American Eskimo dog

Almost fifty years ago, there was a circus trainer, Caleb Thompson, who toured the United States and Canada with two primary animal acts that featured white horses and small white dogs. He bred these animals, raised them and then trained them on his Ranch in Nebraska.

The breed of dogs that were featured in his circus acts were the American Eskimo dogs, which is in fact a tiny spitz dog with a colorful and convoluted history. With a typical northern-dog type of appearance, the American Eskimo has a bright and appealing temperament and is very fast in picking up tricks. With its beautiful snowy coat, the American Eskimo is a favorite amongst circus audiences.

Many different types of spitz dogs came to the United States along with German immigrants towards the end of the 19th century, but the real development of the American Eskimo has been lost in records. However, the breed undeniably came from Germany and is not as some people claim, a ‘miniature Samoyed’.

The American Eskimo dog became the official name during the first World War, at which time any reference to Germany was considered to be anathema in the Allied Nations.

Appearance
The American Eskimo dog has a well-proportioned body, pointed muzzle, triangular ears and rounded tips, double coat, small eyes, curled tail and a steady and smooth gait. Although they are mainly bred as domestic dogs and companions, the Eskimo dog looks more like a sled dog and is also at home in ice cold temperatures and snow.

White is generally the preferred color, although cream or biscuit marking are also acceptable. The dog’s body should be compact and strong, with ribs that are well sprung, a deep chest and a straight and muscular loin and back. Like with most other Nordic dogs, the feet should generally be tight with tough pads. The tail has long hair and curls over the dogs back; a tight curl is considered to be a fault in American Eskimos.

The coat is thicker in the males than in the females and is thickest around the neck. The undercoat is soft and thick, and when the dog starts to shed, it will send soft tufts of fur wafting through the air. The topcoat on the other hand, is stiffer and longer and forms a protective layer from extreme weather conditions.

Breed disqualifications would include blue eyes and deafness.

Caring for your American Eskimo dog
The American Eskimo dog is an alert, bright and intelligent dog that is more than willing to guard his family when the situation calls for it. With such high-energy levels, the dog can become destructive and noisy if not kept busy. However, a well-bred Eskimo is a well-mannered city dog as long as he gets his morning and evening walks.

He enjoys human company, his owners as well as that of others, and he also ahs a penchant for playing games and learning new tricks, making him a good companion for any family. The Eskimo is considered to be a good breed by novice dog breeders and owners. However, unfortunately, the breed has indeed suffered greatly at the hands of ignorant backyard breeders and puppy farms and many of these dogs are bred with absolutely no regard for their temperament. A badly bred Eskimo can be nervous and high-strung, painfully shy and yappy.

The coat will need a brushing down a couple of times every week to prevents tangles and mats, especially around the tail and ears. Eskimos can shed a great deal at least once a year.

This breed is a long-lived breed with very few problems that have been identified. Even though the breed is anywhere between small to medium sized, the stock should be x rayed to check for hip dysplasia. Flea allergies can be a problem, as can urinary tract stones.

The Eskimo needs to be trained and must be trained with consistency and kindness. The breed however, is unforgiving of harsher methods and can turn into a troublemaker or a shrinking puppy if not treated firmly and fairly.

It is important to be around the dog throughout the day. Eskimos need at least an hour of vigorous exercising every day and they should never be left alone when you are out vacationing. They become very destructive if they are left isolated for long periods. They require a lot of love and attention. The breed needs a large home and backyard. They can adjust to apartments only if they spend a large part of the day outdoors. They are as active indoors as they are outdoors and should have plenty of toys to play with.