Is the Eskie Right for YOU?

The American Eskimo carries the nickname "Eskie" and is perhaps the most beautiful of all dog breeds. Its' white coat, striking black points, erect fur-tufted ears and plume tail command instant attention. The American Eskimo is a well balanced, typical model of a Nordic type working dog. The body is proportioned and balanced. The face is Nordic type with triangular ears, which are slightly rounded at the tips, and readily distinguished black points, (nose, lips, and eye rims.) The carriage is alert and smooth. The coat should be thick, especially around the neck and shoulders, forming a lion-like mane. The rump and hind legs down to the hock are also thickly coated, forming the characteristic trousers. The ruff and long outer guard hair are more prominent on males than females. The richly plumed tail is carried over the back. They should present a picture of beauty, alertness, strength, agility, and intelligence.

CHOOSING AN ESKIE

Realizing that an American Eskimo can live an average of 15 years (or more,) it is evident that you must make your choice carefully. If you simply want to stick the dog in your yard and forget him, this breed is not for you. The ancestors of the Eskie were dogs who lived, ate, slept with and served their masters. The distinctive factor which sets the American Eskimo apart from the rest is that he wants to be "people." His understanding of human tone and words is outstanding. He will become so much like a human member of the family that he will virtually take over your home if you let him. He is alert and quick to please. If trained correctly from the beginning, a firm "NO" may be all that is necessary.

Because he is protective, his first concern is his master and his master's property. He makes an excellent watchdog because he is incorruptible, but to his family, he is ever loyal and affectionate. The tendency to stray is minimized because of the importance he feels for his master and his master's house and property. However, he will make the neighborhood his territory if he is not taught his boundaries or confined to a space in the yard. He gets pleasure out of performing guard duty and sounding a barking alarm; but he can get carried away with his vocalization and become a nuisance if left to his own devices. The Eskie is a very active type of dog whose sense of curiosity and adventure make them comparable to a toddling child in white dog fur. Their intelligence and intellect are superb, but if they are not allowed to integrate and become an active part of the family with rewarding "jobs" to do, boredom will set in, and his creative mind can turn to unwelcome mischief.

Eskies are fun loving dogs that enjoy running and playing. They are gentle and playful with children, make excellent companions, and will bark to announce anything amiss or someone they feel is an intruder. As a breed, they are remarkably alert, lively, pleasing in their demeanor towards people. Eskies always adapt to the personalities of each household member, however, he is usually reserved and mistrustful of strangers in the master's home.

The American Eskimo is surprisingly easy to train. They were once used extensively as performing dogs. "PR" Stout's Pal Pierre was from a long line of American Eskimos used in Barnum and Bailey's Circus acts. Pierre's grandfather was the first known dog in the world to walk a tight rope. Eskies like to work and are happiest when they have a "job" to do; the attention and praise they receive is their reward. Most Eskies are eager to please their Master, but can sometimes be a little strong willed or stubborn. Eskies quickly master tasks and tricks, and do very well in obedience work.

Grooming the American Eskimo is not as difficult as one might expect. Their coat sheds dirt because of a natural oil which repels soiling. Also, being white, they don't have a noticeable "doggy odor", except when wet. Males shed or "blow" their coat once every 12 to 18 months; females will shed coat twice a year, about 2 months after each heat season. There are times when the Eskie will shed both the guard coat and the undercoat, stripping down to practically skin and bone. This is a normal part of the hair growth cycle (which occurs more frequently for females than males) and the dog should be brushed with a wire pin brush regularly to allow the new coat to grow in. Regular brushing will help reduce the effects of shedding. No special trimming or clipping is mandatory with the American Eskimo. As they do not have rear dew claws, no special docking is required. They are a completely natural dog.

As a breed, the American Eskimo enjoys excellent health. Cases of hip dysplasia are rare, and various diseases and defects that affect many other breeds are not prominent. The most common complaints are hyperactivity, tear stains, and snow-nose. Hyperactivity stems from a poor breeding program, tear staining is more prevalent in miniatures and toys and is dependent on the adequacy of the tear ducts, as well as muzzle shape. Fading nose color is predominant in all light coated breeds and is dependent on the amount of melanin in the skin pigment. (The more melanin, the darker the pigment.)

Size: According to UKC rules, Standard Males are 15"-19", and Standard Females are 14"-18." Miniature Males are 12"-15", Miniature Females are 11"-14". Height is measured from the floor to the top of the shoulder or withers. According to AEDCA rules, (the AKC parent club) height rules for both males and females are as follows: Standards are 15"-19", miniatures are 12"-15", and Toys are 9"-12."

CHOOSING YOUR ESKIE

The most important element in choosing your American Eskimo is 'where' you get the dog from. Deal with a knowledgeable and reputable breeder or rescue who gives all of the dogs daily attention. Happy, well adjusted dogs make the best pets. When a dog that has not had much human contact is confined just to kennel space, it may develop personality problems relating to other people and animals, especially if the bloodline is predisposed to poor behavior and social traits. These problems can lead to abnormal behavior patterns such as excessive chewing and destructiveness, shyness, hostility towards people and/or other animals, or trouble in adjusting to family life, such as fear of certain types of people, sounds, or objects, soiling the house, etc. A reputable breeder/rescuer will educate you on the behavior traits to expect, and will be there to help you understand and deal with any problems that arise.

It is unwise to breed an excessively shy, hyperactive, or hostile dog due to the fact that such predispositions are likely to be inherited by the offspring and passed down through further generations. Such dogs should be neutered/spayed.

