Blue Blizzard Wolfer, called Blitz, was born July 19th and adopted August 30th. He's an American Eskimo Dog.
We bought Blitz from a couple in Roanoke, about 4 hours away, so we were worried about the drive home with a puppy. He howled in his kennel for a few minutes (still in the Roanoke boundaries) before I put the kennel on my lap and pet him. He is so incredibly soft and fluffy. We had a lovely ride back, anticipating getting to know our new pet. We wondered how Little Man would react.
Now, we've only been in our house for 3 days at this point, so LM had been exploring and experiencing new things already, so when we set the kennel on the floor, LM came down to greet us, and his nose was twitching, trying to figure out what that strange smell was. Then he saw this big ball of fluff come out, and LM's tail fluffed up like a bottle brush and he retreated to the stairs with this look of "What is that abomination?!?"
On the advise of a book I read, I made Blitz this grass box to give him an indoors potty place. He thinks it's the best thing in the world -- to dig in, nose around, and sleep. Despite every puppy book I've read and am following, he still prefers to pee on the hardwood. I can take him out every 15 mintues, he'll pee, but he'll always save some for inside. If he survives potty training, he'll grow up to look like this ↓
Facts about the breed:
- American Eskimo Dogs ("Eskies") are part of the Spitz family of dogs which includes the Samoyed, Malamute, Pomeranian, and the Icelandic Sheepdog.
- They were originally called the American Spitz since they are a close cousin to the German Spitz, but during WWI, due to anti-German sentiment, the name was changed to reflect the first kennel that bred the dogs: American Eskimo Kennel.
- The breed became popular because they were first used as circus dogs -- walking the tightrope. As the circus would travel the country, people would see this beautiful, friendly white dog, and the circus folk would sell the puppies.
- Like all true Spitz dogs, the Eskie has Teflon-like hair. When they get muddy, you just let them dry, then the mud falls right off.
- Eskies and their Spitz cousins are all nearly hypo-allergenic.
- They have no doggy odor.
- They like people and children.
- Standard Eskies (they come in miniature and tiny sizes too) are a medium dog, growing up to be up to 35 lbs and 20 inches high at the withers (shoulders).
