SAMOYED

Temperament: Adaptable, Friendly, Gentle

AKC Breed Popularity: Ranks 59 of 197

Height: 21-23.5 inches (male), 19-21 inches (female)

Weight: 45-65 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 12-14 years

Group: Working Group

ABOUT THE SAMOYED

Samoyed dog breed proved a valuable companion for northwestern Siberia’s Samoyede people. Among the breed’s duties: pack hiking, tracking, and warming their owners by sleeping on top of them at night.

As friendly and smart as this breed is, the Samoyed is challenging to own. He can be a talkative dog, voicing his likes and dislikes with bellows, howls, or barks. It’s best to keep this working dog busy, otherwise he’s likely to resort to annoying or destructive behaviors such as digging, jumping the fence, getting into garbage, or chewing shoes.

PERSONALITY

The well-bred Samoyed is an intelligent, gentle, and loyal dog. He is friendly and affectionate with his family, including the children, and thrives on being part of household activity.

His loyalty and alertness often make for a good watchdog. At heart, the Samoyed is still a hunter. He is likely to chase after small animals that he perceives as prey. For his safety, he should always be leashed when he’s not at home in his fenced yard.

NUTRITION

The Samoyed should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval.

Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior).

HEALTH

Samoyeds are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they’re prone to certain health conditions.

• Glaucoma
• Hip Dysplasia
• Samoyed Hereditary Ghlomerulopathy
• Hypothyroidism
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
• Cancer

CARE

Samoyeds enjoy being with their people and participating in family activities. They need some daily exercise and enjoy play sessions with their owner in a safely fenced yard or long walks on leash.

This breed has a strong urge to run away and roam, and if loose a Sammie might travel for miles, putting himself at risk.

GROOMING

The Samoyed has a profuse double coat, with a longer outer coat of harsh hair and a soft, thick, wooly undercoat. Samoyeds shed quite a bit all the time, even more so during shedding season, which can occur once or twice a year.

Daily brushing will help to remove dirt and loose hairs and keep the dog looking his best. Mats or tangles can be worked out with a slicker brush or metal comb.

The nails should be trimmed every three to four weeks or as needed.

Source: dogtime, akc.