This article, written by Chauncey Bennett, was. reprinted in BLOODLINES, December, 1945 from articles which appeared in the late ’20’s. ( As printed in NAEDA 2010 Winter Newsletter )
In writing on this breed let us go back to the very foundation of the breed. There are many names for the Eskimo dogs and many types, but they all lean and lead up to the American Eskimo. There are the Huskies, the Malamute, the Alaskan Eskimos, the North Greenland Eskimos, the Samoyed, the Spitz, etc. You will note here that the outstanding name for the species is “Eskimo’ and this fact was largely responsible for the final selection of the breed name American Eskimo when their bloodlines were recognized for registration and a distinct breed by the United Kennel Club Inc. Registering offices.
First, we have the Alaskan Eskimo (Huskie). They are black or dark, with white and buff markings and weigh around 70 pounds. The second step is North Greenland Eskimo dog. This breed seems to be gentle and affectionate toward people, but devils towards anything else that walks, flies or swims. Admiral Perry used these dogs on his trip to the North Pole and says that he never would have reached his destination if it had not been for them. They weigh as much as 100 pounds, and are a whiter dog with a more pronounced plume tail; and we are one step nearer the American Eskimo. If I should take you by the hand and follow this bloodline southeast down through China and then home to Los Angeles or San Francisco, we would come back home with a Chow. However, we don’t want to come home with a Chow in this instance, but it is our desire to come home with a beautiful pure white American Eskimo. This being the case we must take this beautiful bloodline and take a westerly course with it, down through Germany, England, and home to the United states.
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There is a nomadic tribe called the Samoyedes that live in that vast tact of Tundra country which expands from the eastern shores of the White Sea in Northern Russia to the Rive Khtanga in Western Siberia. They are one of the oldest and most interesting of native tribes, and with them lives the very foundation of this great breed the American Eskimo which is one of the oldest and most beautiful of all domestic breeds. I have noticed that Bloodlines Journal often speaks of them as “The Dog Beautiful.”
There is something splendid and intimate in the fact that this nomadic tribe has given this breed so much human association. Of course we must attribute this largely to the fact that very few breeds could stand such a cold climate. Hence our American Eskimo of today has a background of human association which has incredibly shaped his character. Let us picture him in his native home, for only there can we appreciate those influences which have made and developed this wonderful dog. With this knowledge we can better understand the right conditions and training which should be given to our very fine pure bred U.K.C. Registered American Eskimo of today. When leaving the nomadic tribes this bloodline split up, some going through China and came to us across the Pacific Ocean as Chows and the others, the pure and unadulterated bloodline) came to us under two names. The great and most popular name of the two was “Spitz” and the other one was the Samoyede, named after the nomadic tribe. Here we were confronted with two names and the most popular one and of course, the hardest one to eliminate was that well established name “Spitz.” This name “Spitz” was tacked on to this breed when coming through Germany as “Kleina Spitz” as we would say in English “Little Runt.”
There was no particular reason for eliminating the names Spitz and Samoyede. However, they could not be recognized as a distinct breed under two names and the honest to goodness name for them was “Eskimo.” They are the direct descendants of the Alaskan Eskimo and the North Greenland Eskimo.
A number of years ago the breed was very popular under the breed name Spitz and Mr. and Mrs. E M. Hall had a fine kennel of these supposed to be (Little Runts) weighing from 25 to 40 pounds. Mr. and Mrs. Hall made a trip to the U.K.C. registering offices to see what could be done about recognition and registration of this breed which they love so well. They said that they did not like the name Spitz as it was not in any of the dictionaries and they did not know the meaning of the word. They said that they had been breeding this breed for a number of years, that they had sought out non-related mates and had complete breedings and pedigrees for at least three generations and wanted them recognized and registered if such a thing were possible.
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It developed during the conference that they had named their very kennels the American Eskimo Kennels. There you are. What better name could be selected for this beautiful breed. One might think it funny to name a breed after a fancier’s kennel name, but this was the correct and rightful name for them and Mr. and Mrs. Hall had it. Here is also a thought: Breeders and Kennels come and go, but a pure U.K.C. registered bloodline lives on and on to who knows when. I assume that Mr. and Mrs. Hall have long ago given up their breed and kennels. Anyway at this time the U.K.C. recognized this breed under the breed name of American Eskimos, made record of Mr. and Mrs. Hall’s dogs and since that time hundreds have been registered and they have shown a very nice progress.
Before dealing with technicalities and educative principles I would ask all readers to realize that his heritage is one of an existence of close intercourse with nature, and that he still remains “unimproved” by new and man-made conditions. Dwelling in the remote region of the ice-bound Tundra country, he has lived for centuries with a primitive people in a primitive state, and the very inaccessibility to their North Pole native country has Prevented any influx of foreign influences. This breed, the American Eskimo, can thus claim a straight lineage, untouched by any of those miserable experiences perpetuated by unintelligent man which have befallen so many other breeds. The beauty of their coat has no parallel in the whole of the canine kingdom, for it is as white as the snow which cover his native home, and in giving him protection against the sever climatic surroundings nature has combined utility with beauty. His coat is of double thickness, comprising a dense under-coat which is weather resisting and a top-coat which stands away from this, of longer and harsher hairs, and which is definitely dirt-resisting. A superlative beauty is given both by the texture and color of the coat, for one may see an American Eskimo with a coat of dazzling white with silver-tipped ends, which gleam like glacier Points, or with a pure white coat, delicately tinted with yellow, as though reflecting the ray of the sun.
