| The American Eskimo Dog is loving, alert, beautiful, | | | | dry so they should not be bathed more than one |
| agile, highly intelligent, friendly, social, curious and | | | | every two or three months. All dogs should have |
| strong. She makes an excellent protective watch dog | | | | their teeth brushed once a week. *Grooming. The |
| but is not threatening or aggressive. It has a white or | | | | thick coat is easy to groom, brush twice a week |
| cream straight outer coat, with dense undercoat. | | | | with firm bristle. They are a medium shedder, one in |
| There is a lion appearance as the coat is longer and | | | | May or June and then again in November and |
| thicker around the chest and neck. It has a thick tail | | | | December. Many owners use an undercoat rake to |
| carried on the back. Blue eyes in this breed is | | | | groom which is available online or at better stocked |
| considered a defect and a problem of ill health or bad | | | | pet stores. *Life Span. They can live 12 to 14 years |
| breeding. She will do well in an apartment as long as | | | | with proper nutrition and care, although there are |
| she can get frequent long walks. A properly fenced | | | | cases of 20 year life spans. *History. The American |
| yard is always preferable. She was bred to be a | | | | Eskimo Dog derives from the ancient Spitz family. |
| family dog and they need plenty of family attention. | | | | Hailing from the coastal regions Germany, these dogs |
| She is excellent with children. Of course, never leave | | | | were traded throughout Europe. This family dogs |
| very young children alone with any dog for any | | | | probably came to America with German immigrants. |
| length of time, long or short, without adult | | | | They were used as family pets, watch dogs and |
| supervision. The American Eskimo Dog is often called | | | | circus animals. Circuses would sell puppies after |
| a Spitz in America. The Spitz refers to a group of | | | | performances and this the breed was spread |
| breeds, not an individual breed. He is also nicknamed | | | | throughout the US. They became popular during the |
| the Spitz, which again is not a breed but a group of | | | | 1930s and 1940s. They are known as the German |
| breeds including the Pomeranian, Samoyed, Shiba Inu, | | | | Spitz in Germany. They were renamed during World |
| Siberian Husky and Finnish Spitz. *Approximate Adult | | | | War I to remove their national origin since we were |
| Size. There are three sizes of the American Eskimo | | | | at war with Germany. They were recognized as a |
| Dog, Toy, Miniature and Standard. The Toy runs | | | | breed in 1913. SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Good with |
| from 9 to 12 inches to the withers (tallest point of | | | | children. Highly intelligent. Very obedient. Good |
| the back), the Miniature runs 12 to 15 inches to the | | | | watchdog. Can be protective but rarely will bite. Do |
| withers and the Standard runs 15 inches to19 inches | | | | not smell like a dog. They groom themselves. Easily |
| to the withers. *Special Health Considerations. The | | | | trained, especially early. *SPECIAL BAD POINTS They |
| American Eskimo Dog, like many large dogs, are | | | | love to bark. Can be willful. Prone to weight gain. |
| prone to hip dysplasia, flea allergies, hot spots, | | | | Responds very poorly to harsh treatment. Can take |
| cataracts, epilepsy, patellar luxation, and | | | | long to mature, up to two years. Must be trained |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. They have no tolerance | | | | early as a puppy. Can develop bad habits if not |
| for fleas and can develop severe flea allergies which | | | | stimulated. |
| can result in painful skin lesions. Their skin is naturally | | | | |