Eskapoo: American Eskimo & Poodle Mix

What is a Eskapoo?

They’re Fun-Loving

Even though their parents are known for being show dogs or working dogs, the Eskapoo tends to take on the best of both worlds and show off fun-loving characteristics most of the time. This is one of the things that makes them such great family dogs!

They Handle Season Changes Well

Due to the hypoallergenic and water-resistant characteristics of the Poodle and the thick double-coat of the American Eskimo, Eskapoos can handle cold and damp weather well. They are also built to deal with warmer weather, which makes them great four-season dogs.

They Are Food Motivated

This mixed breed is food motivated, making it easy to train them with the use of treats. Food will get them to do just about anything you want them to do, whether that means fetching your newspaper in the morning or sitting quietly by the door when a visitor enters your home.

How easy are Eskapoo to train?

These dogs are pretty intelligent and people-pleasing. They will learn commands quickly and obey them most of the time. They love obedience training and thrive in classes of all sorts. It is recommended that you enroll them in classes at a young age to challenge their mind and keep them mentally stimulated. You’ll need to continue their training into adulthood, as they can often become bored if left to their own devices.

Eventually, they’ll likely learn all of the useful commands you need them to. You’ll likely need to move onto tricks that aren’t exactly practical, like jumping through a hula-hoop. Often, your main problem won’t be teaching these dogs commands but figuring out new commands to teach them. Many train their dogs for canine sports like agility simply because they run out of ways to stimulate them otherwise mentally.

These dogs make excellent therapy animals and can compete with success in just about any dog sport.

Diet and Nutrition

There are no specific dietary requirements these dogs need to thrive. They can often stay healthy on a high-quality, commercially available dog food. Look for foods with high amounts of meat. The ingredient list of each food starts with the highest ingredient by weight and moves down from there. Check each ingredient list to ensure that the first few ingredients are meat. Of course, keep in mind the water content of the ingredients as well, which may artificially push them higher on the ingredient list. For instance, whole chicken contains a lot of water, which is removed while creating dry dog food. There may not be very much chicken in the food after considering the water content.

How would you describe the temperament of Eskapoo?

The Eskapoo is an intelligent dog that is relatively easy to train. They were bred to listen to their people, and that’s typically what they do. They are people-pleasing and usually don’t go through stubborn streaks like other dogs. However, this does mean that you have to tell them what to do. They need to work their brains and flex their intelligence. They are not dogs that you can leave alone for long periods.

Great ways to keep them entertained include things like obedience training, puzzle toys, and canine sports. Even if you aren’t planning on competing in canine sports, these dogs love to train for them. Setting up a miniature agility course in your backyard is a great way to keep them busy and entertained.

On top of mental stimulation, these dogs need quite a bit of physical exercise as well. They work best for active families who have enough time to exercise these dogs properly. Otherwise, they can get quite destructive, especially if they aren’t mentally or physically stimulated. Barking and chewing are a common problem if they are not well taken care of.

These dogs often keep their playfulness into adulthood. They often enjoy playtime over cuddling on the couch. They work best for families that would instead take a hike than a cuddle on the couch, as well. If you’re looking for a lap dog, this canine is not for you.

Generally, the Eskapoo is pretty calm and not extremely hyperactive – like some toy breeds. However, this doesn’t mean that their exercise needs aren’t high. They do behave well inside and adapt to apartment living as long as their other needs are met. They’re perfectly content with laying in a quiet corner after a long walk, even when you have guests over.

They aren’t entirely people-oriented like some breeds, but they do enjoy spending time with their family. They’re affectionate with just about everyone, including strangers. However, they don’t’ necessarily always need to be the center of attention and can be easily trained to stay out of the way during house parties and similar occasions.

Without proper training, they can be a bit noisy. Some people keep them as watchdogs, though they aren’t aggressive or territorial enough to be guard dogs. They will bark at people as they walk by and then love them the second they walk in the door.

These dogs usually don’t do well when left alone for an extended period. They aren’t best for people that work for most of the day or prefer to go out without their puppy. Active families with many people coming and going are often best, as this decreases the amount of time the dog is alone overall. We highly recommend a dog walker or similar service if you’re going to be gone for much of the day.

Are Eskapoos Good for Families?

The Eskapoo is an excellent family dog, just like their parent breeds. If they take more after their Poodle parent, they could have hypoallergenic qualities that family members with allergies can appreciate. These dogs get along well with children of all ages, although they don’t put up with tail and ear tugging, so they should be supervised while spending time around toddlers. They’ll spend hours playing in the yard with older kids, and teens should have no trouble training and managing them.

How healthy are Eskapoo?

Mixed breeds are typically healthier than purebred dogs. Many purebred bloodlines have tiny gene pools, which is why breeds are pretty predictable. A Labrador Retriever will always act like a Labrador Retriever. However, this also means that rare genetic conditions become common. There are fewer genes for the dog to inherit, which increases the chance that they’ll inherit a gene that causes some health problem.

Mixed breeds can inherit genes from two different breeds, which effectively doubles their gene pool. This makes them a bit less predictable. You don’t know what you’re going to get. However, it also has a direct effect on the genetic conditions they can inherit. They are much less likely to end up with a genetic condition that affects either dog breed.

