Samoyed Dog Breed

The Samoyed, a member of the Working group of breeds, has existed as a working animal in Siberia and other cold regions for centuries--but these Spitz dogs are as equally prized for their cheerful demeanors as for their tireless work ethic. These versatile dogs are good both in a work capacity and as a family pet, so Sammies are good for practically everyone (especially those living in colder climates).

A few Samoyed dog facts: they're medium-sized (height at the shoulders averages 21 inches, and weight 45 pounds), with medium- to long-haired, double-layered coats in white and/or various shades of cream. Now for some Samoyed pros and cons:

PROS:

• Loving, playful, and adaptable
• Low to moderate maintenance needs
• Intelligent and intuitive
• Excellent "cold-weather" dogs
• Socialize very well with kids, pets, and strangers alike
• Easily trained
• Fairly good health

CONS:

• Sheds profusely
• May turn destructive if left alone for extended periods
• Daily exercise required
• High prey drive; will instinctively chase other animals
• Frequent barking tendency
• Not suited for hot climates
• Can be very expensive to purchase

Sammies are medium sized dogs that, overall, appear impressive and capable of great endurance. They are compact and males will be easily distinguished and slightly larger than females. Males will weigh 45-65 pounds, standing 21-23.5 inches at the shoulder; females 35-50 pounds and 19-21 inches.

Samoyeds remain playful throughout the entirety of their life and are gentle, friendly and adaptable. Children will find an affectionate and loving best friend in their Sammie. Although they are a great choice for those of any age, they will be happy with an outdoorsy, active owner than can give them plenty of time and exercise. They also make great additions to households with other pets, even other dogs. It is possible they may be conservative around strangers at first, but after the initial introduction will be very social and friendly.

Members of this breed are moderate maintenance dogs. They will need once to twice weekly brushings and frequent cleanup will be needed for their shed hair. Fine hairs are constantly shed while a heavy "blowing of the coat" will happen at least once (if not twice) per year. Although it is said the coat is hypoallergenic, experts contend that no dog can be guaranteed to be so. Sammies will also require 1-2 hours daily outdoor exercise and/or playtime. They should not be solely outdoor dogs or left alone all day. These are unusually intelligent dogs that are easy to housebreak, crate train and they excel at obedience training.

Legend has it that the Spitz-type ancestors of the Samoyed (or Samoyedskaya as they are called in Siberia) had settled in the frozen Siberian tundra with their tribesmen after migrating further and further from their original homeland in modern day Iran. According to the AKC this refers to the Samoyede people "primitive to the Sayantsi family". With migration always comes changes in appearance and functionality (the Sammie is no exception). In Siberia it is common for temperatures to venture well into the negatives and owners needed their dogs to be able to keep them warm as well as for sledding, guarding, and reindeer herding. The Samoyede depended upon reindeer for much of their food supply and these beautiful dogs were able to herd as well as protect them from predators.

Since their settlement in the tundra, they have remained fairly unchanged and are said to be very much close to primitive dogs (with no wolf mixture as might be expected from the looks and functionality). The use of them for guarding and warmth has allowed this breed to closely bond with humans and become quite a joyous companion. Many explorers have utilized this breed successfully in their expeditions from Fritdjof Nansen's to the North Pole to Roald Amundsen, who in 1911, reached the South Pole with the breed.

Modernly, these dogs didn't appear in England until the last century or so and it is rumored that Queen Alexandra, herself, loved them very much. The first Sammie came into the U.S. as a gift from the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia in 1906; the AKC accepted this breed shortly after and these extremely adaptable dogs are now very popular and found in many regions The Samoyed Club of America has been the official club for the breed in the U.S. since 1923 and there is a wealth of info on their website for those considering the breed. Interestingly, the hair of this breed once shed is sometimes used in knitting and sweaters made with the hair can be of benefit in extremely cold temperatures; the shed can also be used to make flies for fly fishing. Due to the close companionship developed over the centuries between those seeking companionship and warmth and the Sammie, they are prized for their gentility and friendliness as well as their steadfast working spirit.

The climate of Siberia is well known for being, for lack of a better word, frozen and many features of the Sammie help to make it unaffected by these conditions. Powerful, agile, alert, beautiful-- these are all words that describe the appearance of this breed and experts contend they appear this way without any rugged appearance of other hardy dogs.

