An excellent resource, as are so many other books, for anyone looking at or planning on adding an American Eskimo to their family; Maybe it's been in the back of your mind for months. Maybe it has just popped in one day. However it got there, the thought won't go away: you want a dog. A cuddly, playful, beautiful, loyal obedient, protective, wonderful dog that will make Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin look like canine underachievers. And you want it now. You want to get in the car and heads to Pups-R-Usand bring your bundle of fuzzy love right home. But have you thought this through?
First, can you make a commitment to this dog for the next 10 to 15 years of your life? Don't get a dog on a trial basis. If you tire of your dog and think it won't be bothered when you cast it aside, think again.
Can you make the finacial commitment of adding a new member of the family? The cost of the dog is the least of your worries ( and actually considering the number of years you will have it, a bargin.) But food, equipment, boarding, and vet bills can be high. Call several veternarians' offices in your area and ask the prices for office visits, a series of puppy vacinations, de-worming, yearly check ups neutering or spaying, emergency clinic visits, and monthly heart worm prevention.
Does everyone in the family want a dog? Now is not the time to be polite and hold your tongue. An unwelcome do is an unwelcome guest and neither it nor the resentful family member should have to live together. Don't just get a dog for the children. No matter how sincere the promises to take care of the puppy might be at the time, Mom or Dad will ultimately end up doing most of the work.
Think about why you want a dog. Companionship? Hunting? Protection? Showing? A way to meet people? Think even more about what you don't want in a dog. Giant size? Shedding? Aggressivness? Shyness? Don't choose a breed because your neighbour has one, or it was the star of a recent movie, or it's the current rage, or it just looks neat. Carefully decide what attributes you want in a dog, and what you don't want; with over 150 recognised breeds in the United States alone theres very likely a breed out there with your name on it. Maybe it's the American Eskimo Dog. Most people are initially attracted to a breed because of it's looks, and the stunning white Eskis is no exception. But far too often dogs are aquired with the idea that all breeds act the same. They don't...
So whats in an Eskie's genes? There are individual differences, but the typical Eskie is alert, bright, quick-witted dog, wonderfully obedient but sometimes playfully mischievious. The Eskie is loving, demonstrative without being fawning, and is extremeley loyal to its family. The Eskie thinks of itself as a family member and expects to be treated like one. Do not expect an Eskie to be happy if banished to the yard. The Eskie is an excellent watchdog, but does not have the physical attributes to be an intimidating protection dog. Sometimes barking can become excessive. Although not one-person dogs, Eskies do take a while to warm up to strangers. They must be socialized as youngsters, or this natural warriness can be expressed as shyness and fear biting., and although Eskies may occassionally headstrong, in general they are a soft breed and tend to be extremeley sensitive to harsh works or corrections. In a survey of Eskimo owners, barking and digging were listed as the most common problem behaviors, followed by shyness and hyperactivity. Biting, destructive behavior, escaping, and dog fighting were rarely a problem. Some poorly bred Eskies can have nasty temperaments, so you can select your particular Eskie with great care.
Keeping the Eskies coat gleaming and full and white is not as daunting a task as it might first appear. Its coat texture is such that dirt does not cling, and even mud will fall from the coat as it dries (of course, this may be in your house!). This texture, coupled with a relative lack of oilsiness, also tends to be resistant to easy matting, and best of all, the Eskie is virtually free of doggy odor! It is also a good breed for allergic dog owners, as the Eskie shed minimal dander.
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