of any dog, there are some very basic conditions that must be considered. One of the first important questions that must be answered is whether or not the person who will ultimately be responsible for the dog’s everyday care and well-being actually wants a dog. All too often, the responsibility of the family dog’s day-to-day care tends to fall on one person, usually a parent. While the children in the family may be wildly enthusiastic about having a dog, it must be remembered that they are away most of the day at school, extra-curricular activities and the like. It is often Mom or Dad who will be taking on the additional responsibility of primary care-giver for the dog.
Pets are a wonderful method of teaching responsibility to children, but it should be remembered that the enthusiasm that inspires children to promise anything in order to have a new puppy may quickly wane. Who will take care of the puppy once the novelty wears off? Does that person want a dog?
Desire to own a dog aside, does the lifestyle of the family actually provide for responsible dog ownership? If the entire family is away from early morning to late at night, who will provide for all of a puppy’s needs? Feeding, exercise, outdoor access and the like cannot be provided if no one is home.
ATHLETIC ESKIE
The American Eskimo stands among the most athletic of the smaller breeds. All three sizes consistently prove that competitive events like agility and flyball come as second nature. It is important, however, always to remember that the Eskie needs patience, understanding and a gentle touch in all of his training experiences. If your Eskie senses that you lack enthusiasm in what you are trying to convey, you will be hard-pressed to convince him that what you’re doing is “fun.”
Another important factor to consider is whether or not the breed of dog is suitable for the person or family with which it will be living. Considering the American Eskimo Dog gives the prospective owner several options in that the breed comes in three varieties or sizes: Standard, Miniature and Toy. A full-grown Standard-sized Eskie can handle the rough-and-tumble play of young children. A very young Toy-sized Eskie cannot.
Then, too, there is the matter of hair. A luxuriously coated dog is certainly beautiful to behold, but all of that hair takes a great deal of care. Brushing an adult Eskie requires time and patience. All long-haired dogs shed their coats in the home. Naturally, the longer the hair, the more noticeable it will be on clothing, furniture and the like.
As great as claims are for any breed’s intelligence and trainability, remember that the new dog must be taught every household rule that he is to observe. Some dogs catch on more quickly than others, and puppies are just as inclined to forget or disregard lessons as young human children.
DOGS, DOGS, GOOD FOR YOUR HEART!
People usually purchase dogs for companionship, but studies show that dogs can help to improve their owners’ health and level of activity, as well as lower a human’s risk of coronary heart disease. Without even realizing it, when a person puts time into exercising, grooming and feeding a dog, he also puts more time into his own personal health care. Dog owners establish more routine schedules for their dogs to follow, which can have positive effects on their own health. Dogs also teach us patience, offer unconditional love and provide the joy of having a furry friend to pet!
WHY A PURE-BRED DOG?
Most dog lovers agree that all puppies are cute. Not all puppies grow up to be particularly attractive adults. Of course, this is subjective; what is considered beauty to one person is not necessarily seen as attractive to another. It is almost impossible to determine what a mixed-breed puppy will look like as an adult. It also will not be possible to determine if the mixed-breed puppy’s temperament is suitable for the person or family who wishes to own him. If the puppy grows up to be too big, too hairy or too active for the owner, what then will happen to him?
SHY GUYS
The Miniature and Toy varieties of some American Eskimo bloodlines produce individuals that can become so extremely devoted to their owners and families that they need extra work to keep them well socialized and friendly. With proper exposure and socialization, a well-bred Miniature or Toy Eskie can be just as outgoing as his Standard relative. It should be remembered that no breeder can absolutely guarantee the mature size of an American Eskimo purchased as a very young puppy. Some breeders are better able to predict size in that they have a long-established line made up almost exclusively of individuals of a particular size.
Size and temperament can vary to a degree, even within pure-bred dogs. Still, selective breeding over many generations has produced dogs that give the would-be owner reasonable assurance of what the pure-bred puppy will look and act like as an adult. Esthetics completely aside, this predictability of personality is more important than one might think.
Pure-bred puppies will grow up to look like their adult relatives and, by and large, they will behave much like the rest of their family. Any dog, mixed breed or not, has the potential to be a loving companion. However, the predictability of a pure-bred dog means that, most likely, the dog will suit not only the owner’s lifestyle but also that person’s esthetic preferences.
Before you bring an Eskie into your household, visit breeders and spend as much time with both puppies and adults as you can. Puppies are only puppies for a short time, so be sure that the adult Eskie is the dog that appeals to you both esthetically and temperamentally.
WHO SHOULD OWN AN ESKIE?
The American Eskimo Dog is long-haired and all white—really quite beautiful. Remember, though, that the breed only looks beautiful with care and maintenance. Don’t forget that your Eskie’s coat requires your attention. Although many valid claims are made for the easy care of the Eskie’s coat, he still is a heavily coated white dog, and he does shed. If you appreciate the look of the breed, do realize that it will take some time and effort on your part to kept your dog looking that way.
While the Eskie can be an ideal choice for the person with allergy problems, it must be remembered that the breed, like many all-white and pink-skinned dogs, can be extremely sensitive to fleas. Unless carefully controlled, flea bites can and will lead to severe scratching. Incessant scratching results in skin eruptions and “hot spots,” which are accompanied by hair loss.
The Eskie is as smart as a whip and is capable of learning just about everything that you will teach him. Your Eskie will be totally and completely dedicated to you, and that dedication must be rewarded in kind. But just because the Eskie is totally dedicated to you, do not think for a moment that you will have a dog that obeys without question. An Eskie needs a “pack leader.” The breed is most secure when it is given boundaries and when the boundaries are consistently enforced.
Your Eskie must start understanding the household rules from the first moment he comes into your home. What it will take to accomplish this is patience, dedication and a firm but gentle hand.
Gentle but firm guidance from the beginning encourages good behavior and builds your Eskie’s confidence to help him through his adolescent stage.
Someone who needs a dog that does well living outdoors with minimal owner interaction should, in all fairness, look to another breed, or perhaps no dog at all! The Eskie must have constant human companionship and social interaction not only with his owner but also with all kinds of people and other
