Where the American Eskimo Dog came from
The American Eskimo Dog is a spitz-type companion dog. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the Arctic. The breed comes from German Spitz dogs that European immigrants brought to the United States in the early 1900s. During World War I, anti-German feeling led owners to call them American Spitz instead of German Spitz.
The white dogs became famous as circus performers. In 1917 the Cooper Brothers' Railroad Circus featured them, and a dog named Stout's Pal Pierre walked a tightrope with the Barnum and Bailey Circus in the 1930s. The United Kennel Club recognized the name American Eskimo as early as 1919.
The American Eskimo Dog Club of America formed in 1985 to seek AKC recognition, and the AKC lists the breed as recognized in 1994. The breed comes in three sizes: toy, miniature and standard. Today they are smart, alert and happy family dogs.
- 1917 The Cooper Brothers' Railroad Circus features white Spitz dogs that become the breed's ancestors
- 1919 The United Kennel Club recognizes the American Eskimo name
- 1985 The American Eskimo Dog Club of America forms to seek AKC recognition
- 1994 AKC lists the American Eskimo Dog as recognized
The job an American Eskimo Dog was bred for
A companion and watchdog, and a circus star. That is why many American Eskimo Dogs bark at every sound, are quick to learn tricks, and want to be with their people all day. They need a job, or they will invent one, such as barking.
What you may see at home
Alarm barker, quick learner, sticks to its people, sheds a lot, bored easily.
Give them: Tricks, agility, puzzle toys, quiet cue training, and short alone time practice.
Sports that fit an American Eskimo Dog
- Agility. Quick, light on their feet and eager to learn
- Obedience. Smart and responsive when training is fun
- Rally. Great pattern work for a dog that likes to team up with a person
- Trick training. They were circus dogs, and many love an audience
- Scent work. A calm, focused job for a busy mind
Training tips for an American Eskimo Dog
- Use food and play. American Eskimo Dogs are smart and learn fast, which also means they get bored fast.
- Teach a quiet cue early and reward silence. Alarm barking is part of the breed.
- Practice being alone in short steps so they do not panic when you leave.
- Give them a daily job, such as tricks or a puzzle toy, to keep that smart mind busy.
Body and health
Thick white double coat that sheds heavily, so brush often. Do not shave it. White dogs can get sun-sensitive skin, so give them shade. They can also gain weight easily, so measure meals.
Fun fact. In the 1930s an American Eskimo Dog named Stout's Pal Pierre walked a tightrope as part of the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your American Eskimo Dog is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.