Talk:American Eskimo Dog

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This was a very informative article, but I have good news for those of you with "separation anxiety" i.e., tearing up the house. After coming home to what appeared to be a crime scene for 2 years, a friend suggested Clomicalm(clomipramine hydrochloride). My vet gave us the medication ASAP and in one day, Diamond stopped eating the dining room carpet. He has had no long term side effects from this drug given once a day for life(usually). At first his appetite lagged a bit. If you value your dog and your possessions, then there is a "cure". Diamond is now 8 years old. We were waiting to get more Clomicalm and he went w/o it for a few days. Now we see that he does not need it anymore. Even if we had to give it to him for life, it would have been well worth it. So many people get rid of their pets because of their destructive behavior when they are not home. If you are thinking of getting rid of your eskie becuse of this, please check with your vet about Clomicalm. It's a small price to pay for a happy, well trained dog. He never chewed up the furniture, clothes or trash can contents again. I understand that it may take a little longer to see the effects of this medication, but give it a try.

This is a great article. I have an Eskie and he is 11 years old. Be aware, if you plan on owning one they are very high maintainance. The vet called it "separation anxiety." He is just now NOT tearing up the house when I leave. I now have hardwood floors because he "ate" all the carpet in my house. He is a very gentle and loving dog but be aware not to spoil them as I did. Great and very informative article.

Wow, what a great article. I can think of nothing to add or take away. H2O 03:19, 26 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Extremely late to give advice, but I do have advice on separation anxiety. Macheath (the dog with the "stained eyes" in the article) has no separation anxiety because my previous dog did. I learned from that. When I got Macheath, I made sure that, every time I leave (every time) I say one of two things: "I'm going to the store" or "I'm going to work." I use the first when I plan to be gone a short time, the other when I plan to be gone a long time. However, and here's the trick, when I leave for a long time, I make sure that I give her a treat as I head to the door, and I give her lavish, lavish praise as I go. She has a mouth full of dog biscuit and ears full of praise as I go out the door. She promptly lays down and goes to sleep, I'm told. Make sure your dog sees your departure as a good thing, as a time of happiness, when she's hearing what a wonderful creature she is. Oh, and distract her. Also, be consistent. Be very, very, very consistent. Never alter your phrase, and never forget. If a dog knows that you're coming back, she won't freak out as badly. Geogre 22:59, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

I also own one of these dogs and she is a great companion (in fact she is with me right now). H2O 03:21, 26 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Well if you have a camera, one thing you could add is a better photo! The one we have isn't great quality. There are example photos on User:Sannse/Dogs (full view) (image intensive page). I'm not saying they are perfect ;) but they give an idea of the most informative pose. -- sannse (talk) 10:13, 26 Mar 2004 (UTC)
If I can get her cleaned up! One thing about white dogs, they do show the dirt, just like white carpet. She'd love to play the fashion model, though. H2O 11:44, 26 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Did you see the Maltese? Now there is a white dog! -- sannse (talk) 18:37, 26 Mar 2004 (UTC)
I'd be afraid to touch that one for fear I might mess something up. Reminds me of the grooming jobs I see on sheep just before they're shown at the local fair. H2O 19:17, 26 Mar 2004 (UTC)

how about this photo?

Not bad. Is the photo yours or can you otherwise provide copyright info for it? Elf | Talk 19:12, 7 Jul 2004 (UTC)
The picture is mine, and it is copyright-free. --Joefutrelle 17:38, 8 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Better than anything I have at this point. Mine won't cooperate. Always tucks her tail when I am trying to take her photo. Plus this one is a lot cleaner. H2O 17:55, 8 Jul 2004 (UTC)
I'd go ahead and use this one, thanks! Go to Special:Upload to upload an image to Wikipedia. Please include your clarification that it's yours & copyright-free on the image page. Elf | Talk 03:41, 9 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Actually, I realize this is not the best picture, because Yeti has her hair trimmed for an operation, and Eskies are not generally trimmed. --Joefutrelle 03:00, 12 Jul 2004 (UTC)
hey people can you tell me how to show you the picture of my dog? because it is an awesome picture and i am a newbie at this stuff. PLEASE I NEED HELP !!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.52.48.143 (talk) 17:54, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

