American Eskimo Dog Health Issues

American Eskimo Dog Health Issues

Up Close with Eskies

The Miniature Eskimo dog resembles a mini Samoyed. These charming dogs are also fondly known as “Eskies” and they are sometimes referred to as American Eskimo dogs. There is an Eskie for all size and home requirements: toy, miniature and standard. The Miniature Eskimo dog is a striking breed with its thick, luxurious white coat, but as is the case with most Spitz breeds, its fur is dense and it has an undercoat which sheds a lot requiring a lot of regular grooming. Some specimens have blue eyes but only dogs with brown eyes can be shown.

They are thought to be descended from the German white Keeshonden or large Pomeranians and were brought to the United States in the 19th by German immigrants. The Miniature Eskimo eventually became known as the American Eskimo dog. They were very popular in the 1930′s through to the 1940′s as circus dogs due to their high intelligence and athletic ability.

The American Eskimo is a very playful and affectionate dog. They make excellent dogs for households with children in them because of this playfulness and love of companionship. Highly intelligent dogs and eager to please, they are easy to train and are among the top scorers in many obedience trials. They are very active dogs that crave attention and this can cause them to develop problematic behavior if you don’t have the time to devote to them. While being allowed some free time in a yard is adequate, these dogs need to go on walks to satisfy their migration and pack instinct.

The Miniature Eskimo dog, being of a high strung nature can become an obsessive barker if not given the attention and exercise it needs. Due to the fact they are small and extremely cute, certain dominance issues may go unnoticed and these can develop into serious problems such as aggression and separation anxiety issues. If they are not given sufficient mental and physical stimulation they can easily become bored and develop destructive behavior such as chewing.

As mentioned before, these dogs require regular grooming because of their thick fur and dense undercoat but because of their dry skin, frequent bathing may result in irritation. Bathing should be restricted to every two or three months except in cases when they become very dirty or develop a strong odor. The Miniature Eskimo is a very clean dog by nature and will regularly groom himself.

The Eskie is a hardy breed that can live up to 15 years. Health issues these dogs are susceptible to include flea allergies, hip dysplasia, deafness, luxating patella, cataracts, retinal atrophy and urinary tract problems. Other more rare health issues the breed is prone to are epilepsy, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and diabetes.

The Miniature Eskimo dog can be a finicky eater and you should include fresh food in the diet to satisfy nutritional requirements. They are prone to obesity if not exercises sufficiently and special care should be taken concerning their eyes and tear ducts for early detection of progressive retinal atrophy. They are delightful little dogs and entertaining companions but do your research before getting one, they are not low maintenance dogs.

About the Author

Amber Contant is a featured adviser and author discussing the issues that all pet owning families will experience. Amber works with Pet-Super-Store. Visit her site for a great selection of pet beds.

Based on personal experience, which of these 3 dog breeds?

I want a dog who is very friendly, great with kids, has few health issues, long life, smart. I live in an apartment and go for daily long walks. I want to hear from owners or friends of owners. Personal experiences preferable. I don’t want to hear “this one or that one is the cutest”. I think they are all cute, but want one that fits into my family.

1. a puggle is not a breed, it’s a mixed breed dog. you’d have to look at the personality of the pug AND the beagle to get a small idea of what they are like.

2. Schnauzer- very sweet dogs, good w/kids if raised w/them. okay w/cats if socialized w/them early on. protective and loyal. need grooming.

3. American Eskimo- good w/respectful kids over 5. sweet, lovable, almost goofy. likes to be by your side most of the time. needs grooming.

Kumi 13th week American Eskimo