American Eskimo Dog
Official Cynology Profile & Standard Data.
History & Overview
Origin and historical development
The name is a misnomer, and the American Kennel Club says so plainly: the peoples once called Eskimos had nothing to do with founding the breed. It came instead with the waves of German immigrants who reached America from the early 1800s and settled the Midwest, bringing their white spitz dogs with them to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio.
Those German farm spitzes became a familiar sight in the upper Midwest, and the breed that grew out of them kept the white coat, the wedge head and the alert, talkative manner of its ancestors.
It is one of the few breeds the AKC recognises in three sizes: toy at 9 to 12 inches, miniature at 12 to 15 inches and standard above that.
Breed Standard
How the breed is described and measured
The breed is registered by the American Kennel Club.
Size, standard by standard
- American Kennel Club — height 22.9-30.5 cm
Full standards: American Kennel Club.
Country of origin: United States of America
Breed Trivia
Unique facts and fascinating details
- The breed name has nothing to do with the peoples it appears to reference.
- Its ancestors were the white spitz dogs of German farming families.
- The AKC recognises it in three sizes.
- It became a circus favourite in the United States in the early 20th century.
- The coat is always white or white with biscuit cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common inquiries about the breed
Why is it called an Eskimo dog?
It is a misnomer. The American Kennel Club states that the peoples referred to by that term were not involved in founding the breed, which descends from German spitz dogs.
How many sizes are there?
Three. The AKC standard covers toy, miniature and standard.
Is it related to the Samoyed?
Both are white spitz breeds, but the American Eskimo Dog was developed in the United States from German farm spitzes.
Is it recognised by the FCI?
No. It is an AKC breed, placed in the Non-Sporting Group.
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