American Eskimo Spitz - description of breed and character

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

The origin of the breed

White American Eshi were withdrawn through selection.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

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

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

Despite their continued popularity, the breeders of the esk achieved a recognition of the breed only in 1995. But in Europe, representatives of these dogs are still registered as German spitz.

Standards of appearance

In total there are three classes of this type of dogs. They are quite miniature, medium and large. Standard representatives are considered large individuals.

If we talk about small dogs, then their growth is no more than 30 cm. And their weight does not exceed 4.5 kg. American Eskis of medium size have a height of 31 to 38 cm. And their weight is two times more than 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 is with regard to color, length of hair, and also body proportions.

The Eskimo Spitz is an unusual dog whose face is very similar to a fox. And its greatest advantage is wool. It is always quite thick and soft. Color mostly white, but there are Spitz with cream color, as well as with a light brown fur.

The pet's chest is covered with thick hair and forms a kind of fluffy collar. The tail is also rather 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, but thickly covered with hair.

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 and German Spitz.

Despite the fragile and gentle look of this dog, it cannot be called helpless or harmless. This spitz can be not only a true friend, but also a housing guard.

Below are the approximate standards that are based on the description of the breed:

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

Character and training eski

Representatives of this breed are distinguished by their kindness and appeasability. These animals are quite playful, distinguished by their intelligence and loyalty to the owner. Of all the spitz known to the world, it is the representatives of this species that are the most obedient and disciplined. Also Eski inherent independence and determination.

To teach these representatives is quite simple, because they capture everything on the fly. Which allowed them to stand out not only in the bosom of their families, but also at performances in the circus.

Tip! It’s not worth starting a dog if other animals already live at home, especially if they are dogs.

If we talk about their relationship with strangers, they do not always add up. Animals of this species are quite wary of strangers.Therefore, in order that they are not shy, it is necessary to deal with their socialization from an early age.

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

Despite the fact that some of them look pretty cute, do not flatter yourself about their appearance, because they may not be at all what they seem. American spitz need a serious approach to training. Working with these dogs brings only pleasure, because they, as already noted, 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 engage in the training of this pet, you do not need to have special knowledge. American Spitz will also suit beginners in the field of dog training. But learning should not be cruel and cruel. In order for the dog to learn the learned even faster, it must be encouraged. But never hit or scream.

To keep this cute pet is also not very difficult, so it is suitable for living in an apartment. Eski can live 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 breeders of Eskimo spitz point out is that they are quite gavkuchie. And this main minus of the breed can irritate not only the owners, but also the neighbors living on the same site. But forcibly plugging this dog is also not worth it. It’s just worth teaching the team “quietly”.

To make the dog more friendly, you need to socialize it. The process of socialization can begin after the first vaccination. Teaching your four-legged pet should be as early as possible, because Eski can start to behave quite badly, and find a complex of a “big dog” and start provoking other yard dogs or cats.

American Eskimo Spitz love to frolic in the snow, so this dog is more likely to arrange snow fun. This can also happen if at home they began to perceive the spitz as a beautiful interior detail, and not a dog.

In order for an 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 to adhere to a specific daily routine. Walking and feeding this animal must be on 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 saves himself from possible sabotage or even from dog obesity. You can walk with spitz at any time of the year, especially they like snow walks.

Maintenance and care

American Spitz should live in the house, but in any case not in the aviary. The reason for this - not in fear of cold weather, on the contrary, this dog is very easy to tolerate frost. Eski simply becomes attached to his masters and family, which leads to the fact that he begins to yearn for her very much.

Caring for a spitz is pretty simple. First and foremost, what you need to do with Eski is to care for its luxurious and thick hair. They molt twice a year, like other dog breeds. Therefore, in order to save yourself from the constant cleaning in the house, you must often comb out your pet.In the usual time it is necessary to give time to combing at least twice a week, and as for the shedding period, daily brushing is necessary here.

Cutting these representatives is not necessary. The only thing you can cut the hair between your fingers. Like other pets, Eski is necessary to carry out the prevention of fleas and worms every three months. External parasites can lead to dermatitis, so do not neglect preventive actions.

Bathing representatives of this breed is not worth it. The only exception is the strong pollution of the animal. The reason for this is the pet's thin skin.

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

American Spitz lives at least 12-14 years. The reason for this can be illness, because these dogs do not have good health. Some illnesses can be acquired due to malnutrition.

To avoid possible health problems, it is necessary to periodically visit the vet. These animals are prone to problems with the hip or knee joints, and they may also have blood and eye problems. It is worth noting that Eski with blue eyes are more often prone to blindness.

Puppy cost

The price of the American Eskimo Spitz depends on many factors. If the puppy has a good pedigree, then its value increases significantly. Also, this price can be significantly higher if the owner plans to send his pet to exhibitions and contests. The minimum cost of a small eski puppy is $ 500. There are also representatives of $ 1,000 or more.

Video: dog breed American Eskimo Spitz