Richard G. Beauchamp - American Eskimo Dog: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog

Physical Characteristics of the American Eskimo Dog

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: The skull is slightly crowned and softly wedge-shaped, with widest breadth between the ears. The stop is well defined, although not abrupt.

Eyes: Not fully round, but slightly oval. They should be set well apart. Dark to medium brown is the preferred eye color. Eye rims are black to dark brown. Eyelashes are white.

Nose: Pigment is black to dark brown.

Ears: Should conform to head size and be triangular, slightly blunt-tipped, held erect, set on high yet well apart.

Neck: Carried proudly erect, well set on, medium in length, and in a strong, graceful arch.

Topline: Level.

Muzzle: Broad, with length not exceeding the length of the skull. Lips are thin and tight, black to dark brown in color. The bite is scissors or pincer.

Forequarters: Well angulated. The shoulder is firmly set and has adequate muscle but is not overdeveloped. The legs are parallel and straight to the pasterns. The pasterns are strong and flexible with a slant of about 20. Feet are oval, compact, tightly knit and well padded with hair. Toes are well arched. Pads are tough and deeply cushioned.

Coat: A stand-off double coat consisting of a dense undercoat and a longer coat of guard hair growing through it to form the outer coat. It is straight with no curl or wave.

Body: Strong and compact, but not cobby. The chest is deep and broad with well-sprung ribs. Slight tuck-up of belly just behind the ribs. The back is straight, broad, level, and muscular. The loin is strong and well-muscled.

Tail: Set moderately high and reaches approximately to the point of hock when down. It is carried loosely on the back, although it may be dropped when at rest.

size: All measurements are heights at withers: Toy, 9 inches to and including 12 inches; Miniature, over 12 inches to and including 15 inches; and Standard, over 15 inches to and including 19 inches.

Hindquarters: Well angulated. The upper thighs are well developed. Stifles are well bent. Hock joints are well let down and firm. The rear pasterns are straight. Legs are parallel from the rear. Feet are as described for the front legs.

Color: Pure white is the preferred color, although white with biscuit cream is permissible. The skin is pink or gray.

Contents

Meet Americas spitz breed, The American Eskimo, a direct relation of Canis lupus and the European spitz breeds. Discover the famous monarchs who favored these dogs and follow the Eskies development in the US.

Are you the right owner for the irresistible Eskie? Find out about this white angels personality and temperament, whats required for ownership and which Eskie variety is best suited for your lifestyle.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred American Eskimo Dog by studying the descriptions of the breed as set forth by the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined.

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses American Eskimo Dog care for all stages of development.

By Charlotte Schwartz

Be informed about the importance of training your American Eskimo from the basics of housebreaking and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Discover how to select a qualified vet and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccinations, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites and common medical and behavioral conditions.

Learn about the world of showing dogs, the different types of shows and the making of a champion. Go beyond the conformation ring to find out about agility and obedience trials.

Learn to recognize and handle behavioral problems that may arise with your American Eskimo Dog. Topics discussed include separation anxiety, aggression, barking, chewing, digging, begging, jumping up and more.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS A MERICAN E SKIMO D OG

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-353-2

eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-353-2

Copyright 2003 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Photos by Isabelle Francais with additional photographs by:
Norvia Behling, T. J. Calhoun, Doskocil, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas, Mikki Pet
Products, Alice van Kempen and R. Willbie.

The owner wishes to thank the owners of the dogs featured in this book, including Bobbi Leigh Davis, Dr. Athena Farrell/Natur Kennels, Carol Gloetzner, Lucy M. Ozalas, Cindy Richards, Wm. J. Sutera and WhiteLight American Eskimo Dogs.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

Racing onto the pure-bred dog scene is the American Eskimo Dog, coming to us from the frozen North. The breeds beautiful white coat, happy personality and intelligence are among the traits that have gained it a loyal following around the world.