American Eskimo Dog Information, A Beautiful and Intelligent Dog Why This Breed's Name is Very Misleading

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American Eskimo Dogs photo
Medium Breed Small Breed X-Small Breed Hip Dysplasia Patella Luxation Legg-Perthes disease American Eskimo Dog

Is the American Eskimo dog right for you?

  • 1 American Eskimo Dogs are uniquely intelligent and eager to please.
  • 2 American Eskimo dogs are very beautiful with a stark white coat that needs regular grooming.
  • 3 The American Eskimo dog is a great family dog, protective and loving.

HISTORY

Despite their name, the American Eskimo dog is neither a native American or a descendent of the husky or malamute (which would be considered Eskimo dogs). Actually a member of the Spitz family, this breed is thought to have come from Germany and was only given their misleading name because of the extreme hostility toward Germany at the time. They were recognized by the AKC in 1995.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Toy/Small, Medium

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    Lifespan

    Average of 15 years

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    Hair Length

    Long, Medium

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    Male Height

    Toy 9-12 in, miniature 12-15 in, standard 15-19 in

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    Male Weight

    Toy 6-10 lbs, miniature 10-20 lbs, standard 18-35 lbs

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    Female Height

    Toy 9-12 in, miniature 12-15 in, standard 15-19 in

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    Female Weight

    Toy 6-10 lbs, miniature 10-20 lbs, standard 18-35 lbs

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    Litter Size

    Average is 5 puppies

Personality

The American Eskimo is a loving companion that is intelligent, playful, and always charming. Great with children, these dogs make for excellent family dogs, and can be great watchdogs. Because of their diminutive size, they can sometimes be given more leeway than larger dogs, leading them to believe that they are pack leader, which should be avoided. Outside of a potential to develop "small dog syndrome," in which they see themselves as the ruler of the house, these dogs are stupendous family dogs..

Color

The American Eskimo dog can be snow white, a biscuit cream color, or a mix of both.

Health Concerns

The average lifespan of an American Eskimo Dog is 12-14 years. They are prone to:

  • hip dysplasia
  • elbow degeneration
  • knee degeneration
  • patellar luxation
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
  • cataracts
Appearance

A small to medium-size dog, they are often compared to a miniature Samoyed. They have a long, wolf-like muzzle, and pointed, v-shaped ears. They have the same long, fluffy coat that the spitz does, which is double coated to help insulate them against cold weather. They come in three sizes: toy (9-12 inches), miniature (12-15 inches), and standard (15-19 inches).

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