The overall shape of their body, slightly longer than tall yet still compact, is perfect for the sled pulling work (or any endurance activity) which they performed in their native land. Members of this breed have an elegant yet practical double coat that should always be white, cream, biscuit colored or white and cream; it sometimes appears to have a silver or "icy" sheen. It consists of a dense, short undercoat and a long, coarse outer coat that is straight. Although the coat is profusely abundant in both sexes (everywhere except the muzzle and feet), the "ruff" around the neck will be more prominent in males than in females. Sammies have a "foxy" face with a black nose, dark brown to black almond-shaped eyes and triangular ears that stand straight up and are covered with hair.

They are noted to have a famous "Sammie Smile" that makes them always appear joyous and pleasant; this is due to upturning corners of the mouth that prevent drool from leaking out and forming icicles in the below freezing tundra. Another notable feature, the plumed tail is carried curled over the back, towards one side and resting on the back.

Samoyeds are not big dogs but interest is accumulating around breeding Miniature Samoyeds. While the standard is usually 19-24 inches in height and 35-65 pounds (depending upon gender and genes), many potential owners still seek a smaller pet to fit their lifestyle. Since there are no Mini, Toy or Teacup Samoyeds, for now, we recommend smaller breeds similar in appearance such as the American Eskimo Dog.

Coats, likewise don't vary much among purebred individuals. If you see a short haired Samoyed it's likely the owner has trimmed or clipped the coat for ease of maintenance or because they mistakenly think this will keep the dog cool.

Sammies are very powerful animals that gained respect from their homeland for being steadfast and unaffected workers in subzero temperatures. They are gentle dogs that perform whatever task they are on with friendliness and happiness. To say they are gentle does not mean they cannot watch out for you (or a flock of reindeer) if need be but, in general, they are joyful companion dogs.

They are eager to be tasked and please you and are highly up to the task-- they are very intelligent! Don't let the sweet smile fool you, they are intuitive and independent thinkers and should be trained early. After establishing yourself as the pack leader, any type of training should be a breeze. Sammies excel in pulling, herding, obedience, and agility activities and make more than capable show dogs in these arenas. If not given enough human interaction, space and exercise this breed may develop destructive habits such as digging, barking more than usual and even chewing the hair off their legs. Do not tie them outside, leave them alone for long periods of time or make them solely outdoor dogs; giving them toys to play with also greatly helps.

Members of this breed are social dogs. They make excellent playmates for children, get along with other dogs and will greet most strangers in a friendly, yet conservative, manner. They have a naturally playful and inquisitive nature that can make them crowd pleasers or a handful to handle based upon how well they are trained. They may try to herd groups of children due to their herding instincts but this behavior can also be lessened with proper instruction.

Sammies are vocal dogs that will bark to alert or call your attention to whatever they think appropriate and will generally stop once acknowledged. They will be very sensitive and intuitive to your feelings and can tell a lot from your tone, therefore, it is important to be firm when need be in addition to always exuding love and encouragement.

Hip dysplasia, bloat and Progressive Retinal Atrophy common health issues seen in this breed as well as countless others. Pulmonary stenosis and diabetes are two issues of more immediate consequence. Notably, hereditary glomerulopathy is a disorder linked to a genetic mutation and can result in kidney failure by 15 months age. Choosing a responsible breeder as well as regular trips to the veterinarian can help monitor for and prevent some diseases. Your Sammie should live around 10-12 years.

Some interesting facts about the Samoyed breed:

• Samoyed yarn: This breed's fur, once shed, can be used to make wool. The hair (mostly that of the soft undercoat) is often spun into yarn and then used to knit sweaters, hats, and gloves; knitting experts say Samoyed wool is much warmer than that of a sheep, but the Samoyed wool is often mixed with sheep's wool to give it added strength.
• Talkative dogs: Samoyeds, more than most any other breed, express themselves with a wide range of vocalizations including yowls, yips, and howls (in addition to regular barks); canine experts believe the vocalizations are due to the Samoyed's keen intelligence and intuition.
• The "Sammy Smile": This breed normally appears to be permanently smiling--but there's a reason: from their time spent in sub-freezing temperatures, Samoyeds have learned to constantly turn up the corners of their mouths to keep from drooling; on the icy tundra, the drool would quickly freeze and form icicles.
• Polar expedition heroes: Numerous Samoyeds were brought from Siberia for the polar exploration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; the dogs pulled sleds loaded with supplies in extremely harsh weather; not many survived, and the dogs that lived are believed to be the ancestors of all Samoyeds in existence today.