American Eskimos

Description

The American Eskimo is a small-to-medium-sized breed that is known for its stark white to cream-colored coat. It looks a great deal like a small Samoyed, but comes in three different sizes. The toy, miniature and standard American Eskimo are all known for having a wedge-shaped head with an equally proportioned muzzle and skull. They have triangular ears that stand erect and a beautifully full tail that curls up over their backs in regal fashion. Their jaws are generally quite strong with close fitting teeth. They are known for having a scissors or pincer bite.

Although the American Eskimo sometimes has blue eyes, this is considered a negative trait in the show world. Blue-eyed Eskies are subject to health problems, such as blindness. Inasmuch, brown eyes are considered the mark of good breeding and good health.

The American Eskimo is known for being a very good companion dog. It is beloved for its intelligence, alertness and spunk. The breed is considered very active and quite loving. They are compact, but built with balance and agility. They are considered quite spirited, but are thought to be very good all-around pets for apartments as well as homes as long as they are properly exercised.

The American Eskimo is believed to have descended from the German Spitz. The name of the breed is thought to have been changed as a result of anti-German sentiment. The breed itself gained much notoriety during the 1930s and 1940s as performance animals in circuses. They are quite adept at learning and mastering tricks, such as walking on a tightrope, which makes them wonderful performers. Although they can and do perform tricks well, this breed is not known for being overly motivated. Training of an American Eskimo needs to begin early and must be delivered with patience.

With its compact size, intelligence and loyalty, the American Eskimo is considered an ideal pet and even a guard dog by many. Its natural agility and alterness combine to make this a very good household breed. Training of an American Eskimo should begin early. They tend to excel in agility training, but they are not overly inclined to perform in all cases. Proper training methods are a must to overcome this.

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Coat Description

The American Eskimo is characterized by its double coat that includes a very dense undercoat and a longer coat of hair that grows through it to form the outer coat. The coat of this breed is straight, without curls or waves. The breed has a ruff around the neck that is generally much more noticeable on dogs rather than bitches. The outer ears are typically covered with smooth, short hairs and have longer tufts that grow from in front of the ear openings themselves. Muzzle hair is typically very short and smooth. The backs of the front legs, rear legs and hock are typically feathered. The tail is generally very full and curls up onto the dog's back.

History

The American Eskimo is thought to have descended from the German Spitz, which was brought into the Americas by immigrants. The breed's name likely changed during World War I because of anti-German sentiment.

The American Eskimo became highly popular in the 1920s and 1930s as traveling circuses showcased their performance talent. Adept at walking a tightrope, these little dogs became a big hit for the likes of Barnum & Bailey.

The Eskie breed was first fully recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995, but the American Eskimo Dog Club of America had been in existence since the 1980s.

Although they gained renowned as performers, most American Eskimos are kept simply as pets. They do tend to place very well in shows, however, and are quite good with obedience trails.

Temperament

American Eskimos of any size are considered very intelligent, alert and active dogs. They are quite capable and willing to defend and guard their family when it's called for. They are generally very good companion dogs for individuals or even full families. They get along swimmingly with children who are well-behaved. Most tend to do very well with company once proper introductions have been given.

This breed does have a very high energy level, which can present problems for those who cannot properly exercise their Eskie on a regular basis. It is very important for these dogs to get the love, affection and attention they crave. These dogs thrive on having something to do. When an American Eskimo is left to its own devices for too long, they can become a little noisy and even a bit destructive. When proper exercise is a part of routine, destructive tendencies tend to be kept in check rather well.

Despite some precautions, the breed is considered as ideal for city-living as it is country dwelling. Properly training and exercising an American Eskimo will generally prevent any disciplinary problems this breed might present. Since they are typically compact, even in the standard size, they can thrive in small places easily.

Although they resist "working," the American Eskimo can be highly trained to perform tricks, stunts or simply just behave. The breed tends to show very well in obedience trials. Individual Eskies might have a stubbon streak, but most can be coaxed into proper training and playing.

On the guard dog front, this breed is considered ideal for homes because of its natural wary behavior around strangers. They have been known to refuse entry to those they do not know. Most American Eskimos, however, make fast friends with strangers as soon as their owners properly introduce them. They are quick to bark at people and things outside that do not belong.

