AED HISTORY
by Terry Thistlethwaite
The American Eskimo Dog, nicknamed "Eskie", was origionally the white colour variety of German "Mittel" ("Middle size") and "Kleine" ("Small size") Spitz that came to the US and Canada from Europe over a century ago. The early history of the AED, therefore, is the history of the German Spitz, a breed (now breeds) that is still with us, and being shown today in many countries throughout the world. German Spitz are represented by five size varieties:that were eventually deemed separate breeds:
"Wolf Spitz" (around 18" tall),
now known in most countries as the Keeshond; "Gross Sptiz" or "Giant Spitz"(around 16"); "Mittel Spitz" or "Mediun Size Spitz" (around 14")
from which we get the Standard AED;
"Klein Spitz" or "Small Spitz", (around 12")
from which we get the Mini and Toy AED;
and the smallest "Zwerg Spitz" or "Toy Spitz", (under 8.5") now commonly known as the Pomeranian.
The classification of dog breeds known as "Spitz"
are often called the "Most Primitive" of breeds
because they most closely resemble the first domestic dogs decending from their wolf ancestry. As such, these origional "Spitz dogs" are considered by many to be the forebears of all modern breeds of dogs. Being that there are, in fact, several "groups" of "Spitz dogs" originating in different parts of the world, it can be somewhat confusing to have basically unrelated breeds carry the moniker of "Spitz". Therefore it is important
to stress that it is solely the German Spitz breed from which the American Eskimo Dog originated. . .
In what is now northern Germany and Denmark,
homes that were built centuries ago were
supported on stilts, signifying that the area
was primarily swampland or "peat-bog".. Those ancient swamp areas have proven an excellent preservation material, giving modern excavators detailed insight on their former.inhabitants. Included in those excavations are many of the small Spitz dogs that were clearly kept as companions, watchdogs, and small farm herders.
Because small European wolves were
known to scavange thru these farms and villages,
the white color Spitz, even back then, seems to
have been a preferred colour for these dogs, as it clearly distinguished him from the wolves even from a distance. The name 'Mistbeller' (literally,
"dung heap barker") was the name of the
dogs back then, signifying that they would typically
climb to a high point on the property and sound
a warning when necessary. These small family
farm dogs had to, by the nature of their
environment, be responsible for the many tasks
that would be taken on by multiple types of dogs
in more affluent and open areas. Primarily, they
were part of the family as companion dogs, and,
as such, took on whatever role was needed under
a given circumstance. Performing watchdog
activities, varmint chasing, small flock gathering,
carriage dog duties, and the balancing act of
manuvering thru the "peat bogs" resulted in
"multi tasking" abilities that are ingrained in
the breed even down to this day.
Combining high intelligence, an energetic nature,
a lithe frame, and keen interest in the activities of their human family members, they became the easy choice of both Russian and American circus's in later times, as well as carriage dogs, barge dogs, and eventually hearing, alert, and therapy dogs.
When German immigrants brought the dogs to
the Americas, U.S. and Canadian fanciers
particularly chose the smaller, mid size, and the white dogs as favored varieties. Breeding those
dogs exclusively, they eventually sought to have
them recognized as a separate breed from what was by then known as the German Spitz. It was
Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Hall who intitially chose the name "American Eskimo". It was, in fact, their kennel name. The UKC officially recognized the breed in 1913, followed later by the AKC and finally the CKC. Most Eskies in the US today are still registered with the UKC,
and many now with the AKC as a second registry.
It is noteworthy that breeders and fanciers of the
American Eskimo Dog were, until fairly recemtly,
content with having the breed recognized by and
registered with only the UKC. While this
organization satisfied the needs of the fancy as
regards registration, pedigree keeping, and
show venues, the fact that it is not considered the
"primary" registry in the U.S. may have served to
keep the existance of the AED as a pure breed
basically "unknown" to other registries throughout
the world, and it's history erroneously regarded as "obscure". It is noteworthy too, that the AHBA,
American Herding Breeds Assn, recognizes the
AED as a breed with a documented history of
herding. Eskies are therefore eligible to compete
in all AHBA herding events.
From the U.S..and Canada, AED's were imported into Japan in the early part of the twentietyith century, where the breed name fell into disfavor during the second world war. Eskies in Japan were thus re-named "Japanese Spitz", and have
recently gained popularity under that name as exports to Europe, Australia, and the British Isles. Almost comically, they have most recently seen their way back into the U.S. under the "new" name,and many fanciers unfamilliar with the history are heralding their "Japanese Spitz" as a "rare new" breed in this country, falsely said to be decended, not from Eskies, but Samoyeds! Even the United Kennel Club, the original registering organization for the American Eskimo Dog, is accepting the renamed Eskie as a "new breed" despite both historical documentation and obvious phenotype proving the "two breeds" are actually one and the same.
Whatever the "preferred name", all Eskies are decended from the same dogs we've known for centuries as the "peat-moss dogs" and "Mistbeller". The "Russian Circus Dogs",
also decended from these, provide a more recent
history, and it's significant that the first dog
documented to walk a tight rope was, in fact,
an AED by the name of "Stout's Pal Pierre"
associated with the U.S. Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Another notable breed member was the
Russian "Space Dog" Belka -- who flew
on Sputnik 5, and, along with Strelka (likely
an Eskie mix and Mom to Carolyn Kennedy's "Pushinka") has the distinction of being the first safely returned space traveler!
