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AKC: American Eskimo Dog breed overview

Non-sporting group · United States (from German spitz stock)

American Eskimo Dog

Also called Eskie, American Spitz

A German spitz renamed in America, once a circus star, now a bright and vocal family watchdog.

Despite the name, the American Eskimo Dog has no connection to Arctic sledding. It descends from white German spitz dogs brought to the United States by immigrants, and it earned its fame performing tricks in traveling circuses. The result is a clever, showy and affectionate companion that comes in three sizes and sheds generously.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

9 to 16 kg

20 to 35 lb

Height

38 to 48 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

13 to 15 yrs

Activity estimate

90 to 120 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

12 months

approximate model input

Life with a American Eskimo Dog

The Eskie's story is really about immigration and show business. German families settling in the American Midwest in the late 1800s brought white spitz dogs with them as farm dogs and companions. Traveling circuses soon noticed them: the white coats looked striking under the lights, and their quick minds made them natural performers, walking tightropes, riding ponies and working through long routines. Audiences often bought puppies after the show, which spread the breed across the country.

The name came later. Around the First World War anything that sounded German fell out of favor, and the dogs were rebranded as American Eskimo Dogs, reportedly borrowing a kennel name of the time. The United Kennel Club registered them in 1919, yet full AKC recognition did not arrive until 1995, long after the breed had become a familiar family dog.

At home, an Eskie is bright, cheerful and very much part of the family. Most attach strongly to their household, stay cautious with strangers, and bark at the first hint of anything unfamiliar. The three sizes share one temperament, so the choice usually comes down to your space, your lifestyle and how much dog you are willing to lift into the bath.

A great match for

families wanting a trainable, playful dog
owners interested in trick training or agility
cooler climates
people who want an alert watchdog

Think twice if

barks readily at anything unusual
heavy shedding, especially twice a year
wary of strangers without early socialization
anxious and destructive if left alone for long periods

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much an American Eskimo Dog eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	12 kg	610 kcal	165 g (1.8 cups)
Female, typical pet	12 kg	700 kcal	190 g (2 cups)
Male, typical pet	14 kg	790 kcal	215 g (2.3 cups)
Male, very active	14 kg	990 kcal	265 g (2.8 cups)

Full American Eskimo Dog feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the American Eskimo Dog

FeedingThat fluffy coat hides a widening waist remarkably well. Eskies tend to be enthusiastic eaters and gain weight easily, so feel for ribs every couple of weeks rather than trusting your eyes.Read more Puppy growthGrowth speed depends on the variety. Toys and miniatures usually reach adult size by 9 to 12 months, while standards may keep growing until 12 to 15 months and take a little longer to fill out through the chest.Read more ExerciseCircus blood shows in how much Eskies enjoy learning. Standards need roughly 60 minutes of activity a day and toys and miniatures around 30 to 45 minutes, but all three need mental work too.Read more GroomingBrush two or three times a week with a pin brush and an undercoat rake, and daily during the two big seasonal sheds. Pay special attention to the ruff, behind the ears and the feathering on the back legs, where tangles start.Read more TrainingEskies are among the more trainable spitz breeds, quick and eager when training feels like a game. They respond best to rewards, praise and variety, and they can become sulky or defiant with harsh handling.Read more HealthThe breed is fairly long-lived, but conditions seen in Eskies include progressive retinal atrophy (for which a DNA test exists), hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease in the smaller varieties, diabetes and allergies. Responsible breeders run DNA tests for eye disease, have hips and knees evaluated, and repeat eye examinations regularly.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Registered by the United Kennel Club in 1919, but not recognized by the AKC until 1995.
2Comes in three sizes: toy at 23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 in), miniature at 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) and standard at 38 to 48 cm (15 to 19 in).
3The weights on this page describe the standard size; toys weigh roughly 3 to 5 kg and miniatures roughly 5 to 9 kg.
4The breed was renamed from German Spitz during the wave of anti-German feeling around the First World War.
5A circus Eskie called Stout's Pal Pierre is often credited as the first dog to walk a tightrope.

American Eskimo Dog questions

Is the American Eskimo Dog related to the Samoyed or Husky?

Only distantly, as part of the broad spitz family. The Eskie descends from German spitz dogs brought to the United States by immigrants, not from Arctic sled dogs. The Eskimo name came from a rebranding around the First World War. Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies are much larger working breeds with different histories and temperaments.

What size American Eskimo Dog should I choose?

Toys (23 to 30 cm) and miniatures (30 to 38 cm) suit apartments and smaller homes, while standards (38 to 48 cm) are sturdier and better for active families who want a hiking companion. Temperament is similar across sizes, but toys are more fragile and more prone to dental problems. Consider your space, children's ages and how much grooming you can manage.

Do American Eskimo Dogs bark a lot?

Expect a fair amount. The Eskie is an alert watchdog that notices every unusual sound or movement. Barking is easier to manage with plenty of exercise, mental work and training a quiet cue from an early age. Blocking views of a busy street and rewarding calm behavior also help. Eskies left alone and bored often bark much more.

Are American Eskimo Dogs hypoallergenic?

No. The Eskie has a dense double coat and sheds steadily, with two heavy shedding periods a year when the undercoat comes out in clumps. People with dog allergies usually react to them as they would to other heavy-shedding breeds. Regular brushing, ideally outdoors, reduces loose hair in the house but will not remove allergens entirely.

Is the American Eskimo Dog the same as a Japanese Spitz or German Spitz?

They are related but separate breeds. The Eskie developed in the United States from German spitz dogs and allows white or white with biscuit cream. The German Spitz is still bred in Germany in many colors and sizes. The Japanese Spitz is a white spitz from Japan with a different history and slightly different build, though they can look very similar.

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