However, there are a few problems that may be prone to. For instance, patellar luxation is common in most small breeds. Since this dog is a bit smaller, they are more prone to it as well. This condition involves the kneecap being slightly misaligned. Usually, the kneecap sits in a unique groove. However, sometimes the kneecap bone and this groove don’t line up correctly, so it has a hard time sitting like it is supposed to. This can lead to pain walking, limping, and similar issues. It can be fixed with surgery, but this is often very expensive.

There is a genetic component to this disease. However, it is present in both parent breeds so that a Eskapoo can inherit it from their parents in some cases. Ask any breeder about the parents of the dog and whether they have been health tested appropriately. The parent’s health is typically a good indication of what the health of their puppies will be.

How active are Eskapoo?

The Eskapoo requires a lot of exercise. They are very active dogs and work best in an active family. It is recommended that you plan on strenuous exercise at least an hour a day. This can be a long walk, job, or playtime. Many of these dogs love games like fetch, which can help wear them out without wearing you out. Training for some canine sports can also fulfill this need.

Ample exercise is recommended. Otherwise, these dogs can exhibit destructive behaviors like digging and chewing. They’ll look for ways to entertain themselves.

These dogs enjoy a fenced-in backyard, especially if you play games like fetch. However, they can adapt well to an apartment as long as their needs are met. You’ll likely have to take them on long walks in this situation, as they will be unable to meet their exercise needs at home. A dog walker is almost required unless someone in the family is at home for much of the day and can take them on multiple walks.

While these dogs do need lots of exercise, they cannot be put in a yard by themselves for an extended period. They need to be with their people. As people-oriented dogs, they can get a bit stir-crazy if they are isolated for long periods.

Grooming

Depending on what traits they inherit, these dogs will need different levels of grooming. The type of grooming they need primarily depends on what type of coat they have. However, most of them will have a high grooming need. Dogs with Poodle-like coats will need to be trimmed regularly by a groomer. Daily brushing is often required to prevent matting, even if your dog gets trimmer. A pin brush is often the best option for this, but it will depend mainly on the type of coat your dog has.

Your dog may or may not shed. Some may shed a whole lot, while others will only shed a little bit. If your dog sheds, you will need to use a brush to remove much of the dead hair. They may shed more on some occasions than others, so you may need to increase your brushing sessions during these heavy-shedding periods.

These dogs won’t need a bath very often. Too many baths can strip the oils from their skin and cause skin problems. For this reason, we recommend bathing them only when they are visibly dirty. For instance, dogs that roll in mud will need a bath. Dirty pond water and similar excursions will also call for a bath. Keep bathing to a minimum and use a sensitive shampoo that is formulated for dogs. Humans have a different skin pH than dogs so that heavy human soaps can mess with a dog’s skin.

You’ll likely want to take your dog to a groomer occasionally. This is especially true if trimming is required. We recommend getting to know a local breeder with some experience with Poodles, as this ensures that they can care for your dog’s fur correctly.

Like all dogs, they will need their teeth brushed a few times a week and their nails cut when required. You will need to brush your dog’s teeth at home. However, their nails can be done by a groomer if you are uncomfortable.

Start your dog’s grooming process early to ensure that they are comfortable with the required grooming by the time they are older.

Male vs. Female

Eskapoo owners tend to have different opinions about whether there is a difference between males and females. Some people think that girls are more independent, while others don’t seem to notice a difference between the genders in this area. Some people feel that boys are easier to potty train, but others think that the opposite is true. The truth is that both male and female Eskapoos are smart, affectionate, and fun-loving. Any differences between them come down to their unique personality differences.

Related Questions

What’s the Price of Eskapoo Puppies?

There is no set price for these cute mixed breed dogs, but you can expect to spend a few hundred dollars when it comes time to adopt one. It’s important to make sure that both the Poodle and American Eskimo parents are purebred to ensure that your new puppy is really an Eskapoo.

The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for an Eskapoo pup is health. If your new puppy isn’t healthy, you may spend a large amount of money on healthcare and medical treatments over time. This will make the price of your Eskapoo pup even higher. Veterinarian costs, pet essentials like food and water bowls, and accessories like toys and treats are also expenses that need to be considered.

Final Thoughts

The Eskapoo is an energetic, intelligent mixed breed that is perfect for an active family. They’re often affectionate and friendly, especially when socialized appropriately at a young age. They get along with dogs relatively quickly, though their prey drive makes them unsuitable for homes with cats and other small animals. They bond equally with all members of their family and are generally great family pets.

They do need quite a bit of mental and physical stimulation. Often, they require an hour or more of physical exercise each day and extensive mental stimulation. For this reason, we only recommend them for families with plenty of time on their hands. They aren’t a dog that will lay on the couch for much of the day. However, they are perfect hiking partners and will love to go for walks in the park. They also can’t be left alone for long periods, as they need regular interaction with people.

We recommend this breed for active families with plenty of time on their hands. If someone is generally at home, then this dog may be perfect for your family.