American Eskimo Spitz - description of the breed and character

American Eskimo Spitz is an unusually beautiful breed. Representatives of this species are considered not very common, but those who have got such a pet will never regret it. This dog is a descendant of the German Spitz. But this species gained popularity only in the USA, where it got in 1913. And by the 40s of the 20th century, these dogs gained maximum popularity.

History of breed origin

White American Eskis were bred through selection. But there is also a version that in order to fix the white color, this species was crossed with Samoyed husky. And, most likely, due to the fact that these huskies took part in the formation of the species, Spitz and were called Eskimo.

Future American Spitz came to America with German immigrants who were looking for a better life. The breed originally introduced was called "German Spitz." But in the United States it was renamed to American. Why this happened remains unknown. There is a version that claims that people at that time were biased and impatient with the country of Germany and with everything that had German roots. Some argue that the American Spitz is a more harmonious name.

The reason this species spread in America, and not in Europe, was that Europeans were biased towards white dogs. The white color of the coat, in their opinion, could indicate the presence of genetic abnormalities. And the Americans, on the contrary, revered these pets, and tried to increase their population.

Despite its continued popularity, Eski breeders only achieved breed recognition in 1995. But in Europe, representatives of these dogs are still registered as German Spitz.

Appearance standards

There are three classes of this type of dog. They are very miniature, medium, and large. Large individuals are considered standard representatives.

If we talk about small dogs, then their height is not more than 30 cm. And their weight does not exceed 4.5 kg. Medium-sized American Eskis have a height of 31 to 38 cm. And their weight is twice as much as that of previous representatives. Large eski has an average weight of 16 kg and their height can be up to 48 cm. Despite the difference in weight and height, these dogs look about the same - this applies to color, coat length, and body proportions.

Eskimo Spitz is an unusual dog whose face is very similar to a fox. And its greatest advantage is wool. She is always quite thick and soft. The color is predominantly white, but spitz-dogs are found with cream color, as well as with light brown hair.

The pet’s chest is covered with thick hair and forms a kind of fluffy collar. The tail is also quite lush. The body of the animal is covered with long and thick hair, and this feature protects the dog from moisture.Another feature of these Spitz is that they have small ears in shape, but densely covered with wool.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that this breed is not recognized by the international organization of dog handlers, this species does not have generally accepted standards for the appearance of the animal. Therefore, the modern image of eski is a mixture of features of Pomeranian, German Spitz.

Despite the fragile and tender appearance of this dog, it can not be called helpless or harmless. This Spitz can become not only a true friend, but also a housing guard.

The following are approximate standards that are based on the description of the breed:

• the head is proportional to the body, rounded;
• the transition between the forehead and muzzle is predominantly smooth;
• muzzle narrow, covered with short hair;
• despite the fact that these representatives have strong teeth, their grip is rather weak;
• nose is small black, protrudes slightly;
• the shape of the eyes is almond-shaped, the eyes themselves are small in size;
• ears are hard to the touch, covered with thick wool;
• body of medium length, rather strong;
• the ribcage appears wide due to the fur collar;
• fore and hind limbs are even and have the same length;
• the tail resembles a half-ring in shape;
• the hair of the animal is quite long, and on the muzzle and paws reaches only 2.5 cm.

Character and eski training

Representatives of this breed are distinguished by their kindness and complaisance. These animals are quite playful, distinguished by their ingenuity, as well as fidelity to the owner. Of all the Spitzs known to the world, it is representatives of this species that are the most obedient and disciplined. Eski is also inherent in independence and determination.

To train these representatives is quite simple, because they grasp everything on the fly. Which allowed them to stand out not only in the family circle, but also at performances in the circus.

Advice! Having such a dog is not worth it if other animals already live at home, especially if it is a dog.

If we talk about their relationship with strangers, then they do not always add up. Animals of this species are quite wary of strangers. Therefore, in order for them not to be shy, it is worthwhile to engage in their socialization from an early age.

