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Judging the American Eskimo Dog

Mini American Eskimo Dog. Miniature American Eskimo Dog sitting in grass

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, December 2017 issue.

Judging the American Eskimo Dog

Perhaps the first thing people notice about the Eskie ring is the wide range of sizes shown together. Eskies come in small, medium, and large size (officially known as toy, miniature, and standard). The toy is 9 inches up to and including 12 inches. Miniatures are over 12 inches up to and including 15 inches. The standard Eskie is over 15 inches, up to and including 19 inches. All Eskies are shown on the table. Disqualification: Height at withers under 9 inches or over 19 inches.

When the dogs come into the ring, the first thing noted is that this is a Nordic breed. It is a trotting breed. It will cover the most amount of ground with the least amount of effort. The fastest dog isn’t necessarily the best mover. The best mover will be efficient, tireless, and effortless. The dog putting forth a lot of effort to get around the ring will not be your best mover. The legs of the good moving Eskie may not move as fast, but the dog will cover good ground.

On the table, note that the top of the withers, the elbow, and just behind the front pad are all in a straight line perpendicular to the ground. The length of the leg should be 50% of the height of the dog, with the body also being 50%. This can sometimes be hard to see because of the abundant Eskie coat. Note also that the front pasterns are angled 20 degrees, which acts as a cushion and increases stamina over long distances.

Eskies are not a square breed. The standard calls for a ratio of 1 to 1.1 height to length. Thus the length should be 10% more than the height of the dog. A 19-inch dog (measured at the withers) will be almost two inches longer than tall. Thus a 19-inch tall dog would be 21 inches in length. Even the 10-inch toy would be 10 inches at the shoulder and 11 inches in length. Eskies are not to be cobby.

Coming to the front of the dog, first notice the alert and intelligent expression. Cradle the head in your hands. The Eskie head should have a soft wedge shape with the widest breadth between the ears, eyes are dark to medium brown, almost oval in shape and symmetrically placed on the head. The standard calls for full dentition and either a scissor or level bite is correct. The muzzle is broad and the length can be shorter, but may not exceed the backskull length. Ears are triangular, erect and conform to size of head. Jaw is strong and well developed. Bridge of the muzzle is flat, foreface is high, stop is well defined. Eye rims, lips, and nose are black to dark brown. As with many Nordic breeds, Eskies may snow nose (center of nose leather fading) with the winter months, hence the name. This is not to be confused with a total or partial lack of pigment of the nose. Disqualification: Blue eyes.

In examining the remainder of the dog, the neck is medium in length and carries a good arch. Front legs are well under the body. The standard calls for a well angulated dog both front and rear, you may be able to feel the right angle, (one corner of a square) where the shoulder blade meets the upper arm. Both bones lay back 45 degrees from a line through the joint running parallel to the ground. The 45-degree angle is probably more sought after than found, but straight shoulders severely impact the gait. The sternum can be easily felt as the dog has good forechest. Ribs are on the approximate level of the elbow and are well sprung to the elbow. The back is strong and level; loins are well muscled. The standard calls for a 30-degree lay off of the pelvis. To be in balance with the front, the stifle must be well bent and the hocks short (well let down), and straight. There is a very slight slope of the croup. Upper and lower thighs are of the same length. Feet are oval. Toes are arched and pads are tough and deeply cushioned.

The Eskie is a single tracking breed. All footprints falling on a single line of travel. When the dog breaks into a trot his body is supported by only two legs at a time, which move as alternating diagonal pairs. To achieve balance, his legs angle inward toward a center line beneath his body, and the greater the speed, the closer they come to tracking on a single line. (In a small ring, Eskie legs can be seen to converge but may not reach true single tracking in a confined space.)

The gait is “agile, bold, well balanced and frictionless, with good forequarter reach and good hindquarter drive”. The head will drop slightly to keep with the forward momentum of the dog. Eskie tails may be down when the dog is at ease but must be carried loosely over the back while they are moving.

The Eskie is a double-coated breed. It is white or white with biscuit cream. The quality of the coat is more important than the quantity. Dogs will normally carry more coat than the bitches. Bitches will have a slightly softer texture to their coat. The coat is weather-resistant and carries the typical pattern to the coat. Pattern is more apparent on dogs than bitches. Disqualification: Any color other than white or biscuit cream.

And finally, please remember from the standard: “There is to be no trimming of the whiskers or body coat and such trimming will be severely penalized. Only permissible trimming is to neaten the feet and the backs of the rear pasterns.”

SUMMARY: When judging the American Eskimo Dog, it is important to keep in mind the original function of the breed. It was originally bred as a multi-purpose working dog of the farm. The Eskie is one of the most versatile of breeds and is extremely intelligent. The Standard for the breed is very descriptive as to what is desired. The Eskie is a Nordic breed and also displays the characteristics of the ancient Spitz line of dogs. Good and balanced angulation is extremely important with shoulders well laid back. It is also a trotting breed, so movement is very important, not only written in the standard, but to the breeders that have dedicated their lives to preserving, protecting and improving.

The Eskie succeeds in agility, obedience, flyball, lure coursing, dock dog diving, herding, therapy, and service dog work. And is a strikingly beautiful dog in the conformation ring as well as a loving and loyal companion. Eskies excel at these and other tasks. But it cannot do so if it is not have the structure, temperament, and type as according to the standard…so please judge accordingly.