Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 5mo. old Standard Eskie male. He's my baby boy. I'm worried however... his 'dog' hair started growing in and it seems to be somewhat, curly. Is that normal? He's the first Eskie I've ever owned, and I'm aware of the breed standards and he is not supposed to have any curly hair. Is it just because he's young? Do Eskies go through a kind of awkward stage in their development like pomeranians do? On top of that, he is a little on the small side to be considered 'standard'. He is 5mo. and is only 12lbs. I know he's still young, but shouldn't he be bigger than that? Sorry for all of the worrisome questions, I am really looking forward to starting confirmations and I would love to breed him, but that won't do if he has faults that I can see even without a judge.

Anyone?

A dog that is to be bred absolutely needs to conform to the standard. So, if you are noticing faults in size and coat, unfortunately he is probably not a good candidate for breeding. What does his breeder say about the ccurly hair and size? How are the parents- what are their faults? Did you buy him on a contract to show and breed?

I reccomend you find a club in your area that has eskie breeders in it. Chat with them about your dog and get a mentor on the breed. In person help is incredible and they will steer you on the right path.
-----
Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

I'm in the process of submitting and paying dues for the local kennel club, and the American Eskimo Club of America. I'm hoping to find someone to mentor me. Thank you so much for the advice!

Reese is the coolest dog I have ever had. Even if he cannot be shown or bred, he is the best companion I could ask for.

Mentors are a huge asset when first starting out in a breed. The in person help and support is so beneficial. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits with your dog and your future dogs. There's just no substitute for a good friend at your side when evaluating a good dog. Just for your information- all dogs have faults. It's just their faults have to be evaluated and weighed and matches need to be made on how to reduce and/or eliminate those faults for the next generation of pups. The goal is to always create a better dog than the two you are starting with. Have fun and enjoy the ride!
-----
Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles