Samoyed: Dog Facts, Breed Information and Care Advice

The Samoyed is an affectionate and loyal dog to the family that thrives on outdoor physical activity.

Facts

Personality:

Brains, looks and personality, the Samoyed has it all. It is an affectionate and loyal breed and needs to be part of the family, not left out in the yard on its own.

Suitable for:

The Samoyed can be susceptible to certain eye conditions and heart problems, but is generally considered a healthy and hardy breed due to its early years of surviving in harsh, icy terrain. Be very aware of hip dysplasia, which can occur in the Samoyed, and make sure you check the breeder you’re buying from has hip scores of the pups paren’ts. Buying from a registered and reputable breeder will lessen the possibilities of buying a puppy with an inherited problem.

Favourite activities:

Bred originally to work for Siberian tribesmen, this breed is somewhat of a work horse and thrives on outdoor physical activity. The Samoyed will excel at training and agility, loves sledding and going for a daily walk. But once the exercise is out of the way for the day, your pooch will love nothing better than to settle down with its pack and have a good rest.

Watchdog qualities:

The Samoyed is not considered an effective watchdog as its friendly personality makes it a people-lover rather than a skeptic of strangers. However, this pooch will bark and therefore alert you when someone approaches.

Backyard requirements:

As long as your Sammy is given a good daily outing, it can happily live with a small yard and even in an apartment, as long as its exercise needs are well taken care of. High fences are a must with this breed as a bored or unhappy Sammy will try everything to escape.

The stunning Samoyed has it all beauty, brains and physical prowess that sees it as one of the forerunners when it comes to agility and sport.

Bred by the ancient Samoyede people, who made their way to Siberia, the Samoyed, which took the name of its original owners, accompanied its tribesmen guardians everywhere, herding reindeer, pulling sleds and providing warmth. Being close to members of the tribe, and sharing campfires and living space, made these dogs very people-friendly. And while its unlikely that Sammies will still be towing sleds and the like for their modern-day guardians, this beautiful breed still exhibits strong traits of loyalty and attachment and will need to be taken in as one of the pack.

Family ties

The Samoyeds close association with its tribal family has resulted in a breed that is today known for its warmth and vitality. Considered very people-friendly, this pooch is well-suited to families and loves children; many consider it a perfect family pet.

Lorraine Addison and husband Ron, committee members of the Samoyed Club of Victoria, got their first Samoyed pup in 1966. In the 42 years since then, we have not been without a Samoyed or more in our home, Addison tells Dogs Life.

Clearly entranced with this beautiful breed, the Addisons admit to being smitten by the Samoyeds outstanding beauty and incredible friendliness and who could ever resist that smile? What I like about the Samoyed is his loving and playful nature, his gentleness and open friendliness to all he meets, Addison enthuses.

She does point out that the Samoyed is a pack dog and hence needs human contact. They do not like being left at home by themselves every Samoyed loves human companionship. After many years of close living as a part of the Samoyede tribe, they are at their happiest when they are near you, Addison says.

The Samoyed is recognised for its great sense of humour and smiley face, and is frequently used as a therapy dog. As a complete package, this pooch is hard to resist, but breeders warn that early socialisation, exercise and time for grooming are important aspects of owning this breed.

Coat care

Sammies need regular grooming to ensure their thick coat stays healthy and matt-free. This canine has a double-coat, which will need weekly, even daily, brushing. The coat sheds seasonally (males once a year and females after every season), so if you are house-proud and have an aversion to dog hair sticking to your furniture and carpet, think twice about getting this breed.

The Samoyeds double coat and its colour act as insulation from the heat and they will cope as long as they have shade and water. In extreme conditions, however, they do appreciate the indoor comforts of air-conditioning.

One enormous plus to the Sammys coat is that it is hypoallergenic and, therefore, very good for people who are allergic to dog hair. The Samoyeds shed undercoat can even be collected and spun. Many beautiful items of clothing have been made using Samoyed fur, Addison comments.

The coat is also free of doggy odour, which is why the Samoyed makes a good indoor dog.

Out and about

Your Sammy will be less inclined to make a noise if it is sufficiently exercised and stimulated through the day. A member of the working group of dogs, the Samoyed was bred to be active and will need a good dose of exercise each day to keep it fit and happy. It may unwittingly herd the children during play sessions, due to its instinctive herding tendencies!

We lived for a time next door to a small farm, where the owners ran a few sheep, Addison relates. The owner approached us one day and asked us if we could keep our dogs locked up while we were away from home at any time during the week. He noticed that at a certain time on some weekdays, a pair of white dogs were quietly and gently rounding up his sheep into one particular paddock and sitting guard for sometime after.

Never at any time did we have an inkling that the dogs were not enclosed in their own backyard, as they were always there when we left and always there when we came home.

Samoyeds are naturals when it comes to dog sports, and will thrive on the stimulation and adrenaline rush of activities like obedience training and agility. There is also a sledding competition held annually during winter contact the Samoyed Club of South Australia for more information.

Breeders warn that without the stimulation of daily exercise and people contact, the Samoyed will become a shadow of its true self and will fall into a depressed state. This can lead to unruly behaviour, as well as a tendency to escape from the yard.

As with all dogs, early socialisation and training is a must with the Samoyed to ensure it develops good social skills.

Breed Care

Daily: Daily exercise is important for the Samoyed. A balanced diet and fresh water should always be available. Average-size meals of meat, rice, pasta and vegetables should be served, and healthy snacks. If possible, a brush each day will help prevent shedding around the house.

Weekly: Weekly grooming is a must to prevent tangles forming. If necessary, a rub-down with a cloth will help keep the coat clean.

Monthly: Check your dogs ears and clip nails if needed. Heartworm and flea treatments.

Other: Gastrointestinal worming for adults, more frequently for puppies. Bath every few months, or as required.

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