The American Eskimo Dog has been described as "the dog beautiful".  It has a double coat that is lovely white, or white with biscuit or cream markings.  The double coat is easy to care for as it does not require frequent bathing.  The coat is dirt repellent and this breed does not have a "doggie" smell.  Eskies tend to be very catlike in some of their habits.  They clean their faces just like a cat.  Eskies make excellent mousers and ratters.  New owners should not keep parakeets, or other birds around the house as the A.E.D. will likely kill, or try to kill the bird(s).  The same goes for small rodents like guinea pigs, hamsters, or rabbits, etc.
     The skin is either pink or gray in color.  Black is the preferred color of the pigment of the nose, eyelids, gums, and pads of their feet.
     The Eskie is very typical of the group of small dogs that were bred to be house dogs, companions, and watch dogs.  Eskies were bred to be kept indoors, even though they have a luxuriant coat.  Some people call them velcro dogs, because they want to be with their human all the time, at work, play, and at rest. Typically, the Eskie is alert to its environment, watchful, intelligent, friendly, and easily trained.  The A.E.D. is not a dog for the faint of heart, as it is a very active, bouncy breed.  This type of dog loves to be the center of attention, and will do whatever it takes to attain that which it desires. When it announces that a stranger (human, dog, cat, bird, whatever) is approaching, the Eskie can be a very exurberant  barker.  The Eskie is not suppose to have an aggressive temperament, however, it is important that proper training methods are used, and that the buyer of a new puppy observe the temperament of the sire and dam of the puppy.  If harsh training methods are used with this breed the end result will either be that the dog is a shrinking violet, or will become nasty, snappy, and aggressive.
     There are three size ranges for the American Eskimo Dog.  The weight varies according to the size and bone structure of the individual dog.  The owner, in conjunction with a veterinarian, should be observant and diligent in overseeing the nutrition and diet of the dog.  There is also the activity level that the dog is at each day that needs to be taken into consideration as well.
                                   The Toy is over 9 inches and up to, and including, 12 inches to the withers.
                                   The Miniature is over 12 inches and up to, and including, 15 inches to the withers.
                                   The Standard is over 12 inches and up to, and including 19 inches to the withers.
     A rule of thumb that is used to judge how large an Eskie puppy is going to grow to be is to weigh the puppy at eight weeks of age.  If the puppy weighs 6 - 8 pounds, it will probably grow up to standard size.  If the pup weighs 3 -4 pounds, it will likely be a miniature.  Lastly, if the puppy is less than 3 pounds at 8 weeks of age, it will probably only grow to toy size.  There are exceptions to every rule, but this works better than a crystal ball.
     Socialization and training should be a part of every puppy's life.  The owner is in control of the dog at all times, and knows how the dog will react in a given situation.  Socialization is the exposure of the dog to all aspects of its environment.  Sound, people, other animals, unusual circumstances all need to be shown to the puppy and continue as an adult.  This keeps the dog mentally alert, confident in its ability to handle strange situations, and not to be afraid.  Eskies can be fear biters - this is something every owner wants to avoid, and socialization and training are the ways in which you can make your dog a good canine citizen.
     One important note for owners of American Eskimo Dogs is never leave your Eskie unattended.  It doesn't matter if it is in the backyard, or out in public.  Incidences of these dogs being stolen are high.  Avoid the heartbreak of a stolen dog, keep it with you at all times.

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