Welcome to Petfinder.com! The virtual home of 351,489 adoptable pets from 13,623 adoption groups

Search for a Pet

[See All]Breed

Location*

Ex: Des Moines, IA or 50301

Find Animal
Welfare Groups

[List by State]

Check us out on:

Download our iPhone app
Petfinder at Myspace
Petfinder at Facebook
Petfinder at YouTube
Home > Dog Breeds > Adopt an American Eskimo Dog (Miniature)

Adopt an American Eskimo Dog (Miniature)


American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dog Breed

Picture: Kent and Donna Dannen

Comment on the American Eskimo Dog (Miniature)

Family:

Spitz, Northern (companion)


Area of origin:

United States


Original function:

companion, performer


Average size of male:

Ht: 12-15, Wt: 11-20


Average size of female:

Ht: 12-15, Wt: 11-20


Other names:

none


  • ••••

    Energy

  • ••••

    Exercise

  • •••••

    Playfulness

  • ••••

    Affection

  • ••••

    Friendliness towards dogs

  • •••••

    Friendliness towards other pets

  • ••••

    Friendliness towards strangers

  • •••••

    Ease of training

  • ••••••

    Watchdog ability

  • ••

    Protection ability

  • ••••

    Grooming

  • •••••

    Cold tolerance

  • ••

    Heat tolerance

American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dogs Available on Petfinder Right Now

See more adoptable American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) dogs available on Petfinder

American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dog Temperament

The American Eskimo is bright, eager to please, lively and fun-loving, in short, an enjoyable and generally obedient companion. True to the Spitz heritage, he is independent and tenacious and loves to run, especially in cold weather. But he is among the most biddable of Spitz breeds, and is calm and well-mannered inside. He is good with children, other dogs, and pets and is generally outgoing to everyone.

American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dog Care

The Eskie is energetic and needs a good workout every day. The extent of the workout depends on the size of the dog, with the larger Eskies needing a good jog or long walk and the smaller ones needing only a vigorous game in the yard or short walk. This breed is so attuned to his family that does better indoors. The double coat needs brushing and combing twice weekly, more often when shedding.

American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dog Health

Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: patellar luxation
Occasionally seen: none
Suggested tests: (knee)
Life span: 12-14 years

Dogs Related to the American Eskimo Dog (Miniature)

Chow Chow
Norwegian Elkhound
Finnish Spitz
Keeshond
Schipperke
Shiba Inu
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
Samoyed
Siberian Husky

Interested in the history of the American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) dog breed?

As the prototypical Spitz, the Eskie (as he is often called) is just as often simply called Spitz by pet parents. In fact, the American Eskimo dog descended from one of the varieties of Spitz developed in Germany, with influences from other Spitz breeds such as the Keeshond, Pomeranian, and Volpino Italiano. Ironically, it was the success of these other breeds that held the Eskie back. Although the keeshond originally came in several colors, when it was decided to accept only gray specimens, the white Keeshonden were suddenly excluded. When the Pomeranian standard was drawn up to exclude dogs over 8 pounds, larger dogs were excluded as Pomeranians. Thus, by the early 1900s, there was two groups of medium-sized white dogs that, although purebreds, were excluded from their breeds. Their fate is unknown, but it is likely that they became pets of the working people. When European workers came to America, they brought these dogs with them. The turning point came in the 1920s, when the American Spitz (as he had come to be called) became a favorite of circus performers. Spectators often left the circus with a new family member, an offspring of one of the dazzling performers. Many present-day Eskies can be traced back to their circus ancestors. After World War I, the breed's name was changed to American Eskimo, to remove any Germanic sound from it. Most Eskies were kept as pets and farm dogs. A few families registered their dogs with the United Kennel Club, but it wasn't until 1994 that the AKC recognized the breed. Despite his acceptance into the AKC world of show dogs, the Eskie remains a dog of the people, far more popular as a pet than as a competitor.

Copyright © 1998, 2005 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. based on
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DOG BREEDS by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.

Shelters with American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dogs

Some animal welfare organizations with American Eskimo Dog (Miniature)s ready for adoption:

Email EMAIL Share SHARE Print PRINT

Comment on the American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) Dog

Pet Videos

Before You Adopt

Before You Adopt

Tips for finding the best cat or dog for you; plus: preparing for a puppy

Adopting the Right Dog for You

Adopting the Right Dog for You

How to find the right dog for you and your family

Benefits of Adopting an Older Dog

Benefits of Adopting an Older Dog

Why adopting an older dog has many advantages

Preparing Your Home for a Puppy

Preparing Your Home for a Puppy

Prepare in advance to make sure your home is safe for your new pup

SEE ALL VIDEOS >

Related Articles