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American Eagle Dog (American Eskimo Dog & Beagle Mix) Info, Pictures

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By Nicole Cosgrove

American Eagle Dog (American Eskimo Dog & Beagle Mix)

Height: 13-15 inches
Weight: 20-35 pounds
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Colors: Black, brown, white, beige
Suitable for: Families of all sizes, homeowners, apartment dwellers, novice dog owners
Temperament: Loyal, intelligent, loving, cheerful, outgoing

The American Eagle Dog, also referred to as the Eskimo Beagle, is a mix between an American Eskimo Dog and a Beagle. This hybrid is lively, energetic, and makes a wonderful companion pet for most families.

These dogs are sociable and loving toward their owners, and despite their small size, they’re rather protective and will step between you and any perceived danger quickly and without hesitation.

They thrive on human interaction above all else, so if you and your family have a lot of time and attention to give, this may be the perfect breed for your home. We’ll go over everything you need to know about this breed below!

Divider 1American Eagle Dog Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The first thing you need to be prepared for when considering an American Eagle puppy is their emotional neediness. These dogs crave human interaction, and they don’t do well in isolation. If you or your family members won’t be home for any extended periods of time, this likely isn’t the breed for you. They can become sad and destructive very quickly if they’re left alone for too long.

Despite this dog’s smaller size, they will also need quite a bit of exercise and activity each day, so make sure you and your family can devote the time before purchasing an American Eagle Dog.

Lastly, although these dogs tend to have a fairly short coat, it will be rather dense and require daily brushing. This will also help cut down on shedding, which will be moderate, so be prepared to vacuum on a weekly basis as well!

3 Little-Known Facts About the American Eagle Dog

1. They didn’t originate in America.

That’s right — although the breed name suggests an origination in America, this breed actually descends from European dog breeds. The “American” in the breed name is taken from one of the parent breeds’ names, the American Eskimo Dog.

2. Their parents have been around for hundreds of years.

Although this hybrid is relatively new and is believed to have originated in the late 1900s, both parent breeds have a fairly extensive history. The American Eskimo Dog can be traced back to the 1800s when they were renamed from the American Spitz Dog, and even further back under their previous breed name. The Beagle is believed to have originated in the 1500s when they were used for hunting and tracking small animals.

3. They can adapt well to apartment life.

Although the American Eagle Dog can inherit a tendency to bark from their Beagle parents, they can also adapt well to apartment living given their size and relatively calm nature when indoors. As long as they are trained to limit barking and can get their necessary amount of exercise on a daily basis, these dogs will usually do just fine living in smaller spaces.

Parent Breeds of the American Eagle Dog
Image Credit: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the American Eagle Dog 🧠

American Eagle Dogs are highly intelligent pups who love to learn and be engaged with their owners. As long as you maintain a firm and regimented training schedule, these dogs will likely view learning and becoming obedient as a fun game rather than a chore, as it will be a source of mental stimulation for them.

These dogs are also cheerful and affectionate, so while they’re not training or exercising, they are happiest when they get to spend time with their owners.

They’re fairly energetic and playful, and their happy-go-lucky attitude is bound to bring joy and laughter to your home.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

American Eagle Dogs make wonderful family pets! They are very sociable and loving dogs, and they will happily get along with and interact with any member of your family, young or old. They are happy being energetic and playful or calm and cuddly, so they’ll fit in with older family members as well as younger ones.

Because these pups have a fairly high energy level and love to play, especially because they crave human interaction constantly, they do best in homes where there is always someone around to give them attention or play with them.

American Eagle Dogs get along very well with children, and they’re usually particularly patient with very young kids. You should be careful given your dog’s size that your kids don’t accidentally hurt them during play, but you never have to worry about your American Eagle Dog showing any aggression toward children of any age.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

American Eagle Dogs normally get along just fine with other dogs, and this includes those they may live with as well as those they meet during walks or at dog parks. They have a generally friendly nature that extends from humans to other canines as well, whether they’re familiar with them or not.

The same cannot be said for cats or other small animals. American Eagle Dogs inherit a high prey drive from their Beagle parents who were originally bred to hunt small game. They will likely see cats, rabbits, hamsters, or other small pets as an opportunity to hunt or chase, so they aren’t recommended for homes with these kinds of pets.