American Eskimos that are well-trained, well-loved and well-exercised are considered perfect the companions and are even ideal for shows and breeding. They are quite loyal, love attention and will aim to please their owners. They might need firm guidance now and again, but their temperament overall is considered ideal for novice dog owners to handle. They are not overly difficult to train.

Health Problems

Typically a very healthy breed, the American Eskimo does have the potential for some medical conditions that might be a concern:

hip dysplasia: Also known as, Canine hip dysplasia (CHD), this condition can cause mild to severe lameness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This tends to start with night blindness, and slowly becomes total blindness. Eyesight concerns are also strong in Eskies with blue eyes. The trait, although beautiful, is considered a sign of poor Health and poor Breeding for this reason.

Weight concerns: This breed can be subject to weight problems if proper Exercise does not remain a part of everyday scheduling. Diet and exercise should be a primary concern with this breed.

Grooming

The American Eskimo is renowned for its rather thick snow-white or cream-colored coat. It is easy to groom, but grooming must be kept up with for this to be so. The Eskie needs to be fully groomed at least twice a week to maintain its appearance and keep its coat free from mats. When it is shedding, a daily brushing is in order. The breed is considered "average" on the shedding scale.

It is considered wise to fully comb out or brush an Eskie's coat a minimum of two times a week. Doing this will keep its coat looking beautiful. A coat like the American Eskimo has can easily become tangled and matted if a proper brushing routine isn't established and maintained.

Bathe Eskies on an as-needed basis. It is not necessary to bathe these dogs on a regular basis. Wait for them to feel or look like they need it to avoid drying out their skin.

Make sure to use shampoo that has been created for dogs. Human shampoo might smell nice, but a dog's skin tends to be rather sensitive.

Do take care to clean out their ears and remove hair, dirt and any wax build up that is troublesome. It is wise to inspect them closely for fleas and ticks in season and take steps to prevent infestations.

Unless American Eskimos are run on hard surfaces frequently, they will require nail care. Their paws should be inspected regularly and nails trimmed as needed.

Although they do have a very dense coat, Eskies are not generally considered difficult to groom. Basic, routine maintenance of their coats tends to keep them looking quite beautiful.

Exercise

American Eskimos are chock-full of energy inside and out. They are known for being extremely active dogs and must get adequate exercise on a daily basis. If they are not properly exercised and entertained, this breed is known for being a bit noisy and destructive. Tiring them out with a good exercise routine can help prevent chewed furniture, shoes and so on. It can also help prevent neighbors from complaining about excessive barking.

A perfect workout for an Eskie involves at the very least a good, long daily walk. At least 20 to 45 minutes on the leash is not a bad idea each day. This can be broken up into two daily walks to keep energy level under control. If walks are not possible, Eskies can tire themselves out playing in an enclosed back yard. Find a favorite toy, such as a ball, and an owner will get to see just how much energy even the smallest Eskie has.

Eskies love to play and run and tend to do very well with both agility and obedience training, which can double as exercise. Eskies are also known for their ability to perform tricks, so some spirited fun might also be in order.

If daily exercise routine doesn't seem to be keeping the energy level under control, consider adding more to it. The more active an Eskie is kept, the happier it will be. Just try to keep a routine or schedule in place. This can help greatly when an owner has to be away on a daily basis.

Training

American Eskimos are considered incredibly smart, but that doesn't mean they are easy to train. It is suggested that training in basic housebreaking, obedience and agility, if desired, begin as quickly as possible after an Eskie is brought home.

These dogs are quite intelligent and they love to please, but not all of them enjoy working. Proper training techniques are a must to coax the reluctant into performing well.

Many Eskie owners opt for organized training classes for obedience, agility and showing. These classes can help ensure that proper training techniques are being used.

A natural mistrust of strangers is common in this breed, but unbridled aggression is not. Aggression problems can be avoided entirely in most cases, if proper training begins in the puppy stage and is reinforced throughout an Eskie's life.

Eskie's sometimes have performance anxiety and do need to be coaxed into training correctly. A gentle, but firm command of the animal is necessary to overcome this problem.

When obedience problems are present with this breed, consistent reinforcement of proper behavior is generally the way to go. Eskie's are smart and they can comprehend commands, tricks and behaviors very easily.