Dog Breeds-American Eskimo Dog

Other Names- American Eskimo Spitz, German Spitz, Deutscher Spitz.

Height- toys (9-12 inches), miniature (12-15 inches), standard (15-19 inches)

Weight- toys (6-10 pounds), miniature (10-20 pounds), standard (18-35 pounds)

Life Expectancy- 12 to 15 years, (some have been known to live 20 years)

Group- Non-Sporting (AKC)

Recognized By- ACR(American Canine Registry), CKC(Continental Kennel Club), AKC(American Kennel Club), NKC(National Kennel Club), APRI(American Pet Registry Inc.), UKC(United Kennel Club).

The American Eskimo comes from the United States. They are very close to the German Spitz in Germany. It is believed that the Keeshond and Samoyed are some of the breeds used in the development of the American Eskimo dog.

American Eskimo Dogs have a long dense coat always white or white and biscuit cream. They have brown eyes. Some have blue, but for those interested in showing their dog, this would be a disqualification. There are three varieties of this breed. Toys, miniatures, and standards.

A loyal, and loving companion, the American Eskimo Dog can make a great companion and watchdog. They are easy to train and very intelligent, but can like to have their own way, so it is important to start training early. They tend to take longer to mature, up to two years.This is a breed that should be socialized at early age with people and animals, to avoid aggressive tendancies later on.

This breed does well in apartments or houses with a small yard, provided they get enough exercise.

American Eskimo Dogs can be prone to the following:

• severe dermatitis and hot spots
• hip dysplasia
• progressive retinal atrophy
• cataracts
• epilepsy

The Eskie is an average shedder. Brushing once a week and more often when shedding is worse is recommended. An undercoat rake or a bristle brush is often used for this. Do not bathe too often as the Eskie has drier skin than alot of other breeds.