Tibetan Spaniel vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison

The American Eskimo is derived from the Nordic Spitz breed and most closely related to the German Spitz in particular. There were many German Spitzes in the United States at the time of the second World War and anti-German sentiment caused its name to change to the American Eskimo Dog. However, as the breed developed over time in the States, the American Eskimo became its own separate breed. In addition to the German Spitz, the American Eskimo is also related to the white Keeshond, the Samoyed, the white Italian Spitz and the white Pomeranian. The history is beginning to show that the Spitzes that were brought to the US in the early 1900’s was white. This color was not popular in Europe but was quickly the favorite in the United States. They were originally working dogs on farms and ranches. They have excellent herding instincts, make goo watch and guard dogs, and good law enforcement sniff dogs. However, their first introduction to the American public was through the Cooper Brothers’ Railroad Circus and Stout’s Pal Pierre at the Barnum and Baily Circus. Eskimo puppies were sold after the circus show.

It was then that the breed became one of America’s favorite breeds and they quickly became house pets. Following World War II, Japan exported the Japanese Spitz into America and it was crossed with the Eskimo also. The American Eskimo Dog breed was not recognized by AKC until 1985. Still in 1958 there was no official breed club in the States but there were growing numbers of the dogs. It was not until 1970 did the National American Eskimo Dog Association (NAEDA) come into being. They collected the pedigrees of the first 1750 dogs to be AKC registered.

Since the American Eskimo Dog is not recognized internationally, those wishing to participate in international competition such as England’s prestigious Cruft’s Dog Show must register their dogs a German Spitz. Despite this the American Eskimo and German Spitz remain two very different breeds.

Known fondly as the Tibbie and being referred to as little lions’, the Tibetan Spaniel is an ancient dog breed.

They appear in ancient art dating way back to 1100BC. This tells you that this small dog has been around for a jolly long time.

When you look at him, you can see that his predecessors were the Pekingese and the Lhaso Apso. It’s odd actually that he is called spaniel, as he doesn’t look like a spaniel at all and he has certainly never been a gun dog. He is more of a companion breed.

Even today, you’ll find these dogs living with monks in monasteries. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1984.

This small to medium dog is beautiful and resembles a miniature Samoyed. There are three sizes of American Eskimo – the standard, miniature, and the toy. The Eskimo’s head is wedge shaped with tall, triangular, erect ears. It has a heavily plumed tail with a sharp curl over the back. The Eskimo can burst into bold action due to their good legs and feet.

The coat is a double one with a harsh outer coat and plush inner one. The coat is always white or white with cream or biscuit markings, and visible skin in gray or pink. The American Eskimo’s ruff or mane is very heavy, and the nose, eyelids, pads and gums are black. They have dark eyes and blue are not allowed.

Weighing between 4 to 7kg and standing at 23 to 30cm, the silky, double coat is fairly long and it sheds throughout the year.

The coat can be any color really, from tan to cream to brown and black and even a mix of colors.

The eyes are dark brown, the ears medium length and feathery and the tail is long and feathery too. The nose is fairly short and blunt.

Temperament:

The Tibetan spaniel is a small, active dog breed but not known to be shy or timid. He is an assertive dog, and intelligent too.

He would be better off having training and socialization as he is strong willed, stubborn and independent. He is loving, sweet and devoted to his owners.

He makes a good watchdog dog and will adapt well to life in the city or in the countryside. He can be both social and aloof, enjoying having his human family around him even though he may not be interacting with them.

He is playful and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. He makes an excellent pet for older people too – he just needs to get his regular exercise.

The Eskimo is affectionate, playful and love children of all ages. They are intelligent and want to please you. They can be trained easily and are champions of the obedience trial. They are fun and confident. At the same time, they need a confident pack leader. He is prone to Little Dog Syndrome where the dog thinks they oversee the home and display all sorts of behaviors. Under these circumstances the American Eskimo can become obsessive, aggressive, and engaging in obsessive resource guarding and barking.

The Tibetan Spaniel dog is energetic and active, but doesn't require a lot of exercise. This makes him suitable for life in the city as well as the countryside.

He'll enjoy going on walks but he will also look forward to ball games.

They’re social dogs and will relish any interaction with their human family. Give him the love and care he deserves and you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, loving friend.

The American Eskimo Dog is prone to hip dysplasia. Their eyes and tear ducts are potential issues with progressive retinal atrophy. They are allergic to fleas and have a tendency to be overweight.

We deal with PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) in greater detain in a following section but it is not as destructive as it used to be. It is much more treatable now.

There are potentially some dental issues that some American Eskimo Dogs are prone to.

Tibetan Spaniels are generally healthy, especially if you provide them with good food and exercise.

Whenever you’re looking to buy a puppy, make sure that you do research on where the puppy comes from. You don’t want to bring your puppy home and find that you’re faced with a host of health problems.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This eye problem effects photoreceptor cells which deteriorate over time and ultimately lead to blindness. It is an inherited disease that occurs in quite a few different breeds of dogs.

Dogs with this disease should never be bred. It isn’t a painful condition but you usually notice it when your dog has night blindness. Day blindness also occurs and later on cataracts can develop too.

Feeding

Your American Eskimo Dog needs a high quality food so they will not get overweight. Make sure you know how much is appropriate for your particular dog and her specific age. The puppies should be fed twice a day but adults only once.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the American Eskimo Dog is prone to eye issue such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy or (PRA) – this disease is inherited and used to cause blindness as the rods in the retina died. New medical discoveries mean this is no longer a hopeless disease. Their eyes are also susceptible to other issues so make sure you check them and the tear ducts regularly.

Like so many other breeds the American Eskimo is also susceptible to hip dysplasia and a moving patella in the knee. For this reason watch their weight. They can also be very allergic.

Exercise and games

This small dog has more energy than his size can handle. He needs a lot of exercise and a place to run. If he will become hyperactive and destructive. They are prone to disturbing behaviors such as spinning (spinning in circles) when they don’t get enough exercise. The American Eskimo Dog is smart and agile, Play games like catch or agility. They are also great at herding, competitive obedience or detection.

Exercise:

The Tibetan Spaniel isn’t fixated on games and exercise like some other dog breeds are, but even so he isn’t a couch potato either. He will certainly require some moderate exercise such as a good walk every day.

Diet:

You canine friend relies on you to make good food choices for him. Just like human beings have to watch what they eat if they want to remain healthy, dogs can’t just eat anything.

Feeding him an inferior diet will allow sickness. Commercially manufactured dog foods should be chosen with care, and there is a lot of information on the packaging to guide you.

Getting enough minerals and vitamins is imperative for good health. You should also try to give him some simplistic home-made food, while steering clear of toxic foods that could give your pet a whole lot of digestive problems. These are things like chocolates, crisps, peanuts, grapes, onions and spicy, exotic foods.

Just stick to simple, nutritious foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

General Care:

• Tibetan Spaniels will benefit from early socialization and training because then they become obedient and well mannered to have around with you wherever you go.

• Provide a warm, dry, quiet sleeping space.

• Get your pet to the vet when he’s sick. As it is, he will need vaccines against serious pet illnesses as a puppy.

• Have your pet spayed or neutered to prevent an unwanted litter.

• Provide general grooming – a brush twice a week, checking inside the ears for redness, checking the eyes and checking for any unusual lumps.