They require a daily dose of exercise to stay healthy and are often very playful. Despite its appearance the American Eskimo dog is not a descendant of the Husky, and despite its name it is not American either. This breed was however immensely popular in the U.S.A. when it did arrive there, especially during the 1930s and 1940s.
It also appeared as a circus performer as early as 1917 at the Cooper Brother's Railroad Circus, which was most defiantly not a common occupation for any dog breeds. 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 except that the AKC allows the toy size and the UKC does not.
The American Eskimo Dog comes in three sizes - toy, miniature and standard. All sizes are relatively small, the biggest of them only about 15-19 inches high.
The toy size is indeed a size like any other artificial stuffed animal, and the dogs even resemble the fluffy artificially created stuffed animals you see often in shops. Their fur is always thick and profuse, and usually looks very nice.
The dog has great characteristics as well and is loving, loyal and good with children at a relatively understanding age. American Eskimo Dogs live in average between 12 and 14 years, though make it past 20 years or more. This breed is a fairly healthy breed, although close attention should be paid to its eyes and tear ducts.
They are prone to hip dysplasia, Elbow and Knee degeneration, patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, epilepsy, urinary stones and allergies and especially flea allergies that can lead to acute moist dermatitis.
These terms may seem foreign to those who don't know what diseases they specify, but most of them are common disorders that appear as the dog grows older.
One thing you might want to pay particular attention to is that this breed has a tendency to develop severe allergies to fleas. One single flea on them can result in frantic scratching and gnawing on its skin, which gives painful "hot spots" and skin lesions.
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 a very intelligent dog and need to be stimulated. When their intelligence is not stimulated or they are ignored, they can even develop behavior issues and start acting strangely.
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.