American Eskimo Dog or American Eskimo

Despite what its name may suggest, the development of the “American Eskimo Dog” had nothing to do with the indigenous peoples who are popularly known as ‘Eskimos’ and who inhabited the arctic regions of North America, Greenland and part of Siberia. In reality, the creation of American Eskimo dates back to the massive arrival of German immigrants to American shores during the 19th century, which would have a very significant impact on the development of the Midwest of the United States.

In addition to bringing with them their customs, religious practices, gastronomy and expertise in the brewing industry, many of these immigrants would become farmers in the US and would begin to ‘import’ different breeds of German dogs to help them in the work in the country. field and in the protection of their animals and properties. Among them, some beautiful examples of German Spitz stood out with a beautiful white coat, which were already used in German lands as “farm dogs” and which, according to the AKC, were the direct ancestors of the modern eskie .

However, keeping this breed of dog in American fields would become very expensive for farmers at the end of the 19th century, at the same time that traveling shows multiplied throughout the country and interest in incorporating attractive-looking dogs grew. and easy to train in their numbers. Thus, at the beginning of the 20th century, white-coated spitz dogs would begin to tour the United States alongside circuses, vaudeville companies and Wild West shows.

Due to their remarkable beauty, the agility and elegance of their movements, and their great intelligence, the white-coated German Spitz quickly gained a lot of popularity not only among traveling performers, but also among spectators who were enchanted by their skills during shows. . This would lead to the need to obtain a greater number of individuals with similar characteristics, and it is assumed that this was the reason why different types of spitz dogs began to be crossed, carefully selected for their entirely white coat, until reaching the appearance of the american eskimo dog

A curious fact is that the breed would only begin to be called ‘American Eskimo’ after the First World War , since in the United States there was a great rejection of everything that referred to Germany and German culture. So, a new name was sought that would highlight the American origins of these beautiful dogs and it is said that the current nomenclature that refers to the Eskimos would have been used for the first time in a kennel specialized in spitz dogs in Ohio City.

Another curiosity is that, despite having a long and interesting history in the United States, eskies were only recognized by the AKC in 1995.

At first glance, the American Eskimo looks relatively similar to the Samoyed , which is also related to the primitive Spitz dogs, but has originated in Japan and far exceeds the Eskies in size. Likewise, the official standard published by the AKC mentions three varieties or types of American Eskimo dogs that are classified according to their size and body proportions.

Thus, the sizes of the American Eskimo dog or American Eskimo are:

• Toy : from 9 inches or 22.8 cm to 12 inches or 30.5 cm.
• Miniature : between 12 inches or 30.5 cm to 15 inches or 38 cm.
• Standard : from 15 inches or 38 cm to 19 inches or 48.3 cm.

In all cases, it is a dog with balanced proportions, with well-developed muscles and a compact body build . The so-called ‘Nordic style’ is observed not only in its coat, but in its entire morphology, and especially in its face and head, where we see triangular ears and distinctive black dots on the lips, nose and the edges of the oval eyes. and brown in color that are well separated from each other and highlight an alert expression.

The cranial region has a moderate wedge shape, being wider in the region between the ears and tapering as it approaches the snout, which is wide and whose length should not exceed the length of the skull. The stop (naso-frontal depression) is well defined, but is not abrupt .

In the mouths of American Eskimo dogs we find strong jaws and a scissors or pincer bite. The lips are already thin and tight, with a dark brown or black pigment, just like the dog’s nose.

American Eskimo Dog Colors

The coat of the American Esmikal is always completely white and is made up of a double layer of hair, the outer layer being softer and smoother (without a curly or wavy appearance), while the inner ‘coat’ is dense and short . In addition, the hairs become thicker and longer in the chest region and around the neck, forming a lion’s mane or ruff, which is more developed in males than in females. And in both sexes, we observe the characteristic ‘breeches’ that extend on the hind legs to the hocks.

It should be remembered that the presence of other colors or patterns on a dog’s coat does not determine its beauty, much less its personality and behavior. Therefore, if you have adopted an Eskie who turns out to be not “100% pure”, you will still be able to enjoy a best friend of great intelligence and loyalty.

What is the American Eskimal puppy like?

Like adult individuals, American Eskimo Dog puppies are very similar to Samoyed puppies, but their characteristic mane and breeches are not visible in younger individuals, as these distinctive features of their coat develop as they age. the dog is growing.

But, beyond appearances, the most important thing is that they are clear that childhood is the most determining period for the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of any and all dogs. And the first step to ensure that your American Eskimo puppy can develop fully and optimally is not to separate him prematurely from his mother , as she will be responsible for teaching him the basic principles of social behavior and communication in dogs, as well as the limits of the game.

Furthermore, the first months of life are the ideal time to begin the socialization of the American Eskimo Dog, which will be key to developing its self-confidence and giving it more resources to interact positively with a diversity of environments, stimuli and individuals. Here at AnimalWised we tell you everything you need to know about ” Dog Socialization “.

The American Eskimo Dog is an alert and lively dog ​​that pays close attention to everything that happens around it, but does not tend to bark excessively or react unexpectedly, although it may appear somewhat distant or even distrustful of others. the presence of strange people and animals. Which is why it is so important to properly socialize your American Eskimo Dog to promote more stable behavior and quality interactions throughout its life.

