10 Things You Didn’t Know about the American Eskimo Dog

If you want to know more about the American Eskimo dog, you might want to read through the 10 things listed below. This is a popular breed, but it’s not nearly as prevalent as other breeds such as Border Collies and German Shepherds. Therefore, a lot of people get them without really knowing exactly what they’re getting. By all accounts, anyone that adopts one of these dogs should be thrilled but it’s still important to know a thing or two about them before you go out shopping for one of your own.

1. They don’t actually come from America

Despite the fact that their name is the American Eskimo, they don’t actually come from America. In fact, the dog originated in Germany and is the product of a cross between another German-bred dog, the Spitz. In fact, the dog was originally called the German Spitz but its name was later changed to the American Eskimo dog.

2. It’s name goes back to World War II

The reason that its name was changed is quite interesting. People had been bringing the dogs into the United States prior to World War II. After the war, however, there was a great deal of animosity toward anything related to Germany. As such, no one seemed to be interested in having this particular dog anymore. As opposed to letting the breed die out, it was simply renamed. A simple change to the American Eskimo remedied all of its problems and the dog continued to be popular from that point forward.

3. They were once widely used in circuses

Chances are, you’ve seen these dogs perform in circuses. Though they were at the height of their popularity in such arenas during the 1930s and 40s, they’re still used in similar circus-type performances today. This is because they’re highly agile and they’re intelligent enough to learn tricks quickly. They also like to please their masters, so they’re more likely to adapt to all of the attention of the screaming crowds and pay attention to what they’re being asked to do than some other breeds.

4. They make excellent pets

All of these same qualities allow them to be excellent pets. You can have these types of dogs in a home that has other pets, older individuals and small children alike. Whatever the case might be, the dog is capable of adapting to the situation and becoming an integral part of the family.

5. They come in two sizes

Just like Poodles, the American Eskimo comes in the standard and the miniature size. Even the largest of these dogs doesn’t typically get too big to handle. They can weigh as much as 50 pounds, but the smaller miniature versions usually don’t weigh more than 30 pounds and can easily be picked up and carried around.

6. They have relatively long life spans

Another plus to having one of these dogs is that they’re extremely hardy. They don’t really have a disposition to contract any type of general illness and they typically have long life spans. On average, these dogs can live anywhere from 12 to 15 years and some live far beyond that.

7. They’re all the same color

One thing that’s interesting to note about this breed is that you won’t see them in a number of different colors like you do with so many other breeds of dogs. In fact, these dogs are always white in color. If you do happen to see one that has other swatches of color, it’s because they have been crossbred with another breed somewhere along the way.

8. They’re easy to train

The American Eskimo is one of the easiest breeds in existence to train. They pick up on things very quickly and they like to do what is expected of them. They’re always looking to please others so they don’t really have a tendency to get stubborn streaks or be too terribly independent. That makes them a good fit for first time dog owners.

9. These dogs have a calm temperament

In addition to their willingness to work with humans, they also have a natural inclination to stay rather calm, even in situations that could cause them to be anything but calm. This temperament makes them a great fit for practically any home and it’s also one of the reasons that they’re still routinely used in performances.

10. They’re highly intelligent

Obviously, a dog that has such a calm temperament and is so easy to train has to be intelligent. These dogs are no exception. There are among some of the smartest breeds of dogs in existence. However, they don’t have potentially destructive tendencies like many of the other more intelligent breeds.

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