The American Eskimo dog that was in the bottom photo Image:Macheath-dog.jpg , does it need to have it eye area cleaned? The photo doesn't appear to be representative of the AKA preferred appearance for the breed. I've replaced the photo, but am starting this discussion here in case someone disagrees with my assessment! I don't mean to seem callous in removing a photograph. Any comments would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Uris 23:27, 23 Jan 2005 (UTC)

It probably does need to be cleaned. In fact, that's a very good point for this breed so I readded the photo with an appropriate caption. I don't know whether we really need 2 photos of Eskies in the snow, though, especially uncropped like these are. Hmm, could we crop them both down closer to the dog? The white-white one camo'd for the snow is kind of cool and the other one is just a nice photo of an Amer Eskimo, so maybe they could both stay. Elf | Talk 00:09, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Thanks Elf... with your commentary I think it is definitely appropriate for the page. I agree with both of your thoughts about the snow and the cropping, so have cropped one of the two eskie-in-snow photos. The snow camouflaged pic is still available on the pics of dogs page. Uris 00:35, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)

For what it's worth, Macheath does fit breed standard, although she's not a show dog. However, with that particular shot, we have lens distortion and her holding her ears back. When I put it on the article, it was the only picture we had. I'm delighted with the replacements, but I have to defend her honor a little to tell you that she is a breed standard animal, albeit one who needs her eyes cleaned. Geogre 23:05, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

It has been my understanding that American Eskimo Dog is a new American name for the same breed that is also called German Spitz elsewhere. I read that Americans changed the name during World War I because people didn't want 'German' dogs. It's also my understanding that they are related to the Samoyed breed. Can anyone confirm my recollections? --Derekian 19:40, 28 July 2005 (UTC)

American Eskimo Dogs are NOT related to Samoyeds. Eskies were bred in Germany as companion dogs. They did used to be called the German Spitz. Many people mistake them for miniature Samoyeds, but they are a completely different breed. StaraRune 27 September 2005

The other thing is that the breed has had a number of informal names. They are now separate from the German Spitz, but, because the AKC was so horribly late in recognizing the breed, everything about it has been varied. The breed has been recognizably a single breed since the 1910s, and it hasn't been shrunk nor enlarged, but I've heard them called "Spitz dogs," "German spitzes," "Feist dogs," "Fiesties," "Eskimo dogs," and, of course, the now accepted American Eskimo Dog. The other interesting thing is that they spread out across the US relatively quickly (compare fragile puppies like Pomeranians and Malteses), then waned in the 1970's. I'm hoping they continue to make a comeback, as they're just a great companion and a perfect apartment dog. Geogre 23:05, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

I'm getting an American Eskimo mix (the shelter thinks that it is mixed with a Pomeranian and/or Chihuahua). He is blonde and white and his name is Scooby. Picture here. Not sure about copyright, but when I get him I can probably upload a picture I take. 24.6.242.113 16:30, 10 July 2007 (UTC)

Eskies are wonderful animals. My own has been the best behaved, most model citizen I've ever known. Beware, though, that both Pomeranian and Chihuahua are more demanding -- much more demanding. Where Eskies have a tendency to be aloof and calm, Poms and Chihuahuas are both more aggressive and demanding. Separation anxiety is likely to be an issue, as well. Be sure to make every departure a celebration, as well as every return. Tell the dog exactly the same thing, every time you leave, praise the animal, give a small treat, and leave. Do not look like you're afraid/guilty. Make it happy. Use a radio on in your absence, too, if you can (in apartments, neighbors can get upset at this). Spend as much time face to face, happy, as you can. They're superb dogs and "word smart" or "trick smart." Be sure to get the animal neutered at the proper time, of course. Geogre 17:38, 10 July 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Origins

