirty.

Finally, always make sure to trim your dog’s nails when they get too long. Some dogs will wear them off naturally, but if they grow too long it can become painful for them. If you hear the nails clicking on the floor it means they are too long.

The Living Environment of the American Eskimo Dog

Eskies will grow highly attached to you and your family and won’t like being alone outside in the backyard. This means they are definitely indoor pups. They are amazing apartment dogs, just make sure to walk them every day.

If you live with a large family these dogs will be the ideal pets for you! They absolutely love when things are lively since they have high activity needs. Many kids running around and adults constantly talking and laughing is a great environment for eskies.

They will work out a lot of their energy simply by following everything that’s going on in the house.

These dogs have a double coat that can keep them warm during cold temperatures. They adore the winter and cold weather. 

However, they can handle the warm weather as well. Their white coat reflects the sun’s rays and keeps them constantly cool. Just give them some shade and water and they won’t mind the heat.

Don’t leave your Eskie alone for too long though! These dogs crave companionship and won’t like being left alone. It could lead to the development of problematic behavior and separation anxiety.

The Health and Nutrition of the American Eskimo Dog

Eskies have a lifespan of about 13 to 15 years. They can live through that time without experiencing any health issues if you take care of their nutrition and visit the veterinarian regularly.

There are certain genetic conditions they can inherit. 

• The most common one is hip dysplasia. This condition causes the thigh bone of your dog to not fit into the hip joint the way it should. The bones then start grinding against each other. This can cause serious pain and should be treated immediately.
• Another condition they can inherit is progressive retinal atrophy. This condition is defined as the deterioration of the retina over time. This makes your dog lose sight over time and results in blindness.

Since these are both genetic conditions, always check health clearances with your breeder. If they don’t have them, make sure your veterinarian does all the standard checks and exams on your puppy.

Eskies tend to become overweight, especially as they get older. Nutrition is important and should always be something you consult about with your vet. They will help you pick the best food and tell you which is the correct amount for your pet.

The amount of food you give your Eskie will largely depend on its age, size, and activity level. Just make sure to divide the daily food dose into two meals.

Where does the American Eskimo Dog come from?

The history of the American Eskimo Dog dates back to the 1800s when German immigrants came to the United States. They introduced the local people to their dog breed called the German Spitz. These small dogs were actually of Nordic origins, with fox-like faces and coats in many colors.

Eventually, the white-colored German Spitz became known as the American Eskimo Dog. During the 19th century, these dogs were known for starring in various circus dog acts. Traveling circuses around the country were drawn to the white coat and trainable personality of the Eskie and started adopting and training them.

Because of this, Eskies became incredibly popular during the early 1900s. During World War I, Americans started developing anti-German sentiments and that was when Eskie owners stopped calling their dogs German Spitzes. 

At first, they called them American Spitzes, which eventually led to them being named American Eskimo Dogs. Most believed that they got the name due to their snow-like coat because they aren’t connected to Eskimo people.