The American Eskimo Dog is a breed that can be traced back to the German spitz and originated in the United States, where it was bred as a guard dog and companion. It is an energetic dog, noted for its intelligence and trainability. One of its most distinctive characteristics is its fox-like face, with a curved tail and pointed ears.
General details
The breed has three different varieties of dogs, with different weights and heights. The toy variety weighs between 3 and 4.5 kilograms and measures between 23 and 30 centimeters. The miniature variety weighs between 4.5 and 9 kilograms and measures between 30 and 38 centimeters. Finally, the standard variety ranges between 11 and 16 kilograms and between 38 and 48 centimeters. Their life expectancy is 13 to 15 years and they are not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).
Breed history in brief
The American Eskimo Dog breed is believed to be descended from German Spitz type dogs that were brought to the United States by German immigrants. This breed was developed in the United States in the early 20th century and it should be noted that it shows no relation to the Eskimo people despite its name "eskimo".
In the 1930s and 1940s, the American Eskimo Dog gained much popularity and began to be used in circus performances as part of the show. During World War II, this breed also served as a guard dog for the U.S. Army. However, in the 1950s its popularity declined, but increased again in the 1970s as a companion animal. Today, it is a popular family pet due to its intelligence and affectionate personality.
Breed characteristics
The American Eskimo Dog comes in three small to medium size varieties: toy, miniature and standard. The body is strong and compact with a deep chest extending to the point of the elbows. The head is wedge-shaped with slightly oval eyes set wide apart. The eye coloration is normally dark or medium-light brown. The ears are triangular, erect and set high. The tail is set slightly high and lies loosely on the back, although it can be dropped when at rest.
The coat is thick and consists of two layers: a dense, woolly undercoat and an outer layer of longer, smoother hair. The coat is thicker and longer around the neck and chest, and this characteristic is more noticeable in males than in females. The rump and hind legs, down to the hocks, are also covered with a thicker and longer coat. The accepted color in this breed is white or cream, although it has distinctive black points on the lips, nose and eye rims.
Intelligence, energy and high trainability are typical characteristics of the American Eskimo Dog. In addition, it is a protective dog with its home and family, although it does not threaten to bite or attack people. It is an affectionate, friendly breed with a great desire to please its owners.
Common health problems
As with other dog breeds, American Eskimo Dogs tend to be prone to health problems. Some of the most common disorders and diseases are hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, testicular retention and epilepsy.
In addition to the above conditions, the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends a cardiac and ocular screening examination, as well as a series of tests to assess diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome.
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