As we have seen, Eskies historically stood out for their great predisposition to training. In fact, they are dogs that respond very well to positive reinforcement and, when they enjoy a positive bond with their guardians, they make no effort to please them. Consequently, with good motivation, they are capable of easily learning a large number of obedience commands, dog sports and tricks in general.

American Eskimos are not prone to shy or fearful behavior, but rather tend to be very self-confident. Therefore, both excessive insecurity and shyness are usually the result of poor socialization and/or exposure to counterproductive educational methods (for example, physical punishment ) or other forms of physical or psychological violence.

Adopting an eskie dog will, without a doubt, be a source of great joy in your life, but it also means assuming responsibility for a decent quality of life, paying particular attention to the following basic guidelines:

• Food : regardless of the type of food you decide to offer your furry friend, it is essential that it completely meets the nutritional requirements of his age. Furthermore, having free and assured access to fresh, drinkable water is key to ensuring good hydration, which is crucial for the optimal functioning of your entire body.
• Exercise : Although they are quite calm on a day-to-day basis, Eskies have a lot of energy and like to enjoy outdoor activities . For this reason, we recommend that, beyond doing the three ‘basic’ daily walks with your best friend, you evaluate the benefits of introducing him to a canine sport, such as Agility , Frisbee, mushing or canicross if you are also a dog lover. running. We are not only talking about physical exercise, but we also have to understand mental stimulation in dogs. A dog that has a sedentary routine in an impoverished environment is much more likely to develop symptoms of stress and behavioral problems associated with destructiveness and aggression. Try to introduce intelligence games to your dog regularly and enrich his environment so that he can entertain and exercise himself even when he is left alone at home.
• Hygiene : in terms of coat care, maintaining the beautiful white coat of the American Eskimo Dog requires at least two or three weekly brushings to avoid the accumulation of dead hairs and impurities in its coat. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to brush him daily during shedding periods. On the other hand, baths should only be given on occasions where it is really necessary to do a deep cleaning of your best friend’s hair and skin, since in excess they can weaken their health by eliminating the natural layer of fat that covers and protects her body. And whenever you want to bathe your dog at home, remember to use natural products or products suitable for canine use. On the other hand, you also have to take care of your oral hygiene . The accumulation of food residue between the teeth and gums is responsible for most of the common dental problems in dogs, which begin with the formation of tartar and can lead to painful diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. To prevent them, it is essential to regularly brush your best friend’s teeth and you can also evaluate the benefits of offering him a BARF or raw diet .

We will also have to take into account his preventive medicine , that is, apply the essential vaccines with the correct frequency, do periodic deworming to prevent infestations of internal and external parasites, and take him to the veterinarian once or twice a year to verify his health status. health.

Last but not least, keep in mind the basic freedoms of animal welfare . And one of the most important has to do with freedom of expression, that is, allowing your dog to express himself and act as what he is, a dog, without subjecting him to any humanization practice or systematic rebuke of his instinctive behaviors. . In this sense, the key is that you understand that, as a tutor, you are responsible for teaching your best friend what it means to “behave well” before reprimanding him for “behaving badly,” as well as choosing the most beneficial and safe methods with this prop&oacu.

Training a dog is a gradual process that should begin upon arrival at home , and ideally in its first months of life (although the same “rule” applies if you adopt an adult dog). If you don’t know where to start, at AnimalWised we tell you ” How to train a dog from a puppy? “.

Also during ‘infancy’, and preferably before the third or fourth month of life, it is highly recommended that you begin to socialize your puppy , to allow him to assimilate a greater diversity of friendly species and a greater number of resources to manage his own emotions. For safety, it is best to start by introducing your little eskie only to other dogs and animals that you know are healthy, vaccinated and dewormed, as well as to people who are not part of his family, in your own home or in a safe environment.

Once the mandatory vaccination schedule for puppies has been completed and the first internal and external deworming has been carried out, you can begin to walk your puppy through streets, parks and other outdoor places so that he can interact with a greater diversity of individuals, environments and stimuli. Likewise, if you have not had the opportunity to socialize your dog at the most appropriate age, here are our best ” Socialization Tips for Adult Dogs .”

This will also be the perfect opportunity to teach your puppy to eliminate outside and begin to introduce him to some basic obedience commands to stimulate his intelligence and encourage more balanced behavior inside and outside the home. If you would like to train your dog at home (and we strongly recommend that you do so), remember to start with the simplest commands and always work on them one by one until your furry friend is able to reproduce them fluently, in short training sessions ( 10 to 15 minutes) . And if you need more advice, be sure to take a look at our article “ What a dog training session should be like ”.

At ExpertoAnimal, we are committed to promoting responsible ownership and we do not support any activity that involves the breeding or exploitation of animals for economic or ‘entertainment’ purposes , because we defend their rights and understand that abandonment is a sad reality that hits home. strongly to almost all countries, severely affecting animal welfare and public health.

For this reason, if you are interested in adopting a dog with characteristics similar to those of an eskie, we recommend that you contact animal shelters or shelters near your place of residence to schedule a visit and learn about the dogs available for adoption. There you will have a good chance of finding a best friend who is compatible with your personality and who will also be an extremely loyal and grateful companion