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The American Eskimo Dog is a breed of companion dog originating in the United States of America (probably in New York City) in the twentieth century. The breed was formerly called a German Spitz or an "American Eskimo Spitz". It is a member of the Spitz family of dogs. It achieved a high degree of popularity in the 1930s and 1940s in the U.S. as a circus performer. The very first dog to walk a tightrope was an American Eskimo. The breed became popular as circuses would sell the puppies during their travels across the nation. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1994 and set the current standard for the breed. The United Kennel Club had recognized the breed long before 1994, and there is no difference between the two breed standards.
Appearance: The standard for the American Eskimo Dog
calls for them to be white or white & biscuit cream, with
brown eyes (blue eyes, such as those found on the Siberian
Husky, are a disqualification and a sign of poor health or
breeding), and a compact body. The dog's length should be only
slightly greater than its height at the shoulder.
The muzzle is long and lupine (in contrast to the muzzles
of Pomeranians). The ears are held erect and alert, and the
tail should be feathered and curled on the dog's back. These
dogs look very much like smaller versions of the Samoyed, and
come in three standard sizes. The toy is from 9 to 12 inches
(23 to 30 cm) at the withers; the miniature is from 12 to 15
inches (33 to 38 cm); the standard is from 15 inches up to and
including 19 inches (39 to 48 cm).
The Eskie, as with all Nordic breeds, has erect, triangular
ears ("prick ears"), a tail that flips onto the
dog's back in a spiral, and two coats of fur: an undercoat
that is softer and helps insulate the dog, and an outer coat
that's harsher and acts as a weather "repellent".
Temperament: American Eskimos were bred to be
companion dogs, not just the family dog to put outside when
they bother their owners. They thrive on being a part of their
human family. Eskies love their families, and a
well-socialized dog is more of a pleasure to own. Eskies are
easily trained and very intelligent, as well as being
strong-willed and independent. At home, Eskies make excellent
watchdogs, barking to announce the presence of strangers.
The Eskie can be protective of its home and family, but it
shouldn't threaten to attack or bite a person(unless the
person provoked the attack). American Eskimos must be trained
early in age to come to their master. They do not respond well
to aggressive dicipline. Spanking an American Eskimo for its
mistake may result in a growling war instead of punishment.
Make sure to research the dog's parents as their temperament
may vary due to inheritance. If an Eskie has been hurt by
someone, it may lose trust in that being, become very
defensive around them, and may even snap or bite.
Many people find the puppies of American Eskimo Dogs to be
very cute and purchase this breed as a puppy without doing
sufficient research, such as discovering the longevity and
needs of this breed. This breed can take longer to mature than
other breeds, and Eskies can behave more like puppies than
like adults for up to two years, when they finally start to
mature and grow their adult coats. They are also an extremely
intelligent dog and need to be stimulated. When their
intelligence is not stimulated or they are ignored, they can
develop behavior issues. Owners can avoid this problem by
socializing their Eskie through obedience training or
participating in dog sports, such as dog agility, flyball, or
dancing.
Health: The breed lives on average between 12 and 14
years, although some individuals might as long as 20 years or
longer. They are prone to hip dysplasia, patella luxation,
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, progressive retinal atrophy,
cataracts, epilepsy, urinary stones and allergies, especially
flea allergies, that can lead to acute moist dermatitis or
"hot spots".
History: The American Eskimo Dog, or
"Eskie" as it is often called, is most likely
derived from the German Spitz, the Finnish Spitz, the
Pomeranian, the Keeshond, and possibly the Samoyed, although
the latter is not universally accepted. The Spitz family of
Nordic dogs is one of the least altered by human husbandry and
reflects most nearly the prototypical dog, from which stock
all others have been derived. Archeology suggests that
Neolithic dogs living with humans would today pass for
spitzes.
Miscellaneous: The American Eskimo has a tendency to
develop severe allergies to fleas. One flea on an Eskie can
result in frantic scratching and gnawing on their skin, which
results in painful "hot spots" and skin lesions.
Grooming: Eskies have a long, dense coat and need
regular grooming. This means brushing them once a week, or
more often if necessary. They shed, but it can be maintained
with regular brushing. They "blow" their coats twice
a year, once in May or June to shed their winter undercoat and
once in November or December to shed their summer coat. Many
Eskie owners use an undercoat rake, a tool available at most
pet stores, for grooming.
Eskies have drier skin than most other dogs and do not
usually smell doggy. Because of their dry skin, they need to
be bathed only every two or three months, unless they soil
their coat with large amounts of dirt or substances with
strong odors. Regular brushing maintains a clean coat in most
cases. Eskies are a very clean breed and constantly groom
themselves. All dogs' teeth should be brushed once a week. Pet
stores carry a variety of dog toothbrushes, from fingertop to
electric.
Breed-specific rescue: Because so many people
purchase "cute" puppies and then discover that they
do not want an active, intelligent dog with a heavily shedding
coat, many of this breed end up at the animal shelter or
otherwise up for adoption. There are many breed-specific
rescue groups that are more than willing to give advice on
training or curbing behavioral issues.
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