A superlative beauty is given both by the texture and color of the coat, for one may see an American Eskimo with a coat of dazzling white with silver-tipped ends, which gleam like glacier Points, or with a pure white coat, delicately tinted with yellow, as though reflecting the ray of the sun.
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…….and bringing with them the traditional comradeship of man and dog a simple but comprehensive domesticity, and intelligent utility.
While their early ancestors were very large dogs weighing up to 100 pounds, today we have the American Eskimo standing between 15 and 20 inches and perhaps as small as 12 inches. At this size they are not too large for a companion at home or in the car; just a medium sized dog and one of arresting beauty. Perhaps the warmer climate pulled them down from the 75 and 100 pound ancestors to the smaller American Eskimo of today. Perhaps this difference was known and noticed years ago and is the fundamental reason for the “Kleina Spitz” (Little Runt).
At this time I might mention Admiral Perry’s great dog “Polaris,” one of the ancestors of the American Eskimo of today. He weighed about 100 pounds but with his long hair he looked much larger. On his shoulders his hair was 9 inches long and on the plume of his tail it was 12 ½ inches long. This fellow took to the pack saddle and to the sledge just like a duck takes to water without any training whatever, and pulled a sledge three miles through deep snow the first time he was put in the harness.
The color of the coat of the American Eskimo has remained unaltered but a note of warning reminds us that the coat will lose its glorious density if not properly treated. The stance of the American Eskimo marks him as a canine aristocrat; a beautiful plumed tail, carried over his back. Strong and, well-boned legs, feathered feet, a head with a small, well-placed ears held erect, dark and intelligent eyes with an exceptionally sweet expression, should mark the make-up of a pure bred U.K.C. registered American Eskimo. This is the type that has come to you and me and the type that we must maintain. To strengthen and help maintain this type…..
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….. we should always select a non-related U.K.C. registered mate when breeding, even at some added expense.
Now let me dwell on some technical points which may help the novice or arouse a new interest in those who are not yet acquainted with this beautiful breed. Briefly an American Eskimo can and will fit into any home. Just imagine him in the intimate association of any fine home.
My first advice would be, not to boss him around too much. Allow him to choose his own spot to lay in. You will find that it will be a remote one, in a corner maybe, or behind a piece of furniture, but wherever he may settle he will always be on guard and give an instant response when needed. Do not encourage him to lie in front of a fire. It is a mistaken kindness which will tend to blunt some of his most noble characteristics and certainly ruin his dense double coat; the latter will lose in weight and texture. Having chosen his spot in the home, train him with the understanding of maintaining his heredity comradeship with man. There is no dog more dependable with children. He can be trained to know friend from foe.
A true pure bred American Eskimo is never “snappy,” but if the occasion demands he can be courageous in defense. One may expect quick and successful results as a certain reward of intelligent training. Remember that the American Eskimo has been studying the ways of humans for centuries, and for them he has worked willingly and died bravely.
Corporal punishment given indiscriminately to children only arouses a deep-rooted and obstinate spirit of revolt. It may evoke fear, but it never creates that confidence of true justice which brings with it the only successful results in the training of character. So it is with the American Eskimo. He is peculiarly susceptible to the moods of man and a firm “No” will invariably achieve an intelligent discipline and ready obedience, more readily than the crack of a whip.
As I have dealt at length upon the origin, the travels of the bloodline, his names, his importation and the recognition of the breed, I now come to their physical condition and activities.
A perfect physique must have daily and regular attention. A dog of any breed has the right to a daily grooming; it is as necessary for his well-being as it is for that of his human associates. A single quarter of an hour given daily will keep an American Eskimo in perfect condition. Always brush his coat upwards, ……
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…… from the tail to the head. Do not be discouraged if he comes in dirty after a country walk. Think of his dirtresisting coat and use the brush freely; in a few minutes the snow glisten will appear and he will be in correct social attire to enter the home.
I would place emphasis upon one very important point. An American Eskimo can withstand the severity of a dry cold, no matter how cold it gets, but never allow them to lie around in damp weather. It their paws get wet, rub them well and make sure that they are perfectly dry.
His daily menu should be simple, in accordance with his hereditary means of sustenance. An adult dog requires only two meals, one at noon and the second at night. Both should consist of raw meat, preferably, and any of the well known dog foods that are advertised in Bloodlines Journal. For variety, one can add household scraps and give different kinds of biscuits, but, remember, sweet meats and dainties were not found in the land where they came from and will not do them any good.
Clean water should be accessible at all times, as this is any dog’s most potent medicine and absolutely essential to maintaining his good physical condition. As for activities-here again, think of what he is born to do. You can give an American Eskimo any little cart to draw, and he will love it. In a few minutes, he responds to harness. There is no dog prouder and happier than when he can draw a small vehicle with a child as the passenger. A team, with a good leader, can be trained in an incredibly short time to draw a sledge or cart.
American Eskimos are wonderful ratters; they can be trained to retrieve, and in fact, they are capable of responding to any obedience test. Daily exercise is just as essential as daily grooming and, again, it is their due. In habits they are scrupulously clean, and the smallest puppy can be trained without any difficulty. Thus we all should see that the more natural conditions we give and allow the American Eskimo the more we shall retain his beautiful appearance and nobility of character. He has often been described as “the fearless dog with a human brain.”
Let us all work together and popularize this glorious family of American Eskimos, whose intelligence, strength, endurance, and faithfulness make a direct appeal to men; whose beauty and refinement attract all women, and whose dignified genteelness makes him the ideal companion of children.
This article, written by Chauncey Bennett, was. reprinted in BLOODLINES, December, 1945 from articles which appeared in the late ’20’s.