Ok, we're going round and round and round on this. Here is what my three books say:

  1. The German spitz is smaller than the eskie & was brought over with immigrants
  2. This spitz was developed into a larger dog with some admixtures (probably Keeshond) in NYC
  3. By WW1, it was already a distinct breed from the German spitz and was registered as an American breed

Yes, it came from the German spitz. No, it is not the same dog. If you took an eskie to Crufts, it would not look the same as the German spitzes. Hence, it is an American breed. If the people who keep saying that it's German have print references, let's please see them. The most recent reference I've seen to reiterate the NYC breed origin is The Dog Bible. I'll give it a day to see if I and all those books can be proven wrong. Otherwise, I'm going to go through the article with a flea comb. Geogre 22:31, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Nice pun George. Alright, I have 2 references, and I already added some basic information for those two, now if you can tell me what else is needed, I will add it, and that would solve the problem quickly, and thus the need for so many ignorant humans to argue with factual information will diminish. Oh and spitzes is not a word. Its plural in English is spitzen. Just like the plural for French loanwords (such as Portmanteau), mostly ends in x (portmanteaux.)209.244.42.97 03:05, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Oh, yes, antique feminine nouns with their plurals (fox - vixen, ox - oxen). Mine all say NYC as an origin. Yes, the bit about the name change is well attested, but whether it is a new breed in the US or not would be disputed at very best. This is what happens when sources disagree: we say, "Germany or USA" in boxen, and we provide a long answer on the origins section, "Some authorities argue that the American Eskimo Dog is the German Spitz with a new name, while others argue that it was a separate breed before the name was changed." That way, we're honest with our readers and reflect the opinionen of the world. (Anglo-Saxon has its spits, but the Saxon plural gets normalized across loanwords that come from cognates. It's all a question of how voreign ze verd is.) Geogre 21:55, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Hi guys...

As current 3 term president of the AKC National Parent Club and also president of our local UKC Club of Washington State I'd like to thank you for your beginnings on here of our wonderful breed.

I've been an owner, breeder, and exhibitor of this breed for over 10 years and showing and breeding dogs for 35 plus years. The information on our breed is semi-correct on this page and I can highly recommend Nancy Hofman's book "The New American Eskimo" for down to earth, right on and correct information on the history of the breed, its origins and such.

I am not up on Wikipedia and what it entails but if there is anything I can do to help add to this project just let me know. I would like to help update some of the incorrectness that is on there, I did add some corrections a while back but guess it was taken as vandalism, again, not knowing the rules of Wikipedia.

Let me know if I can help in anyway.


--Lynn McClure ~ AngelHeart-Eskies 21:15, 5 August 2007 (UTC) [www.angelheart-eskies.com]

Well, it's great to have you here. Can you tell us some of the spots that look rough to you? With any wiki, there are bound to be silly bits and localisms added from time to time (e.g. someone's insistence that they're called "Echo dogs"), but I think folks are working from previously published stuff. I wrote the bulk of the first draft of the article, and since then I've kept half an eye on the article, generally not intervening as the article has generally improved, but one problem is, of course, the way that AKC has arrived at the dance late, the way that media attention is lacking, and the way that UKC gets downplayed. That adds to the fact that these were treated as "mixed" for far too long. Geogre 21:42, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

The AED really is a derivative of the German Spitz. It came from Germany as the white German Spitz and the name was changed to the "American Eskimo Dog". Rumor has it that the kennels that were credited in keeping the lines going were called the American Eskimo Kennels. I'll have to look in Nancy's book to verify that. But they really are the German Spitz, the white version.

