American Eskimo Dog Breed Information

  • AKA:Eskie
  • Size:Small (toy and miniature), Medium (standard)
  • Ease of Training:High
  • Grooming:Low
  • Shedding:High
  • Exercise Needed:Daily walk
  • Energy Level:High
  • Protection:Watchdog, will bark at strangers
  • Good with Children:Yes, with older more considerate children
  • Health Clearances:OFA, CERF
  • Weight:6-40 lbs
  • Height:9-19 inches
  • Coat Colour:white, or white with biscuit cream

American Eskimo Coat

The American Eskimo Dog has a glorious standoff double-coat. The under coat is dense with a longer coat of guard hair that grows through to form the outer coat. The outer coat is straight with no wave or curl. There is a profuse ruff around the neck. The backs of the front and rear legs are well feathered. The coat color is white, or white with cream or biscuit markings. This breed is an average shedder that "blows" their coat twice a year. The Eskie is built along classic Nordic lines, a form that has proved effective at pulling heavy loads through snow and ice. It is compactly built, slightly longer than tall. The stand-off, double coat resists soaking and provides insulation against the cold. The small thick ears are also cold-resistant. The breed's smaller size has moved it from the realm of sled dog, but it remains a sled dog in miniature. The American Eskimo Dog stands furry with erect ears and a long tail curling over its back.

American Eskimo Character

Commonly referred to as the Eskie, this breed is compact and strong. A Nordic type dog, they are exceedingly agile and alert. They are considered to be one of the most intelligent of all dog breeds. The American Eskimo Dog is well balanced, hardy, and known for their longevity. This versatile breed possesses outstanding working skills, and makes a lovely companion.

American Eskimo Temperament

Bred solely to be companions, the American Eskimo Dog thrives on being part of the family. This charming and playful breed is excellent with children, and loves to be lavished with attention. They are suspicious and wary of strangers and make good guardians of their family and home. They love to bark and will sound the alarm whenever they deem it necessary. This breed does not do well if left alone for extended periods of time or if they are isolated, as they will engage in destructive activities. American Eskimo Dogs along with other Spitz were bred to be house dogs and companion dogs, and thrive on being a part of a human family. The Eskie is highly intelligent, eager to please, very active, has lots of energy, and moderately independent. At home, these lively dogs make excellent watchdogs, barking to announce the presence of strangers. The Eskie can be protective of its home and family, but in general they will not threaten to attack or bite a person unless provoked. As with all dogs, behavior is partially inherited and partially trained. Some dogs are prone to excessive barking and separation anxiety. It is important for puppy buyers to research pedigrees as temperament may vary due to inheritance.

American Eskimo Care

Eskie's double coat needs brushing and combing twice weekly, more often when their biannual shedding occurs. An undercoat rake, tool available at most pet stores, is useful for brushing out the heavy undercoat. Some owners in hot climates do shave their Eskies, but if this is done, the dogs should be kept indoors as much as possible to prevent sunburn. The breed's shedding, along with its active temperament, results in some dogs being taken to animal shelters or otherwise put up for adoption. Owners should contact breed-specific rescue groups that will give advice on grooming, training or curbing behavioral issues.American Eskimo Dogs are very energetic and require daily exercise, the extent of the workout depending on the size of the dog. Owners can avoid problems by socializing their Eskie through obedience training or participating in dog sports, such as dog agility, fly ball, and dancing.

American Eskimo Activity

This breed must have regular daily exercise. They enjoy securely leashed walks or playing in an enclosed yard. The American Eskimo Dog is active indoors and has a busy nature. They benefit immensely from family play sessions. They will do okay in an apartment provided they are sufficiently exercised and paid attention to.

American Eskimo Health and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the American Eskimo Dog is around 13-15 years. There are a number of health problems associated with the breed, and this includes seizures, luxating patella, diabetes, and epilepsy. Make sure that the parents of your puppy have OFA and CERF certification. Also look out for deafness in those American Eskimo Dogs with blue eyes. Health testing should be performed by all responsible breeders and anyone purchasing a puppy should be aware of the genetic problems which have been found in some individuals of the breed, such as PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), luxating patella, and hip dysplasia. None of these are common and the breed is generally healthy. In addition to the problems above, the breed can have a tendency towards allergies and tear-staining, and the propensity towards these traits is inherited.