Notably, the breed does not share a common ancestry with the Samoyed, and the only Samoyed
crosses that have been done were in recent
years by unscrupulous breeders who were
unsanctioned in their actions. Any idea that
the Eskie should appear as a "smaller version"
of the Sammy is unsubstantiated by either
the breed's history, or the breed's standard.
As a true German Spitz, however, it does share
a common ancestry with both the Pomeranian
and the Keeshonden. American Eskimos
reasonably should appear more as a "white variety", in appropriate size, of either of these breeds, than as a "small Samoyed".
"Eskies", as they're commonly referred to in the U.S. today, are very intelligent, highly social little dogs (and they're all "little"; the "Toy" being around ten pounds,the "Mini" being around seventeen pounds, and the "Standard" being around twenty five pounds) who need to be with "their people" (no "outside life" for this breed!) and are generally somewhat aloof toward non-family members. As the breed was specifically
developed over many hundreds of years to be a highly trainable, closely bonded Companion Dog able to do "a little bit of everything" on family farms throughout Northern and Eastern Europe,. they remain today to be extremely people oriented and highly bonded to their humans. They therefore detest being routinely left alone, having no job to do, and being expected to behave as other
than a full fledged family member.
Standard sized AED's are typically more suited
to young families as they are sturdier than the smaller varieties. Toys are too small for young children, and a reputable breeder or rescuer will not place one in a family with a small child. Some Minis may be suited to older children, depending on the
individual dog and family. All Eskies need socialization in their early months, and must be introduced to gentle and well supervised children
at an early age if they are to be comfortable and confident with them later on.
True to it's heritage, an AED requires a human or family that is fully committed to understanding the intellignet nature of this breed, as connumication with this dog is absolutely essential to the
happiness of both the Eskie and his owner..
While in earlier times, understanding domestic animals was a given, being that it was essential for human survival, our society has lapsed into a state whereby it is only the minority who actually cultivate such empathy. It is all too common today that an Eskie is adopted by someone who "doesn't have a clue" as to how a particularly bright,
working dog thinks, and they are often put into the hands of a similarly "clueless" individuals who have deemed themselves to be "trainers". Such folks typically give up on these brilliant dogs, labelling them "dumb" when it is truly the amateur and ignorant methods being used that fail to bring their desired response. In too many cases, these adoptions fail because the dog is simply smarter than the humans.
Historical Photo Shows Some Of Our Breed's
Cousins Performing In The Russian Circus
Int Ch Chekia The Kingdom Promise VCX
With Her Eight Week Old
American Eskimo Dog Puppies:
Matthew, Luke, Mark, and JohnJohn
Miniature American Eskimo, Or Japanese Spitz?
The Breeds Are Truly One And The Same
Strelka And Belka, The World's
First Safely Returned Space Travelers
Affectionately Called The "Eskie",
The Breed Is Well Known For
It's Smiling Face, Humor, And Intelligence
"Russian Circus" photo above is from the Jorgen M. Christiansen collection,
published by The Circus Historical Society's Bandwagon magazine, May/June 1964 (pg 4)
and is used here with kind permission of it's president, Robert F Sabia
"Figgy" beautifully represents the Pomeranian breed,
also called the "Zwerg Spitz" variety of German Spitz.
He is owned by Judy Paris and Letitia Cannon
bred by Sharon Hanson
Keeshond photo ("Vicky") appears with kind permission of Rene Sauser
German Gross Spitz photo appears with the kind permission of Marketa Smrzova
German Mittel Spitz photo appears with kind permission of Fran Hussey-Allen
German Klein Spitz photo ("Maya") appears with kind permission of Nina Lahin
Pomeranian photo ("Figgy") appears with kind permission of Judy Paris
Samoyed photo ("Chevy") appears with kind permission of Nancy Kraus & Betty Cline
American Eskimo photo ("Casper") appears with kind permission of Lynn Martin
You may click on the names of these dogs, above, as well as on
"The Russian Circus" and "American Herding Breeds Assn." to visit their respective web sites
in some countries as the "Wolf Spitz" variety of German Spitz.
She is owned by Rene Sauser and Dennis LeHouillier
bred by Brenda Brookes
"Chevy" is a beautiful representative of the Samoyed breed, which is NOT a German Spitz breed,
He is owned by Betty & Percy Cline,
bred by Nancy Kraus & Betty Cline
"Casper" is a beautiful representative of the
Amerucan Eskimo breed, and you can easily see here
the contrast between a correct Eskie and a correct Samoyed.
Owned by Lynn & Roberta Martin, bred by Shiela Ruzanski
AED History resourced from "The German Spitz" by Ms. Jannat Al-haddad ,
Historical records from the United Kennel Club,
and conversations with Nancy Hoffman, author, The New American Eskimo,
and Barbara Benyon, author, The Complete American Eskimo
This beautiful representative of the German "Mittel" Spitz clearly shows his relationship to our Standard size AED's,
He was bred and is owned by Fran Hussey-Allen
This beautiful representative of the German "Gross" Spitz shows one of the many colour varieties (black)
in which the breed still exhits
His breder is Renata Nociarova Owner: Marketa Smrzova
"Maya" beautifully represents the German "Klein" Spitz
from which our mini and toy AED's decended.
She was bred by Niki Allison, Owner Nina Lahin
You're listening to
"Song Of Spring"
by German Composer
Felix Mendelssohn
Chekia American Eskimo Dogs
History Of The Breed
