Doglover: Are there any differences between American Eskimo dog, Japanese Spitz and Samoyed?
Except for the size and origin of these dog breeds?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Ana
General temperaments can vary greatly between the breeds yes.
Eskimos tend to be snappy and not very good with kids while Samoyeds can be good family dogs and very sweet.I'm not so sure about the spitz though.
Photo Credit: Stiller Beobachter/Flickr CC
Answer by Chelan
Actually, the American Eskimo and the Japanese Spitz is actually the SAME.
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 initially 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.
From the U.S..and Canada, AED's were imported into Japan in the early part of the twentieth 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 unfamiliar with the history are heralding their "Japanese Spitz" as a "rare new" breed in this country, falsely said to be descended, 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.
Answer by Cheryl
I have an American Eskimo…he is intelligent, alert, friendly, an excellent watchdog, protective of his home and family. Yes, he can be noisy. He is very good with children and other pets.
Answer by Rose-Marie
I have had Japanese Spitz since 1973. The story about the origin of the JS is not what many people tend to believe as being related to the German Spitz. More recently there have been founders of the Japanese Spitz from Japan giving their stories on how their ancestors brought dogs from Russia and Manchuria. (reference NIPPON SPITZ ASSOCIATION and NIPPON SPITZ CLUB)
There are a few dogs in the US that are true Japanese Spitz. I do know that as a fact since I have brought them over myself and the breeders there are breeding European, English and Australian bred specimens with full pedigrees. NO Am Eskie involved whatsoever!
There might be a few farmers claiming to breed JS, but none of the UKC registered puppies are connected to puppy farmers.
The JS and AM ESKIE are NOT the same. The DNA tests done by AKC proved that they are different breeds by genetics, but still, they are not accepted as an AKC breed. But to be quite truthful I am happy that the JS is being kept as a rare breed. We do not need money-hungry breeders making them into yet another "Americanized dog" such as goldens, springers, etc.
When it comes to the standard there are some clear differences in the general outlook both for sizes, color, eye shape, and coat quality.
I have not meet so many eskies - but as from what I see on the Internet - their type varies a lot. Even within the sizes. Regards Rose-Marie (Rowleys Japanese Spitz Sweden)
- Is the American Eskimo dog and the Samoyed dog similar?
- How much does a Japanese Spitz puppy cost now?
- Is Samoyed a good apartment dog to be left home alone?
Answer by Echo
American Eskimos are registered with both the AKC & the UKC here in the U.S. Japanese Spitz are registered with the UKC. Japanese Spitz are very similar to a minature Eskimo. They are almost always pure white. They have a milder temperament than the Eskie. JS's generally have a life span of about 12 years. Eskies average 14 & can live to 16 & beyond. Eskies can be white or biscuit color & can have biscuit spots. Also, they are far more agressive & feisty than the JS.
Eskies come in three sizes, standard, miniature & teacup. JS comes in only one size. Both are beautiful & intelligent dogs & fairly easy to train. It is very difficult to find a JS in the U.S. Some sellers who claim they have them are untruthful. What some of them try to do is pass off an Eskie as a JS. If you get a dog shipped to you at all it probably will be an Eskie. An obvious tip-off is when they say the JS is registered with the AKC & refer to them as Eskies.
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diane broitman says
There’s no such thing as a teacup, Eskie (nickname for American Eskimo breed! There is a toy, medium and standard! They do not come from a German Spitz! They have the Volpino Italiano, large white Pomeranian, and possibly the Keeshond in which they descended from! They get their very reactive personality’s from the Volpino, their 3 different sizes from the Pom and Keeshond, as Pom’s originally were 35 lb. sled dog’s and the Pom’s of today became smaller in size and now even teacup, from the Volpino, who was in the 16-1800’s, a 9-11 lb. dog and looked like a very small version of the 25 lb. Pom’s!
Queen Victoria, a Pom lover who had 25 lb. Pom’s, found this dog when she traveled in Italy and called it an “Italian Pom” when it was a completely different breed. Known by Volpino Italiano, Italian Volpino, Cane Quirinale, and Florentine Spitz, depending on which area of Italy you found it. She took one home and it won numerous dog shows, as no one had seen a Pom that small! Everyone went crazy for it and because of this breed’s size she bred it into her Pom line bringing the 25 lb. Pom’s down to the Pom’s of today.
