The American Eskimo (nicknamed "Eskie") is recognized by its beautiful appearance, and the striking contrast of the black nose, eyes and lips against a bright white coat. Eskies are energetic, alert and loyal dogs that quickly bond with their family. It is said that as long as they are with their family they are content.
Eskies belong to the "Spitz" family of dogs, which is one of the oldest breeds, and can be traced back to the peat dogs of the New Stone Age Lake Dwellers. Eskies have always been bred to be a companion and watchdog, and therefore make wonderful pets. They are good with well-behaved children, and get along well with other pets, especially other Eskies!
Due to their protective natures, eskies can tend to be aggressive towards strangers, so training and socialization should begin as soon as possible. Eskies take well to training, as demonstrated by the fact that they were commonly used as circus performers. Training however must be done with kindness and consistency. The breed is unforgiving of harsh methods and a mishandled Eskie could turn into a shrinking violet. An untrained eskie however, or one that does not receive fair and consistent training will quickly turn into a trouble maker.
| Standard | Miniature | Toy | |
| SIZE: | 15 in. to 19 in. | 12 in. to 15 in. | 9 in. to 12 in. |
| WEIGHT: | 20 - 27lbs. | 10 - 20lbs. | 6 - 10lbs. |
| ENERGY LEVEL: | High - Eskies are an active bouncy breed that needs regular exercise and attention. | ||
| LIVING SPACE: | Apartment - Eskies are well adapted to living in apartments, but they need long daily walks or free rein in a fenced backyard. Eskies enjoy active exercise and roughhousing. | ||
| INDOOR ACTIVITY: | Very Active - Eskies are highly social and need consistent attention. | ||
| OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: | Active - Eskies require long daily walks or free rein in a securely fenced yard. Eskies love the cold weather and are quite content to sit with the wind in their face on a cold wintry day. | ||
| SHEDDING: | High - Eskies have a thick off-standing double coat and a bushy tail. The undercoat is dense, and the outer coat is made up of straight guard hairs. | ||
| GROOMING: | High - The Eskimo coat needs brushing a couple of times each week to prevent mats and tangles, particularly around the ears and the tail. A pin brush with blunt pins is suitable for regular brushing; a mat rake will be needed if the coat is allowed to tangle. The Eskie coat is easier to maintain than you may think as it easily repels dirt, and has no doggie odour. Bathing should be done once a month, or as required. More frequent bathing is not necessary, and could cause dry skin. | ||
| OBEDIENCE LEVEL: | Good - Eskies are quick to learn, and eager to please. Obedience classes are a must for Eskies. Without proper socialization Eskies can become aggressive to other dogs and strangers, and an Eskie which is not taught the proper household manners will quickly become a trouble maker. | ||
| LEARNING RATE: | Very High - Eskies have an incredible ability to learn and an overwhelming desire to please. | ||
| DOMINANCE LEVEL: | Intermediate - An Eskie will happily fit into any household and will gladly serve his master, but must be shown how. | ||
| WATCHDOG RATING: | High - An Eskie will bark to alert owners to strangers. This will include: the mailman, meter readers, paperboy, anyone walking in front of your house, anyone within sight, or anyone who can be heard, but not seen.... | ||
| AGGRESSIVENESS: | Mild - Eskie are generally not aggressive dogs, however they will try to protect their families. | ||
| STRANGERS: | Wary - Eskie are very wary of strangers, and usually take awhile before they warm up to someone new. | ||
| CHILDREN: | Good - Eskies make good family pets when they have been properly socialized around children. | ||
| OTHER PETS: | Good - Eskies get along well with other animals, though there will be an initial period of adjustment, as expected whenever introducing two new animals. | ||
| HEALTH ISSUES: | Hip Dysplasia, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy are 2 known concerns with this breed. | ||
| LIFE SPAN: | 12-15 years | ||
Eskies are a very wonderful breed of dog, but are not the right type of dog for everyone. Eskies are strong minded, shed large amounts of white hair, even with regular grooming, LOVE to bark, and must be a part of your family. If you think an Eskie might be the right dog for you, please read the Eskie Rules for Human Companions.
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