By: Lee Dobbins
Of all the dog breeds one of the fluffiest and cutest is the
American Eskimo puppy. It is from the Spitz family and
considered a Nordic breed. When brought to America its name was
changed to the American Eskimo dog. It was originally related to
the white German Spitz. They originally changed the name because
after World War I there were widespread anti-German sentiments.
They are now considered to be two separate breeds but the two a
very closely related.
Evidence shows that the “White Spitz” was also brought to
America by German immigrants. The studbook was closed by the
North American Eskimo dog Association in 1969. To gain
acceptance into the AKC, The American Eskimo Dog Club of
America was formed in 1985.
On July 1, 1995 the American Eskimo dog was accepted in to the
AKC in the Non-Sporting Group. There are three sizes of the
breed, the standard, miniature, and of course, the toy. The
standard size will reach a height of 15 to 19 inches, and will
weigh between 18 and 35 pounds. A miniature will be 12-15
inches tall and weigh 10-20 pounds. A toy dog will be 9-12
inches high and weigh six to ten pounds.
Being a small to medium size dog the American Eskimo dog is a
well-balanced, compact Nordic type dog. When it walks or run
you will see a smooth gait. The dog is also very alert. There
are very distinctive black points on the dogs face. They are
around the eye rims, lips and on the nose. The ears also have
the black points and are triangular shaped and stand erect.
The coat is two fold. The under coat consist of short dense
hair. The outer coat grows through the undercoat with long
guard hair. This gives the dog a double coat. The hair should
lay flat with no waves or curls. Around the neck and chest the
coat is much thicker and forms a ruff similar to a loins. This
trait is more pronounced on a male than on the females. The
breech look, which is characteristic of the breed, is formed
around the back legs to the hocks and is covered in very thick
hair also. The tail is loosely carried on its back and is very
plum. The color of the American Eskimo dog should be pure
white, though white and biscuit cream is also allowed.
As a puppy the American Eskimo is a little on the conservative
side but is generally friendly. They are very intelligent and
highly alert. If being shown they can be penalized for either
aggressive behavior or being overly shy. If you want a watchdog
this is a good breed, due to its alertness they will bark when
someone is approaching. They do not general threaten to bite or
attack people, but they are protective of their area and family.
It is quick and eager to learn new tricks.
Though this breed is generally healthy there are a few things
it is susceptible to. Owners should pay close attention to any
changes in the tear ducts or eyes. Progressive retinal astrophy
and hip displaysia also run in this breed. To avoid dermatitis
keep the coat free of fleas and clean.
This dog is very active and is best suited for living in an
area with a yard where it can run and play. It can become
overweight very easily so regular exercise is a must. It would
be okay in an apartment as long as you had a place to exercise
them. You should brush the dog at least twice a week. Remember
it has a thick coat so you will need a comb or brush with
bristles that are firm. The breed is not really a heavy
shedder, but when it does shed its coat increase the brushing
frequency to daily. Wash only when needed.
About The Author: Lee Dobbins writes for
http://www.dogbreed s123.com where you can learn more about all
different dog breeds as well as read articles on dog health and
dog care.