They were accepted into UKC in or around 1913 and registered as the American Eskimo Dog. It wasn't until early 1990's that those that bred and exhibited the breed was able to get the registry opened and the stud books complete enough for AKC to allow them into the misc class and they then moved to non-sporting in 1995. While they are dual registered and there may be some friction between the venues the majority of us that breed and show find it beneficial to have both registries. We now have a third registry that has just allowed the American Eskimo Dog recognition, that being the Canadian Kennel Club and they are now welcoming those dogs from the United States to register and show in this venue. We're very excited for the ability to continue to have so many venues to show our breed in.

BTW, if you do a Google search on "Echo Dogs" you will find there is no correlation to the American Eskimo Dog... What a weird thing for someone to come up with... :-)

This breed is not any more susceptible to fleas and/or hotspots than other breeds and it really isn't necessary to post that information. They are in fact a fairly healthy breed but do have issues with PRA and Hip Dysplasia. All dogs do some more than others. As responsible and professional breeders we test our animals prior to breeding for those inherited diseases to insure we are not proliferating the disease and passing it on. We now have a DNA test through Optigen to enable us to test our dogs and even puppies at a very early age and have a 99.99% readout of whether the animal is clear, a carrier or affected from PRA. We are now able to backward breed to clear dogs and hopefully breed PRA out of our lines.

There is much more and I'm happy to help. Your best information would come from Nancy's book "The New American Eskimo" and while they are very expensive on Amazon you can email her for a signed copy, I think she charges about 40.00. Her email address is aecountry(at)msn. com and tell her Lynn McClure suggested you be in touch with her.

I just deleted the last change to the page. Please don't change what was posted to those as that was a direct post from the breed standard as written by the Breed Parent club and authorized by AKC.

Here is a link to the American Eskimo Dog used in the circus. http://www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1940no2.htm Could you add that to your information at the top. This occured in 1917.

[edit] More Info On The American

Another great site for information http://www.chekia.com/eskiehistory.html but would need to have permission to use it out of context. But a link to the site would be great for informative purposes. I know this person, she is a member of our parent club and is meticulous in her research.

Lynn McClure 21:26, 14 August 2007 (UTC)Lynn McClure

how do i show you guys the picture of my dog? HELP PLEASE!!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.53.222.64 (talk) 22:39, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Merging the German Spitz page? Please don't!

On the top of the German Spitz page, it says that that page might be merged with the AED page. This doesn't make sense- although AEDs have been exported as White German Spitz, the breeds *are* distinct. Even here in the US, the United Kennel Club recognizes AEDs and GS as distinct breeds. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.251.64.13 (talk) 06:59, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Yes, I agree... DO NOT MERGE THESE TWO PAGES! The American Eskimo Dog may be a deriviate of the German Spitz but they are two distinct breeds and recognized as such within AKC!!!!

Lynn 17:14, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

Well, AKC only recognizes the German Spitz within FSS (and as three varieties of the same breed- klein, mittel, gross, which could cause problem as they could then be interbred) but point taken! Mittelspitz (talk) 02:19, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Definitely, the two should not be merged. It would be like merging Golden and Labrador Retrievers (at best). "German Spitz" is now such a heterogenous label that it's difficult to have an article there that can be in use in a global encyclopedia, but the AED is its own dog, with a consistent (more or less) standard. Geogre (talk) 02:50, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

i agree DONT MERGE THEM!!!!!! thats like merging the wolf with the chihuahua except not so extreme. but still we dog owners have our pride and so do the dogs lets do both breeds a favor and let them be individual.On a different subject I’ve got the coolest picture of my dog I promise you’ll love it. But I’m a newbie at this type of thing and I have no idea how to show it to you guys. Somebody help me please!!!

It's ok. At this point, the merge notice has been removed (I regret the passive voice, but I haven't looked through the history; maybe I removed the notice), so it's not going to happen. I'm going to also change the assessment. If anyone looks at the descriptions the projects themselves use, this is by no means a "start class" article. It's referenced and with no substantial issues remaining, so that makes it a "B" class. If folks think that more work can be done, that's just "normal." It's not "start class." Geogre (talk) 03:26, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Hey guys how do i show you the picture of my dog? i need help! PLEASE!!!