American Eskimo dog

noun

variants or less commonly American Eskimo Dog or American Eskimo

: any of a breed of small or medium-sized dogs developed in the U.S. from the spitz type that have a thick white coat, erect triangular ears, and a tail densely covered with long hair

The breed usually makes a good pet, and adult American Eskimo dogs grow no larger than 25 to 30 pounds each.

—Robert Kelly, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8 Feb. 1999

The American Eskimo Dog is intelligent, alert and friendly, although slightly conservative.

—The Complete Dog Book, 19th edition, 1997

American Eskimos are recognized for their endless reserves of energy and guard-dog instincts, and amid all the hubbub of a dog show, she is easily distracted.

—Jeremy Brown, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 11 Feb. 2002

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

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