Great Dane vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison

Great Dane vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed ComparisonGreat Dane is originated from Germany but American Eskimo Dog is originated from United States. Great Dane may grow 38 cm / 15 inches higher than American Eskimo Dog. Great Dane may weigh 74 kg / 164 pounds more than American Eskimo Dog. Great Dane may live 3 years less than American Eskimo Dog. Great Dane may have more litter size than American Eskimo Dog. Great Dane requires Low maintenance. But American Eskimo Dog requires High maintenance

History

great dane - historyKnown as the Deutsche Dogge or Apollo of dogs, the giant-breed Great Dane hails from Germany and not Denmark as many people believe.

The large Great Dane has been around for about 400 years already. They descend from mastiff-like dogs, being needed to protect country estates.

In the 18th century, apart from watching over estates, they were also popular with the upper class for sport.

american eskimo dog - historyThe 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Germany
United States
Height Male:
76 - 86 cm
29 - 34 inches
23 - 48 cm
9 - 19 inches
Height Female:
76 - 86 cm
29 - 34 inches
23 - 40 cm
9 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
4 - 16 kg
8 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
3 - 12 kg
6 - 27 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 12 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 15
1 - 5
Size:
Giant dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Apollo of Dogs, Dane, Deutsche Dogge
, Spitz
Colors Available:
black or brindle - bi-color, Fawn
White with cream or biscuit markings
Coat:
Short and smooth
Heavy, thick, double
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

great dane puppy - descriptionThe Great Dame is a tall, lean, athletic, muscular, elegant looking dog. He can stand anything between 76–86cm in height and weigh around 54–90kg. The large head is long and narrow, and the medium sized floppy ears can be left or they can be cropped.

The tail is long and held low. The coat is short and smooth and can be in several colors such as fawn, black or brindle.

Temperament:

Any kind of aggressiveness was bred out of the Great Dane and today he is a gentle giant of a dog, getting on well with other dogs, children and everyone in his human family.

Even though he is a gentle giant, he will still require training and socialization just because of his size. Then they become the devoted pet that they are so well known to be. You'll want to know that when he comes indoors, he will obey you when you tell him to lie-down, sit or come, otherwise his sheer size will see him knocking things accidentally off table-tops.

He is an intelligent dog and is eager to please so he'll learn easily. He craves human companionship, so make sure that your social Dane has plenty of interaction with you.

american eskimo dog puppy - descriptionThis small to medium dog is beautiful and resembles a miniature Samoyed. There are three sizes of American Eskimothe 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.

Characteristics

great dane dog - characteristicsThe Great Dane is a large breed, bred to hunt wild boar. The intelligence, bravery and fearless nature of the dog meant that he was sought after for this task.

Known as the Apollo of Dogs, you won’t find the Great Dane being used for hunting purposes anymore, being more suited as a companion dog.

While developed as a working breed, today he is a well balanced, intelligent, calm, loving, social, dependable dog that just wants to be loved by his human family and to provide love, loyalty and companionship back in return.

american eskimo dog dog - characteristicsThe 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.

Health Problems

great dane puppies - health problemsTypically of giant dogs, the Great Dane doesn't have a particularly long life-span and will live to be about 8 to 10 years of age. Also, giant-breed dogs like this are susceptible to what is known as bloat.

You'll notice it because there is swelling of the stomach with gas buildup and also twisting of the stomach. It's a life-threatening condition and you'll need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. You can combat it by feeding him smaller, more frequent meals and perhaps buying a slow-feeder dish, forcing your hungry pet to eat slower and not gulp his food down.

Also, large dogs like this can develop hip dysplasia and with a dog like the Great Dane, it takes a while for the bones and joints to grow and then become stable. That is why it is important not to make him do any vigorous exercise till he is at least 18 months of age, as these exercises can put a lot of stress on the joints and bones which can lead to hip dysplasia later on.

american eskimo dog puppies - health problemsThe 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.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

great dane dogs - caringThis is a large dog so you’ll notice that with commercially manufactured dog foods, there are those made specially for large- or giant breeds. It is important to choose the right dog food for his large size so that you can be sure he gets the right amount of nutrients in for him to grow strong and healthy.

If you aren't sure about what food would most benefit your Great Dane, ask your vet. While it is important to also feed him quality home-made food and raw meat, when buying kibble for him,check the label of the food you buy him and make sure that the concentration of protein isn’t more than 23 to 25%.

Remember to provide him with a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Brush your Great Dane’s coat at least twice a week. He has a short, smooth coat so it will be easy, and the brushing will keep his coat soft and shiny. Use this time to also check for fleas and ticks or lumps. You will also need to check his nails and trim them if they don’t trim down on their own.

Exercise:

Your Great Dane will need to be exercised every day if you want him to maintain his lean, muscular shape. It keeps him happy too. He isn’t the kind of dog though that you want to turn into your running partner when you go jogging or cycling. He can go on a walk and play in the garden, but the exercising shouldn’t be for long periods of time.

His first checkup:

Every puppy needs to get to the vet for his first check-up when he is 6 weeks of age, and your Dane will also have to. As a puppy he will need to be de-wormed which will happen with this 6 week check up. He will also be vaccinated for distemper.

Feeding

american eskimo dog dogs - caringYour 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Corgi vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Cardigan Welsh Corgi vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Shetland Sheepdog vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Toy Australian Shepherd vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Welsh Corgi vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Pomeranian vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Maltese vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Pug vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Boston Terrier vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  11. Maltipoo vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. Bichon Frise vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Dachshund vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Jack Russell Terrier vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Cockapoo vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Cavapoo vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Miniature Schnauzer vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Cavachon vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  20. Mal-Shi vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  21. American Eskimo Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  22. American Eskimo Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. American Eskimo Dog vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. American Eskimo Dog vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Shiloh Shepherd vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  26. Irish Mastiff Hound vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  27. Great Dane vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Great Dane vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Dane vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. Great Dane vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  31. Great Dane vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  32. Great Dane vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  33. Great Dane vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  34. Great Dane vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  35. Great Dane vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  36. Great Dane vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  37. Great Dane vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  38. Great Dane vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  39. Great Dane vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  40. Great Dane vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  41. Great Dane vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  42. Newfoundland Dog vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  43. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  44. Leonberger vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  45. Irish Wolfhound vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  46. Mountain Burmese vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  47. Gaddi Kutta vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  48. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  49. Moscow Watchdog vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds