American Eskimo
Non-Sporting Group
Height at Shoulders
Toy 9-12 in, Miniature 12-15 in, Standard 15-19 in
Weight
Toy 6-10 lbs, Miniature 10-20 lbs, Standard 25-35 lbs
Life Expectancy
13-15 yrs
History
The American Eskimo originated in the United States during the 1800's. Despite their name, eskimos had nothing to do with the development of the breed. Rather, it was German immigrants that can be thanked for the American Eskimo, as the breed's precursor, the German Spitz, was brought to the region by the Germans. During the 19th century, the German Spitz was a popular performance dog, traveling with circuses, wild west shows, and more. During World War I, the breed's name was changed to American Spitz to avoid any prejudice it might face with "German" in its name.
Breed Characteristics
While not all American Eskimos share the exact same personality and temperament, there are certain generalizations that can be made about the breed. In addition to genetics, a dog’s environment, training, socialization, and many other factors all contribute to their personality and behavior.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★☆
★★★★★
★★★★☆
Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★★★★
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
★★★★★
Intelligence
★★★★★
Affection Towards Family
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★★★☆
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★★★★
Exercise Needs
★★★★☆
Energy Level
★★★★★
Sensitivity
★★★★☆
Noise Level
★★★★☆
Prey Drive
★★★☆☆
Shedding
★★★★★
Common Traits
Affectionate, friendly, and very family-oriented
Make great watchdogs as they're generally suspicious of strangers
Curious, independent, great at problem solving, and considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds
Known to "talk", making noises that range from barks and howls to mumbles
Love to chew- it's best to provide them with lots of chew toys to avoid destroyed slippers
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