Eskipoo Care

The Eskipoo, as a hybrid of an American Eskimo Dog and a Poodle (usually a Miniature one), is an active, intelligent, small-sized crossbreed. Overall Eskipoo care and maintenance won't take a great deal of work, but will need to include some daily exercise.

Below you'll find details on caring for an Eskipoo including info about puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies. For answers to your questions about raising an Eskipoo, see the following sections.

Overall Eskipoo exercise requirements aren't too extensive. Though active, these hybrids are relatively small, so they don't need a ton of daily activity--but they'll still benefit from exercises that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They have history as circus performers, too, so they'll be great at learning all sorts of tricks.

The typical adult Eskipoo will be fine with 45 minutes of exercise each day. You can start exercising your Eskipoo puppy when it's 2½-3 months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Eskipoo exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're 8-9 months old
• A leash is recommended when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Develops separation anxiety quickly; exercises should be done together with people
• Might overheat easily; don't exercise in sweltering temps

It's important to exercise your Eskipoo every day, for several reasons: these hybrids are active and vocal, and without consistent activity they'll become hyper-active and excessively yappy. Eskipoos are also prone to obesity, so a lack of regular exercise may cause them to become overweight.

A few Eskipoo exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played outdoors with a ball or stick, or indoors with the dog's favorite toy
• Trick Training: Teach the dog to catch balls or jump through hoops
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Eskipoos excel at obedience and agility trials

When indoors, balls or toys will help your Eskipoo burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular daily exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These hybrids don't need a lot of maintenance overall. Eskipoo shedding is usually light, and drooling isn't an issue.

Depending on the traits they inherit from their parents, these hybrids' coats can be single-layered and curly like the Poodle's, or thick and fluffy like the American Eskimo's--and often it's somewhere in between. As with most Poodle mixed breeds, the genes for that hypoallergenic, low-shedding coat are usually dominant, so Eskipoos normally don't shed much. Even so, they'll need frequent brushing with a pin or slicker brush to keep the coats from matting or tangling.

And an Eskipoo almost never drools. If your Eskipoo is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Eskipoos fare better in cooler climates. Due to its thick coat, this breed is uncomfortable in hot weather.