American Eskimo Dog puppies

About the American Eskimo Dog

The American Eskimo Dog is a German Spitz by descent, brought to the United States by German immigrants and renamed during the First World War. They are bred in three sizes, which is why the breed spans 23 to 48 centimetres and 2.7 to 15.9 kilograms, all of them white or cream with a thick double coat, a wedge shaped face and a curled tail. The Eskie is bright and quick to learn tricks, which is how they ended up as a circus dog, and they are alert, watchful and inclined to announce things.

Energy is high and boredom turns destructive quickly, so plan on real daily activity plus training games and toys. Brush two or three times a week, since the breed sheds close to constantly, and bathe only every few months to avoid drying the skin. They rate five out of five with children, but supervision and socialisation still come first. Keep an Eskie indoors with the family, since this is an indoor dog that bonds hard and unravels when left outside on their own.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a American Eskimo Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited cause of blindness picked up by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Wax build up and ear infections, found on weekly ear checks

Your American Eskimo Dog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a American Eskimo Dog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 2.7 to 15.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 15.9 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the American Eskimo Dog

Previous: American English Coonhound · Next: American Foxhound

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
• Health notes from American Eskimo Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-eskimo-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Christmas w/a K, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.