American Eskimo Spitz

History of origin

The Eskimo or, as it is also called, the Eski (by analogy with the Husky) is a fairly young breed that arose less than 100 years ago, but its origin is not exactly known. Eskis are less related to the indigenous peoples of Greenland than they are to Eskimo ice cream, which these dogs look like with their snow-white, airy coat, giving them a resemblance to a creamy sundae.

The dogs, which today are called American Eskimo Spitz, came to the New World from Austria and Germany at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, however, in connection with the First and then the Second World War that broke out in Europe, any mention of Nietzsche’s country became, to put it mildly, unpopular, so the Spitz renamed from German to Eskimo. Among their ancestors were supposedly shepherd dogs, known in Europe since ancient times, and a loud voice made them excellent guards. Esca-like dogs are found in Renaissance paintings as companions of the nobility.

At the same time, these dogs themselves quickly fell in love with the Americans, thanks to their charming appearance and great intelligence. They are willingly acquired both as companions for the home and as circus performers. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club only in 1985, but in our country it is still almost unknown.

Breed description

First of all, it is worth noting that the American Eskimo Spitz is presented in three formats: standard (up to 48 cm), mini (up to 38 cm) and toy (up to 30 cm). And, if the first ones are the original type of dog, then the second two types were later bred exclusively for keeping in apartments.

Eski is a harmoniously built dog, in its appearance reminiscent of the most ancient breeds that were with a person during the Ice Age, because it bears the features of wild ancestors. The muzzle is elongated, the eyes are large dark, the ears are triangular erect. The length of the body exceeds the height at the withers, the legs are strong and thick enough, the tail is set high, twisted into a ring and thrown over the back.

The color is always snow-white, sometimes with a cream tint, while the nose and lips are black, and the eyes are dark brown (rarely blue). Wool is the main pride of the Eskimo Spitz, it is thick, two-layered (warm undercoat and lush outer hair) and resembles a white cloud, not for nothing is another breed name – “cloudy Spitz”.

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Character

If you have been looking for the perfect dog for home and family, then Eski is what you need. The American Eskimo Spitz has all the necessary set of qualities: it is incredibly beautiful, compact, selflessly devoted to its family, which includes not only the owner, but also his relatives, children and even other pets, but at the same time he is an excellent guard. Eski is by no means a couch toy, he feels like a serious dog and should be treated accordingly.

At the same time, Spitz are very smart and always ready to learn something new, which makes them excellent artists. They can dance, solve simple examples, perform a variety of commands – the main thing is that they pay attention. The most terrible punishment for an Eski is indifference. Therefore, if you want your friend to always be happy, let him participate in all your affairs and, when leaving the house, always take it with you, especially since these dogs need physical activity.

Care and maintenance

Paradoxically, but the main problem, as well as the main pride of the breed is wool. Their magnificent snow-white coat, reminiscent of a cloud of cream on a popsicle ice cream cone, requires the most careful care. It needs to be combed out daily so as not to be allowed to turn into felt, washed and, of course, be ready to find white shreds throughout the apartment. But, believe me, it’s worth it, because the American Eskimo in all other respects is just an ideal house dog. Even its largest variety does not take up much space, it is unpretentious to the climate – thanks again to its fur coat, it perfectly tolerates both heat and cold (which is why you should never cut dogs if this is not provided for by the exterior!). The main thing is that the owners do not forget about its existence and allow them to participate on an equal footing in their lives.

Education and training

Eski is well trained – that is why in the USA it is one of the most beloved breeds of circus performers, because they can be taught any kind of tricks. Spitz are happy to learn, the main thing is that the training process is interesting and resembles a game. They have an excellent memory, so dogs are able to memorize many commands and willingly execute them, so working with them is a pleasure.

However, sometimes they have bouts of stubbornness, so you should never forget that the person is still the main one, and behave with these fluffy beauties accordingly. Moreover, training should not be postponed until later, but should be started from the very first minutes of getting to know the puppy. Remember: the later you start raising your dog, the more difficult the process will be. The main thing is not to turn the eski into a sofa cushion, do not indulge him, otherwise, instead of a cheerful and loving friend, you will get a capricious despot with an absurd character.

Health and disease

Like all white dogs, the American Eskimo is prone to allergies, so it is better to exclude chicken from the diet in advance (especially chicken skin). If you are a supporter of dry food, then it is better to choose hypoallergenic varieties. It also sometimes happens that blue-eyed dogs are blind or have poor vision. In the rest, the Eski have good health, and hereditary diseases, if they happen, are not the norm. Among them are joint dysplasia, dermatitis.

Do not forget about the treatment of dogs from parasites – it is not so easy to notice fleas and ticks in their lush thick coat.

Word to the breeder

American breeder Diana L. Allen He writes about these wonderful dogs in this way: “Until now, the American Eskimo Spitz retains the heredity of German ancestors. This is a strong and powerful dog for its size, able to trot for a very long time without any rest. Spitz are known for their longevity. These strong dogs are completely human-oriented, while they have retained their shepherd instincts.

Eski successfully take part in such types of competitions as agility, obedience (obedience), herding, search service and others, they are also used as canine therapists in working with autistic children.

However, we must not stray too far from what the ancestors of the Eskimo Spitz were doing, otherwise the breed will lose its essence.

Popular questions and answers

For questions about the content of the American Eskimo Spitz, we asked to answer zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.