What makes a samoyed

Samoyed's are a beautiful breed, they have a striking appearance with a beautiful big smile on their face, which is an important characteristic and where they get their nickname 'the smiling Sammy'. 

They are a double coated breed coming only in white, but can have biscuit and cream shading, they have a thick soft undercoat and a harsh over coat and while they don't shed little hairs from their coat everyday, they do drop coat and you can have a snow storm of fur. Females tend to drop twice a year and males once.

It's a common misconception that Samoyed's are hypoallergenic and are therefore okay for their allergies, this is not quite correct.

What they do is produce low amounts of dander, which is what most people have allergic reactions too. If you are worried about having a reaction to Samoyed's then it is best to meet them and spend time around them to see. Feel free to contact me, I can send you some of their brushed fur to see if you have a reaction to it or there is Samoyed only dog shows where you can see lots of them together and see if you react.  

There is no need to shave or cut your Samoyed's fur, it is dual purpose and keeps them warm and cool.   

Don't be daunted by the beauty of their coat, they are easier to keep clean than they look. The harsh overcoat has a weather proof ability that means that when they get muddy, and boy do they love getting mucky, once it's dried, the mud just brushes off, and they are clean again. 

I have added a page on grooming a Samoyed to give you an idea on how to groom your dog and for all puppy buyers I will go through it all fully, I promise it is not as daunting as it looks.
 

The way the Samoyed dogs were raised by the Nenets gives them some of their most loved temperament traits today. 

They would sleep inside the 'Chooms' with the tribe and be raised as part of the family, so don't expect your Samoyed to always sleep outside. The Samoyed dog truly wants to spend every minute with you and being apart from you, their family, is heartbreaking to them and can lead to destructive behaviour. If you have a job where you can't bring them to work with you or if they have to be left for long periods, or at a day-care or with a pet sitter, it might be best that you don't get a Samoyed for now. They need so much of your time and attention, this is something that you will have to consider, they are very happy to lay under a table while you are out eating lunch or lay beside your desk while you work and then when you are free to walk them later, romp around happily. It is a part of the breed that I love, that they want to do what you are doing and be with you always.

the Nenets trusted them to watch over their children and they are very gentle and caring with children, they seem drawn to them, although I would never recommend leaving any dog with a child unsupervised.
The Samoyed's are loyal, gentle, demanding and full of love, they smile and have the cheekiest happiest twinkle in their eyes, every morning is like Christmas morning to them, the love that you put into them, you get back a hundred-fold.
 

Samoyed's are usually not breeds that are suggested for first time dog owners, this is due mainly to their intelligence level, you don't own a Samoyed, you are in a partnership with them. They are very intelligent and expressive, if you are ignoring them and they want your attention, do expect a nose or paw nudge, so be careful when holding hot drinks. 

You will need a securely fenced garden, not just to stop your Samoyed from getting out, but also to stop people from taking them from your garden. They are not a guard dog as such, although they can alert you with their barking, they are, however, so friendly, they can be taken off before they know what's happening.
 

Samoyed's are a vocal breed with a high-sounding yap/bark for some this can be a big problem as it can really hit a pitch that can hurt some peoples heads, this is not to say that it can't be trained to be kept to a minimum, they can woo and make the most wonderful chatter, but they don't bark unnecessarily, there is always a reason even if that reason is to tell you about the bird in the tree or just to talk to you. 

As bad habits go, they have a tendency to dig, not every Samoyed will dig and some grow out of it or into it, but it is a breed trait that goes back to them living in the arctic where they would dig at the snow to carve themselves little snow beds, again this is something that they can be trained not to do and mental stimulation will help.

Training with your Samoyed is a very fun thing to do, as I said they are a partnership dog, so don't expect them to sit 5 times in a row, they will find this boring, you will have to mix it up and challenge their brain, start them young with their training. You do not need to raise your voice or hit your Samoyed, positive training will get you far. They do need practice with recall, but for a Samoyed its important that they get time off lead for them to explore, as this works their brain, they will get bored with walking the same route every day and you would have to start walking them further. Off lead walks is an exercise in trust for you, but well worth it and with training you can have a good recall.
The good nature of the Samoyed's do roll over into liking other dogs too, they are usually very friendly and are happy to greet other dogs, not all other dogs like this, and they don't like the more forward nature a Samoyed displays, some dogs see the attributes of a Samoyed like the tail over their back, the pricked ears and big coat as a threat. So be careful, as not all other dogs are as friendly.   

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While they are a dog of good size and substance, they do not need much food and can eat a lot less than you would realise. You should not let your puppy get fat while young, but should feed a balanced diet to help them grow as strong and healthy as possible, you should also be careful that your adult Samoyed doesn't become fat, a fat Samoyed is not a happy Samoyed.

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Health wise, the Samoyed is a healthy breed and aren't prone to many illnesses. When looking for a puppy, the parents should have their hips scored with the numbers of both being low and eyes tested clear, this is the least you deserve for your puppy. There are some cancers and skin problems that Samoyed's are more prone too, and they have a high tendency for getting blockages from eating things they shouldn't so watch them with their toys, but overall they are a long living healthy breed.  

 

A Samoyed is classed as a medium-sized dog but the sizes and weights will change a little from breeder to breeder, so bear this in mind when talking with the breeder and when seeing mum and possibly dad of the puppies, they will give you an idea of the size your puppy will grow into. I think it is worth a note to say that during their growth stages when their puppy hair is coming through, they get a monkey mask where the hair on the face is shorter, it is a very cute but awkward and they do grow out of it. 

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It is important when choosing a Samoyed puppy that you find a breeder that you like as hopefully you will have a long relationship with them and a good one. Each different breeder has their own breeding goals (some breed a very active racing type and some a more docile Samoyed), this is something you need to keep in mind when finding a breeder. A good breeder will help pick the right puppy from the litter to match what you are looking for to join your family, each puppy in the litter displays a different temperament from a young age and the breeder should be able to spot this early and find the right one for you.       ​

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You will have to think logically about if you can give a Samoyed a home or even it they are the right kind of breed for you. Samoyed puppies, like all puppies are adorable, but they don't stay small for long and will need a family and home for 12-15 years, sometimes longer, so think honestly before deciding what's right for you!

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