But the nature of this pet is not so clear. This species has a rather strong protective instinct, therefore, if someone unknown comes to the house, and someone who carries some kind of threat, these dogs will begin to bark loudly.

Despite the fact that some of them look pretty cute, do not be seduced by their appearance, because they may be completely different from what they seem. American Spitz need a serious approach to training. Working with these dogs brings only pleasure, because, as already noted, they grasp everything pretty quickly. Eski can learn not only tricks, but also learn service teams that will allow you to find not only objects, but also substances, as well as people.

To train this pet, you do not need to have special knowledge. American Spitz is also suitable for beginners in the field of training. But training should not have cruelty and rudeness underneath. In order for the dog to absorb the learned even faster, it must be encouraged. But do not beat or scream.

Keeping this cute pet is also not very difficult, so it is suitable for living in an apartment. Eski can live both in a large family, and with a single owner.

But, despite such an extensive list of advantages of this dog, it is impossible not to note its negative features. The first thing that Eskimo breeders note is that they are pretty barky. And this main minus of the breed can annoy not only the owners, but also the neighbors living on the same site. But force plugging this dog is also not worth it. It’s just worth teaching the team “quietly”.

To make the dog more friendly, it is necessary to socialize it.The process of socialization can begin after the first vaccination. It’s worthwhile to educate your four-legged pet as early as possible, because the eski can start to behave very badly, and find yourself the complex of a “big dog” and start provoking other yard dogs or cats.

American Eskimo Spitz love to frolic in the snow, so it is worth such a dog to arrange snow activities more often. This can also happen if at home they began to perceive the Spitz as a beautiful detail of the interior, and not a dog.

In order for the animal to feel like a full-fledged dog, as well as a member of seven, it is necessary to take care not only of its training, but also adhere to a specific daily routine. It is necessary to walk and feed this animal on a schedule. This approach will help keep this active four-legged friend in check.

Walking with this pet should be long. And this is not just a whim, so the owner protects himself from possible wrecking or even from obesity of the dog. You can walk with Spitz any time of the year, especially they like snow walks.

Maintenance and care

The American Spitz must live in the house, but in no case in the aviary. The reason for this is not the fear of cold weather, on the contrary, this dog very easily tolerates frost. Eski is simply attached to her masters and family, which leads to the fact that he begins to yearn for her greatly.

Caring for a spitz is quite simple. The first and most important thing to do with eski is to look after its luxurious and thick coat. They molt twice a year, like other dog breeds. Therefore, in order to save yourself from constant cleaning in the house, you often need to comb out your pet. In normal times, it is necessary to devote time to combing out at least twice a week, and with regard to the period of molting, daily combing is necessary here.

It is not necessary to cut these representatives. The only thing you can cut the hair between the fingers. Like other pets, eski need to prevent fleas and worms every three months. External parasites can lead to dermatitis, so do not neglect preventive actions.

It is not worth bathing representatives of this breed. The exception is only severe pollution of the animal. The reason for this is the thin skin of the pet.

Do not forget that this type of dog needs active walks. The larger the size of the Spitz, the more time he needs for a full-fledged walk. If this is a large representative of the species, then he needs a long walk - 1-2 hours. It can also be a jog. Little Spitz will have enough walk in the yard.

American Spitz lives for at least 12-14 years. The cause of this can be illness, because these dogs are not distinguished by good health. Some ailments may be acquired due to malnutrition.

To avoid possible health problems, you must periodically visit a veterinarian. These animals are prone to problems with the thigh or knee joints, and they may also have problems with blood and eyes. It is worth noting that esques with blue eyes are more likely to be blind.

Puppy cost

The price of an American Eskimo Spitz depends on many factors. If the puppy has a good pedigree, then its cost rises significantly. Also, this price can become much higher if the owner plans to send his pet to exhibitions and competitions. The minimum cost of a little Eski puppy is $ 500. Also there are representatives of $ 1,000 or more.

Video: dog breed American Eskimo Spitz