Samoyeds

Appearance:

Body: Medium-sized and well-muscled with deep, wide chest, well-sprung ribs, and a broad, strong back.

Coat: Straight, harsh outer coat with a soft, dense, wooly, undercoat.

Color: Pure white, white and biscuit, cream, or just biscuit.

Ears: Small, rounded, wide set, thick, and erect.

Eyes: Deep set, wide apart, almond-shaped, and dark with dark rims.

Feet: Large and long, moderately spread, well-cushioned and flat; pads are covered with hair.

Head: Strong and wedge-shaped with a broad, slightly domed skull, well-defined stop, tapering muzzle, and a black or brown nose.

Legs: Forelegs are long, straight, muscular, and well-boned. Hindquarters are muscular with strong hind legs and well-angulated stifles.

Neck: Strong, muscular, and held erect blending into smoothly arched shoulders.

Size:
Weight: 50 - 66 pounds
Height: 19 - 23.5 inches

Tail: Medium length, carried up over the back, and profusely covered with hair.

Behavior

Recommended for experienced dog handlers
Best suited for an active, athletic-type owner
Generally good with other family pets
Can be incessant barkers
Good with children

The Samoyed is a friendly, non-aggressive, and loyal dog. He has a happy-go-lucky personality that has earned him the nicknames of "The Smiling Dog" and "Smiling Sammy." Samoyeds are affectionate, intelligent, alert, and anxious to please; a true people-dog who loves to be with his human family.

AKC Standard says, "Excitingly eye-arresting, the big white dog with the "smiling face" and dark, intelligent eyes, with a strong, sturdy, muscular body on legs built for speed-the Samoyed is for many the most beautiful breed in existence."

He's a working dog bred to herd the reindeer that were used to pull sleds for the nomads of the Siberian tundra, and he was used to haul boats along the streams. Today he is mostly used to pull snow sleds. He is generally good with other dogs and pets but still maintains his herding instincts and may try to round everyone up, including the neighbors dogs and cats.

Michele Welton, author of Your Purebred Puppy says, "The Samoyed is gentle and dependable in heart and mind, robust and spirited in body. he can be boisterous and destructive. Bored Sams are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of the sofa, and relandscaping the backyard."

Don't consider this breed if you are looking for a guard dog to be left out on a lead or alone for extended periods of time. He craves and needs lots of mind-stimulating, physically challenging activities and human contact or he will become bored and destructive.

Samoyeds can be obstinate and difficult to train. Obedience training should begin at an early age and is best handled by an experienced dog owner who has the patience to work with him-providing him with the strong leadership he needs and a positive approach to training including respectful correction, reward-type treats, and praise for a job well done.

Breed Type

AKC Group: Working Group

Bred to herd reindeer, pull sleds, and keep their masters warm at night by sleeping on top of them. Currently they are still used for sled pulling.

Care and Grooming

Exercise: Vigorous daily runs or long hikes, along with challenging activities such as advanced obedience classes or agility. Keep him on a leash or in an enclosed area or he may quickly disappear to chase and herd smaller animals.

Grooming: Brush thoroughly two to three times weekly to prevent matting; daily during shedding seasons (Spring and Fall).

Health

Life Expectancy: 12 Years

Possible Problems:
Allergies
Cancer
Cataracts
Diabetes
Glaucoma
Hip Dysplasia

Recommended Certificates:
CERF - for the eyes
OFA - for the hips

Country of Origin

Russia