An excellent resource, as are so many other books, for anyone looking at or planning on adding an American Eskimo to their family; Maybe it's been in the back of your mind for months. Maybe it just popped in one day. However it got there, the thought just won't go away: you want a dog. A cuddly, playful, beautiful, loyal obedient, protective, wonderful dog that will make Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin look like canine underachievers. And you want it now. You want to get in the car and head to Pups-R-Us and bring your bundle of fuzzy love right home. But have you really thought this through?
First, can you make a commitment to this dog for the next 10 to 15 years of your life? Don't get a dog on a trial basis. If you tire of your dog and think it won't be bothered when you cast it aside, think again
Can you make the financial commitment of adding a new family member? The cost of the dog is the least of your worries (and actually considering the number of years you will have it, a bargain). But food, equipment, boarding, and vet bills can be high. Call several veterinarians' offices in your area and ask the prices for office visits, a series of puppy vaccinations, de-worming, yearly checkups, neutering or spaying, emergency clinic visits, and monthly heartworm prevention.
Does everyone in the family want a dog? Now is not the time to be polite and hold your tongue. An unwelcome dog is and unwelcome guest and neither it nor the resentful family member should have to live together. Don't get a dog just for the children. No matter how sincere the promises to take care of the puppy might be at the time, Mom or Dad will ultimately end up doing most of the work.
Think about why you really want a dog. Companionship? Hunting? Protection? Showing? A way to meet people? Think even more about what you don't want in a dog. Giant size? Shedding? Aggressiveness? Shyness? Don't choose a breed because your neighbor has one, or it was the star of a recent movie, or it's the current rage, or just because it looks neat. Carefully decide what attributes you want in a dog, and what you don't want; with over 150 recognized breeds in the United States alone there's very likely a breed out there with your name on it. Maybe it's the American Eskimo dog. Most people are initially attracted to a breed because of its looks, and the stunning white Eskie is no exception. But far too often dogs are acquired with the idea that all breeds act the same. They don't. ...
So what is in an Eskie's genes? There are individual differences, but the typical Eskie is an alert, bright, quick-witted dog, wonderfully obedient but sometimes playfully mischievous. The Eskie is loving, demonstrative without being fawning, and is extremely loyal to its family. The Eskie thinks of itself as a family member and expects to be treated like one. Do not expect an Eskie to be happy if banished to the yard. The Eskie is an excellent watchdog, but does not have the physical attributes to be an intimidating protection dog. Sometimes barking can become excessive. Although not one-person dogs, Eskies do take a while to warm up to strangers. They must be well socialized as youngsters, or this natural wariness can be expressed as shyness and even fear biting., and although Eskies may occasionally be headstrong, in general they are a soft breed and tend to be extremely sensitive to harsh works or corrections. In a survey of Eskimo dog owners, barking and digging were listed as the most common problem behaviors, followed by shyness and hyperactivity. Biting, destructive behavior, escaping, and dog fighting were rarely a problem. Some poorly bred Eskies can have nasty temperaments, so you should select your particular Eskie with great care.
Keeping the Eskie's coat gleaming and full and white is not as daunting a task as it might first appear. Its coat texture is such that dirt does not cling, and even mud will fall from the coat as it dries (of course, this may be in your house!). This texture, coupled with a relative lack of oiliness, also tends to be resistant to easy matting, and best of all, the Eskie is virtually free of doggy odor! It is also a good breed for allergic dog owners, as the Eskie sheds minimal dog dander.
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