The American Eskimo is frequently referred to as the Eskie or as a Spitz. It is descended from the family of Spitz dogs with some Keeshound, and Pomeranian added. As the breed standard for the Keeshound developed towards a preference for the grey and blue-grey colors, and the Pomeranian standard limited the size to under 8 pounds, the larger white-coated individuals were left out. They were pure-bred, but not good enough for the show ring. These dogs became the pets of the working-class, who brought them to America with them to use as general farm dogs and circus dogs. The name was changed to American Eskimo after world war II.
The Eskie is the most biddable of the Spitz breeds. It’s bright and eager to please, loves to play and can be quite independent. This breed does have watchdog origins and can be wary of strangers and other pets. These bright animals have a lot of energy and need plenty of mental and physical exercise every day.
They love the cool weather, but are so attached to their families that they need to live inside with them. The heavy, double coat will need frequent grooming. The standard Spitz can reach a shoulder height of about 20 inches, while the toy Spitz can be as short as 9 inches. The weight ranges from 6 lbs for the toys to 40 lbs for the standard.
