Samoyed Care

The Samoyed--affectionately known as the Sammie--is a medium- to large-sized breed that's intelligent, hard-working, and possesses a luxurious white or cream coat. These dogs are fairly rare, probably because they're very expensive to purchase--which makes them beloved by their lucky few owners. And along with their high price tag comes a good amount of Samoyed care. Below you'll find plenty of details on how to take care of a Samoyed: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to all your Samoyed maintenance questions, read on!

Samoyed exercise is extremely important in keeping these dogs happy and healthy. Originally developed to be all-purpose working dogs, Sammies are intelligent and task-oriented, and will benefit greatly from daily activity that stimulates them mentally as well as physically. Depending on its age and overall activity level, an adult Sammie will need about 45 minutes of exercise per day; you can begin exercising a Samoyed puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (10- to 15-minute) leashed walks, then increasing the walks' duration as the puppy grows.

Some things to consider when you're exercising your Samoyed: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping and running, as doing so can injure their still-growing bones and joints. (Sammie puppies are known for having a big growth spurt between about four and seven months of age, so this "no strenuous activity" rule is especially important for puppies of this breed.) These dogs also have incredibly high prey drives, so they'll need to be leashed when in public to keep them from chasing interesting-looking critters; they're exceptional escape artists too, so even when you're exercising in your fenced yard, your Sammie will need to be closely supervised to avoid the dog just jumping over (or digging under!) the fence. Also, as a Spitz breed with a thick double coat, Sammies don't do well in extreme heat, so it's best not to exercise these dogs in sweltering temperatures.

Precautions aside, it's vital that Samoyeds get some exercise every single day. A bored or restless Sammie will exhibit behavioral problems like destructiveness and disobedience--or worst of all, the dog will just escape to find its own fun. Consistent activity, then, is great for both the dog's peace of mind and your own. A few ideas for exercise:

• Walking: Two 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: A Sammie will chase a ball or stick for hours
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Sammies excel in obedience and agility trials
• Dog Park: Your Sammie will enjoy the company of other dogs
• Hiking: Great bonding activity; bonus if you can trust your Sammie off-leash

When indoors, it's recommended that you give your Samoyed access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow the dog to burn any pent-up energy. It's also a good idea to establish a consistent daily exercise schedule for your Sammie, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

Maintenance for these dogs in terms of shedding and drooling is pretty high. Though they don't drool much, Samoyed shedding is pretty regular--and during the spring and fall shedding seasons, it's off the charts.

Sammies have thick, double-layered coats that shed regularly for most of the year--and since the hairs are white or cream-colored, they're especially visible. And come shedding season, the amount of shed hairs is incredibly high. Owners say that frequent brushing helps, but won't eliminate Samoyed dog shedding altogether. Owners of these dogs will need to use vacuum cleaners on floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture, quite often.

A Samoyed may drool a bit in anticipation of food, but not much otherwise. If your Sammie is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

The Samoyed diet, while not necessarily unusual, is fairly specific in its guidelines. Like the food for most breeds, Samoyed food will need to be high in animal proteins and carbohydrates to give the Sammie energy; the food will also need to contain omega fatty acids to keep these dogs' luxurious coats looking healthy. This means that owners will need to feed their Sammies either a raw/fresh diet of lean meats, fresh vegetables, eggs, fish, and other prepared foods--or premium dry food. (Many owners feed their Sammies a combination of both.) While technically the raw/fresh diet is best, a lot of people find such a diet to be too expensive and inconvenient, and opt for premium dry food instead. Cheap, generic, or "store-brand" food should never be given to these dogs, as it doesn't contain enough nutritious ingredients.

Samoyed dog food guidelines are specific for a couple of reasons: first, Sammie puppies grow unusually fast, so owners will need to moderate puppies' food to make sure they don't grow too quickly, which can put them at risk of injury. Breeders and experts advise discussing a Sammie puppy's feeding with the breeder from which the dog was obtained, or with a veterinarian. Second, these dogs often have a tendency to wolf their food. Samoyeds were developed to be work and sled dogs, and they often went for long periods without eating--so a Sammie may instinctively eat its food as quickly as possible because the dog won't be sure when it will get a chance to eat again! This wolfing of meals can cause bloat, an often-fatal condition caused by air being trapped in the stomach when a dog eats too fast. Vets strongly advise against feeding a Samoyed only one meal a day for this reason, and instead recommend two (or even three) smaller meals each day.

An adult Sammie, depending on its age, size, and activity level, needs about 2½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. A Sammie puppy will need a little less: again depending on its age, a pup will need about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals until the age of nine months. It's a good idea to feed a young Samoyed puppy food for the first year of its life, then you can transition to adult food. For more details on feeding a Sammie from puppyhood through maturity, see the guidelines below:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in just a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food until the dog is eating it entirely.

It's extremely important to try to stick to the above-listed portions. Sammies will easily become obese if they're overfed--and a fat Samoyed will have joint and digestive issues and a shorter lifespan. You can control your Sammies weight in several ways: by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules; by not feeding the dog table scraps; and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, but instead putting it down only at mealtimes, then picking it up 15-20 minutes after your Sammie begins eating.

If you're worried your Samoyed is overweight: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Decrease the dog's food consumption by one-fourth, and add some extra exercise to its daily schedule.

Opinions differ over what's the best dog food for a Samoyed. Some believe a raw/fresh diet of meats, vegetables, and other proteins is best, while others choose premium dry food. A combination of both would be ideal: premium dry food for two or three meals per day for your Sammie, with some lean meats and/or fresh vegetables added to at least one meal.

The Samoyed is a highly personable breed, and will be happiest living inside with its human family members. With these dogs' high energy levels, though, they'll need a good bit of outdoor exercise each day. And the ideal living situation for this breed is in a home with a fenced yard; for the Samoyed, apartment living isn't a very good match, as the dog will just be too energetic for such a confined space.

In regards to climate: for the Samoyed, winter is its natural habitat. The breed originated in Siberia, so these dogs are just fine in freezing temps. Samoyeds in hot weather, on the other hand, might overheat easily. Overall, the Samoyed is best suited to life in cooler climates.

The Siberian tundra is one of the coldest places on earth and the Sammie has adapted and excelled in these conditions. Their thick double coat keeps them warm in these climates and they can also thrive in those that are cool and even seasonal. They may have difficulty adapted to very warm areas and should not be left outside unattended in these conditions. If you insist on having a Samoyed in hot regions, you should take care to keep them as indoor pets and exercise them during the cooler times of the day. Always make sure they have plenty of shade and water if necessary to leave them outside for a bit.