The American Eskimo Dog is a wonderful, loyal, and fun companion if you are willing to provide the attention, exercise, and mental stimulation it needs. It can live in a small apartment if it gets enough exercise and attention from family members. However, its barking can be a problem with neighbors.
Breeding American eskimo dog at home
The American Eskimo Dog is a wonderful and lovable breed that can make an excellent house pet if its needs are met. Here is detailed information about raising it at home:
Personality and Temperament:
Intelligent, friendly, and lively: American Eskimo Dogs are highly intelligent and quick learners, and are very affectionate and affectionate with their family members, including young children.
Working and willing to please: These dogs were once used as working dogs, so they have a busy nature and love to have something to do. They delight in pleasing their owners and are receptive to training.
Alert and can be reserved: Despite their affectionate nature, they can be reserved in unfamiliar situations or with strangers.
Loud: American Eskimo Dogs are known for their loud voice and may bark frequently, especially when strangers arrive. This makes them good watchdogs, but they may not be the best choice for apartment living if neighbors are sensitive to noise.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
Daily Exercise: American Eskimo dogs need ample physical exercise and mental stimulation. A short walk or a game of fetch is not enough.
1 Hour of Activity Daily: At least one hour of activity daily is recommended, in addition to three different training activities per week.
Mental Challenges: They need mental challenges in addition to physical exertion. Treat-dispensing games and trick training are fun ways to help them engage their minds.
Preventing Destructive Behavior: Without adequate exercise and stimulation, this breed can quickly become destructive and noisy (such as digging and chewing).
Swimming and Hiking: They enjoy swimming and hiking.
Training and Socialization:
Intelligent and Trainable: They are intelligent, quick learners, and eager to please their owners, making training relatively easy.
Positive and Fun Training: Keep training sessions fun and light.
Early Socialization: Early socialization is essential to ensure they interact well with children and other animals. They can interact with other animals if they are positively introduced and trained.
Barking Problem: Excessive barking can be a problem, especially when left alone. They can be taught when to bark and when to stop.
Coat Care and Grooming:
Double Coat: They have a dense double coat (a short, dense undercoat beneath a longer outer coat) that is surprisingly easy to groom.
Hair Shedding: American Eskimo dogs shed continuously, with shedding increasing during periods of heavy shedding (spring and fall).
Regular Brushing: Thorough brushing two or three times a week is essential to remove dead hair and prevent tangles. During periods of heavy shedding, they may need daily brushing.
Bathing: They only need to be bathed every few months, as the natural oils in their coat help repel dirt. Frequent bathing can strip these natural oils and lead to dry skin. Dental, Ear, and Nail Care: Ears should be checked weekly, teeth cleaned daily with dog toothpaste, and nails trimmed regularly to prevent cracking or breaking.
Nutrition:
Balanced Diet: They need a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
High-quality food: Feed them high-quality dog food appropriate for their age group (puppies, adults, seniors). A food specifically formulated for small breeds can be a good choice.
Avoid Overfeeding: Measure meals to avoid overfeeding, and ensure that treats do not exceed 10% of the dog's daily calories.
Weight Monitoring: This breed tends to gain weight, so monitor their weight closely.
Common Health Problems:
Although they are generally a healthy breed, American Eskimo Dogs are more susceptible to certain diseases, including:
Dental Disease: Plaque buildup can lead to gingivitis, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): A genetic eye condition that causes retinal deterioration and gradual vision loss.
Hip Dysplasia: Although more common in larger breeds, it can also affect American Eskimo Dogs, leading to hip disproportion and joint pain.
Epilepsy: American Eskimo Dogs are more prone to epilepsy than other breeds.
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease: A condition affecting the hip joint, leading to bone cell death.
Pyoderma: A bacterial skin infection.
Home Life:
Indoor Dog: Despite their thick coat, American Eskimo Dogs should live indoors with their family. If left outdoors alone, they may bark, dig, or become excessively withdrawn.
Escape and Digging: They are intelligent dogs and are capable of escaping if not properly contained. If they have a yard, it should be securely fenced to prevent escape by digging.