Reputable Breeders

If you get your dog from a breeder ask about the personalities and dispositions of the parents and the grandparents. A good breeder will be happy to supply you with such information, as well as discuss what they hope to accomplish in the breeding and to what degree they have been successful. They should show you the strengths and weaknesses of each pup they have available. Good breeders will also have a schedule of worming and vaccinations, provide a guarantee against health and congenital defects, and use a high quality premium dog feed. Ask to see the pedigree. Even though you may not know the dogs listed, there are tip-offs to poor breeding practices. Check to see if closely related dogs have been bred; Father to daughter inbreeding is readily apparent. Sibling matings can be spotted by registration numbers that differ by the last digit in sequence. Ask the breeder how that breeding fits in with the breeder's goals. Is it apparent that they are trying to improve the breed? The breeder that is unable to provide you with information about some of the ancestors, or describe their goals, or give information about their bloodlines is apt to breed indiscriminately, rather than with true purpose.

Pet Store Puppies

It is generally not advisable to buy a pup from a pet shop, since top dollar is usually paid for a lesser quality pup. Pet stores are supplied by puppy mills and people who: 1) for some reason want to avoid meeting puppy buyers, 2) have little concern as the welfare of the puppies they have produced, and/or 3) have falsified registration documents. These folks prey on kindhearted buyers that feel they are "rescuing" a puppy from a terrible fate. There are dozens of pups waiting to fill the empty cage in the pet shop window. And this will continue as long as there is a market for over the counter puppies. The first disadvantage is that you are not able to obtain any information about the breeder (are they honest?) and the dog's ancestry (are the papers correct?) The function of a puppy mill is to produce puppies. Some mills will breed a female every heat season, often putting more than one male in with a female so that the litter, registerable under only one sire, may actually have more. Breeding is done without rhyme nor reason, and the offspring inherit defects in temperament, health, and overall quality. Often, examination of the pedigrees will reveal inbreeding of non-titled, mediocre dogs.

There is no need to hesitate to get an older dog instead of a puppy. There is a certain amount of inconvenience involved in raising and training a puppy as well as risk in proper development if the dog is to be used for breeding and/or showing. Often, the older dog has outgrown most of its "puppyness," and its demeanor and conformation are readily apparent. Buying a quality puppy with care will pay off in the long run. The number of Champions on the pedigree is a plus for those intending to breed or show, however, it does not take a Champion to produce a high quality puppy. The UKC Champion degree is comparable to the "Good Housekeeping Seal" in that it guarantees that the dog's conformation meets the breed standard. Also, in the conformation ring, excessive shyness and hostility are penalized, so you are somewhat assured of a sound temperament. But there are dogs who are not shown that are a tribute to this fine breed. That is why you should investigate the parentage to ensure that you are making the right choice. Also, if health or other circumstances force you to give up your pet, it will be easier for you to place your dog in another home if your dog is of reputable quality.

A Short Bit of History

The American Eskimo, a member of the Spitz family, acquired its name from its resemblance to the specie "Eskimo Dog." The lineage of the American Eskimo dates back almost 6,000 years to the Peat Dog of the lake dwellers of the New Stone Age. Traces of this foundation stock were bred and domesticated by the nomadic tribes that occupied the area from Northern Russia to Western Siberia. The first type of dog which evolved from this was the Alaskan Eskimo (Husky) the weighs around 70 pounds and has a black coat with white or buff markings. The second offshoot is the Greenland Eskimo Dog that weighs up to 100 pounds and has a whiter coat and a more pronounced plume tail. Then this beautiful bloodline took a westerly course down through Europe as smaller dogs evolved. The closest living relative of the American Eskimo is the Great German Spitz, which bears close resemblance but is large in size and bone structure. The name Spitz is mentioned in literature around the year 1450, and is mentioned also in "The Natural History of Quadrupeds" published in the 1700's by Buffon, which states that the Spitz was an ancestor of all domestic breeds.

Originating in a rigorous climate, the Eskie is naturally hardy and is noted for longevity. This breed has been endowed with an inheritance of health and the ability to adapt readily to climatic and environmental changes. The American Eskimo, in essence, has been the shepherd of reindeer herds, the guard and defender of the homestead, and the very versatile sled dog. Their cousins, the Nordic Breeds, have superseded the guarding instinct by a strong hunting instinct. Whatever his work, you can associate the American Eskimo with a human service background.

Dogs of the Spitz group have prominent skulls, small pricked ears, straight harsh outer coats, dense undercoats, and wedge shaped heads. Tails are carried over the back; a trait that developed to prevent frostbite. Some members of the Spitz group include the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Schipperke, Keeshond, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Chow Chow, Pomeranian, Shiba Inu, Volpino Italiano and other rare breeds. The American Eskimo has developed a sense of gentleness and loyalty, as well as a protective instinct. Most of the other Nordic breeds have a more nomadic personality, and love to roam and wander. In some breeds, the predatory instinct can bring out the hunting instinct.

The United Kennel Club first registered the American Eskimo in 1913 under the name of "American Eskimo Spitz." The "Spitz" was dropped in 1917. The designation of "PR" (Purple Ribbon) was awarded to dogs and puppies that had at least 3 generations of registered ancestors on file in the UKC studbooks. These studbooks were closed in 1969, and since that time, all litters that have been registered have been given this honorary Purple Ribbon Designation.