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning an American Eagle Dog:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your American Eagle Dog may be rather small, but their high energy level will lead to a pretty big appetite. You can expect to feed your pooch between 1.5 to 2.5 cups of dry dog food a day, and this should be split up into two meals to help maintain energy levels.

These dogs are prone to weight gain, so if you notice your pup gaining weight beyond the recommended weight range for this breed, consider reducing their food volume a bit.

Exercise 🐕

Exercising your American Eagle Dog will be time-consuming, as they need a total of about two hours of activity a day. It’s recommended that about an hour of this time be spent on dedicated exercise like walks or runs, and the other hour can be spent engaging in playing with you or your children in the backyard, or with other dogs at a dog park.

Because these pups are rather intelligent, it’s best that they get some mental stimulation as well. Never replace dedicated exercise time with mental stimulation, but feel free to substitute some logic games or play with puzzle toys for some of their playtime exercise.

This breed’s high prey drive means that any exercise outside of an enclosed area should always be done on a leash and a harness. Your pooch is very likely to try to chase squirrels, rabbits, or other neighborhood animals if you let them, so always keep your dog contained in a yard or on a harness.

Lastly, these dogs shouldn’t be left alone inside or outside. Outside play in the yard should be done with human interaction, as American Eagle Dogs can turn to digging and outdoor destruction if they’re left without the ability to socialize even during playtime.

Training 🦮

American Eagle Dogs are usually fairly easy to train, as they are intelligent and will view learning as a fun and entertaining exercise. They will pick up on new commands and tricks quickly, and as long as you maintain a firm but positive training regimen, these dogs will become wonderfully obedient in no time at all.

This breed’s ease of training means that they are great for new or inexperienced dog owners, so if you’re looking to purchase your first pooch or have little experience with training, these dogs can be a good introduction to basic training principles for you!

Additionally, leash training will be needed for these pups to help them avoid the temptation to chase small animals they come across while on walks.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming your American Eagle Dog will take some time each week, as they have dense coats that require brushing on a daily basis or every other day for about 5-10 minutes. This will help prevent matting, cut down on shedding, and keep their coats shiny and healthy. Regardless of regular brushing, you should expect a decent amount of shedding, so invest in a good vacuum before bringing one of these dogs home!

While brushing is time-consuming and must be done often, bathing can be done every other month or on an as-needed basis, as the American Eagle Dog’s coat naturally stays clean and free of the classic dog smell.

You’ll also want to wipe your pup’s ears clean about once a week to prevent wax build-up and infection, and brush their teeth at the same frequency to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

Lastly, always keep your dog’s nails trimmed, as they can crack and get infected if they aren’t kept at a healthy length.

Health and Conditions ❤️

American Eagle Dogs can inherit some health problems, but luckily most aren’t life-threatening. You should be on the lookout for the below health problems, which can be more common in this hybrid, and of course, schedule regular checkups with your vet to ensure your pooch is as healthy as possible and lives a long, happy life.

Minor Conditions
  • Beagle dwarfism
  • Epilepsy
  • Eye issues
  • Hypothyroidism
Serious Conditions
  • Patellar luxation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
  • Intervertebral disc degeneration

Divider 5Male vs. Female

As is the case with most hybrids, your American Eagle Dog’s temperament variances will largely depend on which parent breed they inherit their behavioral tendencies from. However, you may find that males will have a higher prey drive and can be a bit more stubborn in training. They also can have a higher energy level on average.

Divider 3Final Thoughts

American Eagle Dogs are wonderful pups that have a lot of love and affection to go around. They fit in very well with most families and will love spending time with and interacting with any familiar face.

They have a high energy level but reasonable exercise requirements, so about half of the recommended 2 hours of activity can safely be spent playing. They’re generally pretty calm indoors and will happily relax and snuggle with you as long as they get their energy out during exercise and play.

If you and your family can dedicate the time and energy to proper exercise and grooming, the American Eagle Dog can make a perfect family pet, especially for new and inexperienced owners. No matter where they go, they’ll bring joy, happiness, and lots of smiles.

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Featured Image Credit: left: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock right: KA_Richer5171321, shutterstock

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