American Eskimo Dog. Richard G. Beauchamp
while there is a bit less hair to be shed by the female, it happens twice as often in unspayed bitches.
INTRODUCTION TO THE BREED STANDARD
While the AKC and UKC breed standards do differ slightly, what they both attempt to describe is basically the same dog. The American Eskimo Dog is, and must always remain, a serviceable and healthy dog, free of exaggerations of any kind and ideally suited as a companion to man.
Like its undomesticated ancestors, the American Eskimo Dog retains those characteristics that would theoretically allow the breed to survive in the wild should the necessity arise. The breed has no gross exaggerations or incapacitating anatomical characteristics.
The proper coat of the Eskie protects the breed from both the sub-zero temperatures of winter and the scalding temperatures of summer. As already mentioned, the longer, coarse outer coat helps shed both rain and snow, while the short, dense undercoat insulates against both heat and cold. The especially profuse coat around the neck and chest is designed to provide extra protection for those areas. The heavily coated plumed tail protects the dog’s nose and mouth in cold temperatures and snow; the tail covers the face when the dog curls up. When in motion, the tail is carried over the back so that is does not trail behind in the snow or become caught up in brambles or undergrowth.
The coat should be white, but shadings of biscuit and cream are allowed. No other color is permitted. Important points are pigmentation and eye color. Eye rims, nose and lips should be dark; the darker the better. Also, blue eyes are totally unacceptable; eyes should be dark to medium brown.
The Eskie’s balanced construction makes him an all-around canine athlete, both powerful and agile—bearing comparison to the human decathlon champion. The well-conditioned Eskie is muscular and fit with little excess to hinder his quick and easy movement. The breed is slender enough to manipulate over, under, around and through.
What the standards ask for in the way of construction and balance applies to all three varieties of the breed—Toy, Miniature and Standard. While the Toy and Miniature varieties may never be asked to survive in the wild, it must be remembered that they are simply a miniaturization of the Standard variety and that all aspects of type, balance and soundness apply. The UKC breed standard does not recognize the Toy variety. The standards of both the AKC and UKC are presented here for comparative purposes.
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB STANDARD FOR THE AMERICAN ESKIMO DOG
General Appearance: The American Eskimo Dog, a loving companion dog, presents a picture of strength and agility, alertness and beauty. It is a small to medium-size Nordic type dog, always white, or white with biscuit cream. The American Eskimo Dog is compactly built and well balanced, with good substance, and an alert, smooth gait. The face is Nordic type with erect triangular shaped ears, and distinctive black points (lips, nose, and eye rims). The white double coat consists of a short, dense undercoat, with a longer guard hair growing through it forming the outer coat, which is straight with no curl or wave. The coat is thicker and longer around the neck and chest forming a lionlike ruff, which is more noticeable on dogs than on bitches. The rump and hind legs down to the hocks are also covered with thicker, longer hair forming the characteristic breeches. The richly plumed tail is carried loosely on the back.
Size, Proportion, Substance: Size: There are three separate size divisions of the American Eskimo Dog (all measurements are heights at withers): Toy, 9 inches to and including 12 inches; Miniature, over 12 inches to and including 15 inches; and Standard, over 15 inches to and including 19 inches. There is no preference for size within each division. Disqualification: Under 9 inches or over 19 inches. Proportion: Length of back from point of shoulder to point of buttocks is slightly greater than height at withers, an approximate 1.1 to 1 ratio. Substance: The American Eskimo Dog is strong and compactly built with adequate bone.
Head: Expression is keen, intelligent, and alert. Eyes are not fully round, but slightly oval. They should be set well apart, and not slanted, prominent or bulging. Tear stain, unless severe, is not to be faulted. Presence of tear stain should not outweigh consideration of type, structure, or temperament. Dark to medium brown is the preferred eye color. Eye rims are black to dark brown. Eyelashes are white. Faults: Amber eye color or pink eye rims. Disqualification: Blue eyes. Ears should conform to head size and be triangular, slightly blunt-tipped, held erect, set on high yet well apart, and blend softly with the head. Skull is slightly crowned and softly wedge-shaped, with widest breadth between the ears. The stop is well defined, although not abrupt. The muzzle is broad, with length not exceeding the length of the skull, although it may be slightly shorter. Nose pigment is black to dark brown. Lips are thin and tight, black to dark brown in color. Faults: Pink nose pigment or pink lip pigment. The jaw should be strong with a full complement of close fitting teeth. The bite is scissors or pincer.
Neck, Topline, Body: The neck is carried proudly erect, well set on, medium in length, and in a strong, graceful arch. The topline is level. The body of the American Eskimo Dog is strong and compact, but not cobby. The chest is deep and broad with well-sprung ribs. Depth of chest extends approximately to point of elbows. Slight tuck-up of belly just behind the ribs. The back is straight, broad, level, and muscular. The loin is strong and well-muscled. The American Eskimo Dog is neither too long nor too short coupled. The tail is set moderately high and reaches approximately to the point of hock when down. It is carried loosely on the back, although it may be dropped when at rest.
American Eskimo Dog in profile, showing correct type, balance and structure.
Forequarters: Forequarters are well angulated. The shoulder is firmly set and has adequate muscle but is not overdeveloped. The shoulder blades are well laid back and slant 45° with the horizontal. At the point of shoulder the shoulder blade forms an approximate right angle with the upper arm. The legs are parallel and straight to the pasterns. The pasterns are strong and flexible with a slant of about 20°. Length of leg in proportion to the body. Dewclaws on the front legs may be removed at the owner’s discretion; if present, they are not to be faulted. Feet are oval, compact, tightly knit and well padded with hair. Toes are well arched. Pads are black to dark brown, tough and deeply cushioned. Toenails are white.
Head study, showing correct type, structure and pigmentation.
Hindquarters: Hindquarters are well angulated. The lay of the pelvis is approximately 30° to the horizontal. The upper thighs are well developed. Stifles are well bent. Hock joints are well let down and firm. The rear pasterns are straight. Legs are parallel from the rear and turn neither in nor out. Feet are as described for the front legs. Dewclaws are not present on the hind legs.
Coat: The American Eskimo Dog has a stand-off double coat consisting of a dense undercoat and a longer coat of guard hair growing through it to form the outer coat. It is straight with no curl or wave. There is a pronounced ruff around the neck which is more noticeable on dogs than bitches. Outer part of the ear should be well covered with short, smooth hair, with longer tufts of hair growing in front of ear openings. Hair on muzzle should be short and smooth. The backs of the front legs should be well feathered, as are the rear legs down to the hock. The tail is covered profusely with long hair. There is to be no trimming of the whiskers or body coat and such trimming will be severely penalized. The only permissible trimming is to neaten the feet and the backs of the rear pasterns.
Color: Pure white is the preferred color, although white with biscuit cream is permissible. Presence of biscuit cream should not outweigh consideration of type, structure, or temperament. The skin of the American Eskimo Dog is pink or gray. Disqualification: Any color other than white or biscuit cream.
Gait: