What Is an American Eskimo and a Jack Russell Mix?

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If you love the gentle, loving, and protective nature of the American Eskimo and the intelligent, adventurous, and curious nature of the JRT, you can consider adopting a cross. Knowing what an American Eskimo and a Jack Russell mix is can help you know how to care for the dog.

What Is an American Eskimo and a Jack Russell Mix?

The American Eskimo and a Jack Russell mix, also known as Eskijack or Jaskimo, is a small-sized dog with a height of 10 to 14 inches and a weight of 25 to 30 pounds. Depending on the dominant genes, the dog can have varying coat colors, such as white, brown, and cream, or a mix of the three colors.

An Eskijack with white and brown coatings wearing a pink harness lying on the ground

With a double coat and a dense undercoat, this dog sheds a lot and may require daily brushing to keep its coat clean and shiny. The following are the physical and personality traits the dog can inherit from the parents.

Physical Appearance

Most Eskijacks dogs are small-sized, with a standing height of 10 to 14 inches and weighing around 25 to 30 pounds. This designer dog takes the compactness of a JRT, giving it a strong and muscular body. The ears are upright and pointed like the American Eskimo, giving the dog an alert appearance.

The Eskijack has a double coat with a dense undercoat. Depending on the dominant genes, the hair can either be long or short. The dog can have a wide range of coat colors, such as cream, brown, and white, or a mix of the three colors. These dogs also have feathered hair on their face and legs. The nose is black, and the eyes brown.

Grooming

Keeping in mind that the American Eskimo and a Jack Russell are double-coated, they shed heavily. This makes them unsuitable for people that are allergic to pet dander. Generally, the dog requires daily brushing, and if the fur is long like the American Eskimo’s, you will need to pay extra attention to prevent knots and mats from forming.

The bathing frequency depends on the dog’s coat. Bath the dog more frequently if it takes the long and thick coat of the American Eskimo and less frequently if it takes the short coat like that of the JRT parent.

It’s advisable to check the ears for wax or debris and cut the nails short after a bath. Also, brush the dog’s teeth twice a week to prevent oral issues.

Health

An Eskijack is a healthy designer dog with a long lifespan of around 12 to 14 years. However, if not given sufficient care and a healthy diet, this designer dog may suffer from the following conditions:

  • Deafness: This condition might be acquired due to trauma, an infection, degeneration of the cochlea, or congenital. Consult your vet if the dog exhibits signs of deafness, such as being unresponsive to daily vacuum sounds or doorbells
  • Eye diseases: Eskijacks are prone to eye diseases such as lens luxation, cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), and glaucoma
  • Patellar luxation: It is a condition where your dog’s kneecap moves from its usual location. The condition can either be congenital or a developmental disorder
  • Heart diseases: Eskijacks are prone to varying heart diseases such as heartworm disease, cardiomyopathy, and chronic degenerative valve disease
  • Hip Dysplasia: During growth, the dog’s ball and socket in the pelvis should grow at equal rates. However, if the growth is not uniform, the dog suffers from hip dysplasia, which is a deformity of the hip
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease: This disease is also referred to as the aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. It’s a condition where the head of the femur begins to degenerate spontaneously
An Eskijack with white and brown coatings playing with a brown stick on the grass field

Temperament

Eskijacks can take their behaviors from either parent. Typically, they are loyal, affectionate, and energetic dogs that love playing, making them great companions during outings.

American Eskimo and a JRT are intelligent dogs that can learn new tricks with much ease. They are protective of their owners, making them great watchdogs. The affectionate nature of the dogs makes them suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for long hours without toys that can keep them busy.

Related Questions

How Long Should I Exercise My Eskijack?

You should give your Eskijack around 90 minutes of daily exercises, such as brisk walks, jogging, and swimming. During walks, ensure the dog is on a leash to prevent it from wandering. Also, avoid leaving the dog to play alone in the backyard off-leash, as its natural hunting instincts may kick in and tempt it to run away.

How Much Food Should I Feed My Eskijack Daily?

You should feed your Eskijack around two cups of high-quality dog food depending on age, exercise level, and health condition. Consider dividing the food into three meals. You can also incorporate some small amounts of snacks or treats in between meals.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what an American Eskimo and a Jack Russell mix is can help you understand the physical attributes and behavioral traits to expect from this designer dog. They are intelligent dogs that tend to protect their families, making them good watchdogs.