6-20 lbs
9-15"
United States
The Eskimo Chi is a hybrid mix between the American Eskimo Dog and the Chihuahua. Due to the fact that there are multiple different sizes of the Eskimo Dog, an Eskimo Chi can vary from being very small to medium in size. Because it is a hybrid breed, the personality and the appearance of the Eskimo Chi can be a bit unpredictable, but on average this breed is a very happy dog that does will with children and other pets as long as they are socialized at a young age. This is a low maintenance breed that doesn’t require any special care for his soft coat and when it comes to how vocal he is, the Eskimo Chi tends to bark often, as both parent breeds are rather vocal; when he does bark to let you know what he wants, his voice tends to resemble the bark of the American Eskimo Dog more than the Chihuahua. If you are looking for a dog that is not too large, but not extremely fragile either, then the Eskimo Chi may be for you. This spirited little dog is a great combination of happiness, loyalty, and companionship. While he may be a bit stubborn to train at times, there is no doubt that with a bit of consistency and a firm but gentle hand, you will end up with a great dog who will follow you anywhere.
While the Eskimo Chi is a relatively new hybrid breed with little to no origin story, we do know quite a lot about his parent breeds; the American Eskimo Dog and the Chihuahua. For instance, the American Eskimo, also known lovingly as the “the dog beautiful” by those who really admire him, is a gorgeous all white dog with a jet black nose and dark intelligent eyes. This breed was first created in the 19th century from many different Nordic breeds, such as the German Spitz and the Volpino Italiano. German immigrants in the United States, the dreamers of the American Eskimo Dog, first dubbed him the American Spitz and designed his personality to be that of an excellent companion dog. The American Eskimo Dog comes in a variety of sizes such as a toy, miniature, and standard variety; thus making him available to all different tastes of owners. The Eskimo Dog is a non-sporting breed that was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1995 and is used to this very day as a show dog and companion animal. The Chihuahua is another companion dog, of the smaller variety, that definitely has a lot of spirit to him! While we don’t know exactly where the Chihuahua started out, it is believed that they are most likely descendants of a Central or South American dog known as the Techichi. The Aztecs believed that the Techichi has mythical powers and thus the dogs were a big part of the Aztecs daily life. Despite whether or not the Chihuahua’s of today were actual descendants of the Techichi, their big personalities certainly capture the hearts of humans everywhere! Ever since 1960 when the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Chihuahua has been one of the most popular dogs around, ranking 11th out of 115 breeds. When combined the personalities of the American Eskimo Dog and the Chihuahua, we end up with a big-hearted animal in a little body. This means that you get an excellent balance of playfulness, intelligence, loyalty, and love. The Eskimo Chi makes an excellent pet for dog owners of any experience level and does extremely well in homes with children or other animals. Just be sure that early socialization and training take place in order to encourage the best behavior.
Since the Eskimo Chi is a mix between the American Eskimo Dog and the Chihuahua, his appearance and personality can vary greatly, even within the same litter. The typical Eskimo Chi will vary in size depending on which variation of American Eskimo Dog is used as a parent, meaning either toy, miniature, or standard are available. The weight of the Eskimo Chi is usually around 6 to 20 lbs. with a corresponding height of 9 to 15 inches. This size makes the Eskimo Chi perfect for any home! Thankfully, this breed is rather low maintenance, having fur that takes after the American Eskimo Dog which is very soft and short. Meanwhile, the coloring can take after both parent breeds and comes in either white, ecru, or brindle. The body of the Eskimo Chi, while commonly quite small, is sturdy and although neither breed is especially athletic, the Eskimo Chi is still agile and well-formed. His ears are tall and erect, just like both parent breeds, but they tend to be softer like the Chihuahua’s and not too stiff. Dark intelligent eyes accompany a black nose on the face, complementing the light colored fur very well and giving this breed a beautiful aesthetic. While the American Eskimo Dog does have a rather thick coat, the Chihuahua does not, so the Eskimo Chi tends to prefer mild temperatures.
The Eskimo Chi is a very low maintenance dog to own. While he does not have a long or overly thick coat, he will still shed seasonally; so be prepared to deal with hair on your clothes and furniture. Brushing your Eskimo Chi at least once a week should be more than enough to keep his fur looking fabulous and the shedding to a minimum. Bathing only needs to occur every few months or whenever your dog gets especially dirty. If you have a white Eskimo Chi, you may want to bathe him more often just to keep the white nice and clean. Besides bathing and brushing, be sure that you clip your dog’s nails every few weeks or when you hear them clicking against the floor. This will ensure that your pet’s paws are healthy and snag free.
Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Chihuahua are alert, intelligent, and friendly dogs that make excellent companion animals. This being said, it isn’t hard to believe that the Eskimo Chi takes on these wonderful traits and much more. Unlike the Chihuahua, who tends to only do well with older children, the Eskimo Chi is wonderful with children of all ages and is not aggressive in any way towards other animals or strangers. While he may become a bit annoyed at times (especially with very young children), overall, this breed is friendly and very affectionate. Supervision is always recommended when mixing dogs and children, but simply having an adult around should be more than enough needed to keep the Eskimo Chi on his best behavior. Keep in mind that early socialization and training will be the biggest key in promoting wanted behavior and minimizing any unwanted traits. The Eskimo Chi is a very happy, friendly, loving, affectionate, and loyal dog that loves nothing more than to be with his family.
While both the American Eskimo Dog and the Chihuahua have high spirits and a happy energy, they aren’t working dogs who need to burn off a lot of steam. Because of this, you can expect your Eskimo Chi to be a moderate energy dog that doesn’t require too much physical activity. Just a couple 20 to 30-minute play and training sessions should be more than enough to keep him happy and out of trouble. Some examples of activities that you can do with your Eskimo Chi are training, playing fetch in the yard, a long walk, and a trip to the park. Because this is a moderately low energy breed, the Eskimo Chi is great for any size of home. However, you may want to be in a more rural area as he does tend to bark often which may be a bit annoying to neighbors. Early training, socialization, and plenty of exercise should help with making the barking more manageable.
Written by Loreziel Ortega
Published: 10/23/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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