You’ll see a quality Pom, the one’s in the big dog show’s, but you’ll never see the fox faced and longer cobby body, as those are considered the questionable one’s that came from the Volpino who got mixed into her line! The Volpino’s she bred with her Pom’s is what bring’s out the foxy pointed muzzle and the long cobby body’s, you’ll see in so many different looking Pom’s of today.
Because the Pom has been overbred you will every once in a while see a variety of larger Pom’s! The largest I’ve seen was a 22-24 lb. and bigger then the average one’s and even some have seen a throwback to the Pom’s that are now considered giant Pom’s and can be 35 lb. one’s!
This is also why the American Eskimo’s has 2 different looks and comes in 3 sizes! The more rounded nose and the pointed, and some have flatter hair and thicker!
I’ve had Pom’s, an American Eskimo, and Volpino’s all at the same time, and although they are of the SPITZ GROUP characteristic’s,( as Spitz, is not a breed ) they are all very intelligent, loving, protective and need to part a large part of the family, the Volpino even more so, but they are all wonderful dog’s and will be as perfect, and want to please you, as long as you are the ALPHA!
Don’t get one until you are ready to give them the leadership they so need! Nothing worse than getting one you let take over and then throw them out because you can’t handle them! Be responsible so you don’t break their AMAZING heart!
RussianDog says
Thank you for your interesting comment.
Cheryl says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.
Zarago says
Definetly yes.
~ American Eskimo Dog ~
It is a very strong-willed, high-energy, but high-spirited breed of Dog. They love to play (most of the time), and get bored easily. They are quite a noisy Dog, barking for attention. They are smart, and learn quickly, they sometimes can run rings round their owners if you don't know how to handle them. But they love humans.
~ Japanese Spitz ~
Loyal, and active. This breed of Dog loves people and children, making it a good dog to have as a family pet. They are quite good watchdogs too, barking to warn you if there are any strangers. They are protective of their family, they are also very smart. But not too stubborn like most Spitz Breeds, they are obedient.
~ Samoyed ~
Samoyeds are very friendly, cuddly, lovable Dogs. They are seldom aggressive, making them poor guard dogs. But they are quite good watch dogs, letting you know when there is an intruder. They are quite strong dogs though. Not for someone who wants a dog to be easy. An in-trained Samoyed will pull on the lead/leash and sometimes even try to herd children. They used to be Reindeer Herders, so that 'herding' instinct is still in them.
I hope this helps!
~ Zarago ~
anna says
i own a american eskmo spitz wouldnt have any other breed for a pet he is good with kids and yea he can be noisy and has attiude at times and has plenty of engry but i have had him since he was three months old .but he loves the kids and i never seen any aggessiveness in him but makes a wounderful whatch dog.but know how to handle him..
Rachel says
I believe that the Japanese spitz and American Eskimo are closely related. They both trace back to the German Spitz. Samoyeds originated with a nomadic people in northern Siberia, and were not brought into western civilization until about 120 years ago. By that time, dog breeders were keeping track of pedigrees and no other dogs were mixed in with the Samoyed. So there is absolutely no relationship between Samoyeds and these other breeds.
There is also a marked difference in temperament. Eskies are probably easier to train, but they also tend to be nippy. They tend to be protective of their homes and can be cautious of strangers.
Samoyeds are a true northern breed with that independent mind set. Sometimes they want to do what they want to do and not what YOU want them to do, so they require training. They are very sweet dogs and very playful. A much better choice for children because they are not nippy and are more tolerant.
J R Savit says
As an Eskie parent for the past 16 years, I can attest to their intelligence, devotion, and loving personalities. I would not want to parent any other breed, because when an eskie loves, it is the most purest, joyful love that you can know between a canine and a human. There is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded of their special bond. (It should be noted that I’ve grown up with Shepherds, Labradors and Newfoundlands.)
With that being said, you should not adopt an Eskie, if you don’t plan on being the best parent that you can be. An Eskie loves their human above all else and if you plan on leaving it alone all day, it will become easily broken hearted, depressed and will chew-up your home.
ladystang says
yes