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The American Eskimo Dog is a breed of companion dog originating from Germany. The American Eskimo (Eskies) is a member of the Spitz family. Despite its name and appearance, Eskies are not from Alaska; the dog's heritage is traced back to Norther Europe. The breed's progenitors were German Spitz, but due to anti-German prejudice during the First World War, it was renamed "American Eskimo". In addition to serving as a watchdog and companion, Eskies also achieved a high degree of popularity in the 1930s and 1940s United States as a circus performer.

There are three size varieties of Eskies: Toy (not from ToysRus), Miniature, and the Standard.  They share a common resemblance with Japanese Spitz and Samoyed Dog.

All (or just a bit) About American Eskimos
A Paw for History

Once upon a time, English painter Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) was painting "The Morning Walk" depicting Mr. and Mrs. Hallet, they were accompanied by their white spitz, a breed which you could say were the ancestors of the Eskies. 

 

Eskies were originally bred to guard people and property and, therefore, are territorial by nature and a valiant watchdog! They are not considered an aggressive breed. But, due to the breed's watchdog history, Eskies are generally quite vocal, barking at any strangers who comes in close proximity to their owners or their owner's territory.

Sniffing and Running

The American Eskimo is a hardy breed with an average life span of 16 years. This breed tends to become overweight easily, so proper diet and exercise is needed to maintain an overall well being. 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 problems are common and the breed is generally very healthy. In addition to the rarer problems mentioned, the breed can have a tendency towards allergies and most commonly, tear-staining. This breed also is known in some cases to have dental issues.

 

The American Eskimo is an affectionate, loving dog. Hardy and playful, they are excellent with children. Charming and alert, because of the dog's high intelligence and its willingness to please, it is easy to train and often rank among the top scorers in obedience trials. American Eskimos like to work. They are naturally wary of strangers, but once introduced they become instant friends. Eskimos need to be part of the family with a firm, consistent, confident pack leader. If you allow the dog to believe he or she is the ruler of your home, many varying degrees of behavior issues will arise, including but not limited to: separation anxiety, obsessive barking, dog aggressiveness, willfulness, and guarding. Without enough mental and physical exercise, they can become hyperactive and high strung, spinning in circles. 

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