American Eskimo Dog
Origin: Germany
Height: 9”-12” (toy), 12″-15″(mini), 15″-19″ (standard)
Weight: 6-10lbs (toy), 10-20lbs (miniature), 25-35lbs (standard)
Color: white, white and biscuit
Lifespan: 13-15 years
Temperament: loving, intelligent, active, alert
Overview
The American Eskimo Dog or Eskie is a playful companion dog commonly referred to as a “Velcro dog” known for never leaving an owner’s side. These playful pups comes in three sizes: toy, miniature and standard. They are typically all white or white with biscuit color markings. They have a curved tail that has a plum like a feather.
American Eskimo is a misnomer as Eskimos had nothing to do with this breed. They were brought from Germany to the Midwest. Originally called German Spitz Dogs, they were primarily farmhands. After WWII the name changed to American Spitz Dogs. When the breed was eventually recognized by the UKC the name was officially changed to American Eskimo Dog in honor of the breeder’s kennel name.
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Celebrity Owners
N/A
Fun Facts
In the late 1800s Eskies became popular traveling with the Barnum and Bailey Circus. One Eskie was even a tightrope walker.
Pet Insurance Options
- Average annual vet bills for a dog: $700-$1,500
- Up to 90% of vet bills covered
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Health
The most common issue for Eskies is hip dysplasia. Other issues include:
Retinal dysplasia: Both an inherited and a result of viral infections, retinal dysplasia is an abnormal growth of the retina in the eye.
Luxating Patella: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
Addison’s disease: Addison’s disease results from the body not producing enough specific hormones. It occurs in the adrenal glands above the kidneys, producing too little cortisol and aldosterone.
Diabetes: This condition revolves around glucose levels (sugar) in the blood. Constant monitoring and intervention could be required.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Pet Insurance Options
- Average annual vet bills for a dog: $700-$1,500
- Up to 90% of vet bills covered
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Vitamins and Supplements
- Your dog isn't getting all it needs from its food.
- Round out your pups diet for a healthier dog.
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Family Dog Breeds
- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
- Vigilant and loyal, these dogs will protect their own
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Grooming
Eskies’ thick double coats shed regularly. Routine brushing 2-3 times a week will help contain excessive hair around the house to a minimum. Once or twice a year they will “blow coat” – shedding their under coat completely. Bathing should not exceed once every couple of months, because it dries out the naturally occurring oils on Eskie skin.
In between baths, cleaning your Eskie’s eyes will alleviate common eye ailments and tear staining. Clip Eskie’s nails regularly. Always check your pup’s ears to make sure they are clean and clear of debris. Brush your pup’s teeth several times a week.
Cost
$150 – $300
Exercise
Abundant exercise is a must for your Eskie! These pups will not be satisfied with a walk around the block. Consider a rigorous game of fetch, a long hike or dog sports to work out your Eskie’s energy. Without a proper outlet your pup’s energy may cause them to get into mischief or turn destructive.
Nutrition
The average Eskie eats 2 and a half cups of food a day. As diabetes is a concern with Eskies, be sure to monitor how much your Eskie eats and consider treats given throughout the day.
A healthy and balanced food source, with the right nutrients, will set the health of this dog on the right path.
Healthy Dog Food
- You are what you eat. It's no different for your dog.
- Natural ingredients leads to a happier, longer life.
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Training
While American Eskimo Dogs are very easily trained, this does not mean you can skip training. They can be a dominant dog if you do not assert training early. Once in the habit of training they often can learn positive behavior and commands just from watching other dogs.
They are truly people pleasers at heart. Eskies rarely misbehave and usually only do so when they are left alone for too long. Early socialization with people and other animals is helpful as with other dogs, but not as necessary for Eskie’s friendly nature.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Vitamins and Supplements
- Your dog isn't getting all it needs from its food.
- Round out your pups diet for a healthier dog.
EXPLORE VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
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- Guaranteed to make you instagram famous (or at least your pup!)
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Supplements
As mentioned before, hip dysplasia is the most common ailment for the American Eskimo Dog. A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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The Good
Easily trained
Good with children
The "Ruff"
Sheds a lot
Assert dominance if not properly trained
Need lots of attention
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- A passion for giving back to their owner is in their DNA
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