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An ancient Siberian sledge dog bred to herd and guard reindeer,, the Samoyed is characterized by his hefty, weather-resistant coat and signature smiling black lips. This working breed thrives on having a job to do. A perfect companion for families with children, he is kind, gentle and devoted. The highly intelligent, active Samoyed needs daily exercise and will retain his puppy-like playfulness throughout his lifetime.
DID YOU KNOW? A team of Samoyeds accompanied Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on his quest to discover the South Pole in 1911. The Samoyed’s gene pool contains no wolf or fox blood, distinguishing this dog as a primitive breed.
ALSO KNOWN AS: Bjelkier, Samoiedskaya Sobaka, Nenetskaya Laika
| Lifespan: | 12–13 years |
| Weight: | 23–30kg |
| Height: | Adult males are 51–56cm and adult females 46–51cm |
| Colours: | Pure white, white and biscuit, or cream |
| Size: | Medium |
| Kennel Club group: | Working |
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 5/5 |
| Energy level: | 5/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 5/5 |
The Samoyed is generally a friendly, outgoing and devoted dog. Samoyeds are protective of their homes. No intruder will ever go unheard, although they rarely do much more than announce their presence. He loves to be included in all family activities and can become destructive and vocal if left for too long or bored. They enjoy digging and are great escape artists, so garden security is essential. They have to be socialised from an early age, especially with cats and any other household pets. They can be quite vocal.
Country of Origin: Russia
Known at various times as the Smiling Dog or the Reindeer Dog, the Samoyed is an ancient reindeer-herding dog who takes their now universally known name from the tribe that treasured it so highly and worked alongside it - the Samoyede people of Northern Siberia.
While largely a herding dog, the Samoyed (or Sami) was a multi-purpose dog who would not only control livestock but would also pull sledges, and on occasions, provided the tribe with fur garments to keep them warm in the most inhospitable of climates.
These dogs lived and worked closely with the tribe and even shared their sleeping quarters, so has always lived alongside families, and was treated as a companion (and often a hot water bottle) as well as a working dog. At the end of the 19th century, explorers to the area took an interest in the Samoyed and their powers of endurance and stamina, using some as sledge dogs for early polar expeditions. A few Samis came back with them to England - where their stunning looks and cheerful personalities meant they become almost instantly popular with show enthusiasts and even royalty. This popularity continues to this day and the breed is remarkably unchanged - except unlike their ancestors, the modern Sami comes only in white!
The Samoyed would suit an owner or a family who wants a friendly happy dog, who are at home most of the time, who prefer a non-heated house and don’t mind being covered in white hair!
The main inherited disease that the Samoyed suffers from is a particular type of kidney disease. As with many breeds, they can also suffer from various hereditary eye disorders, and hip dysplasia (a condition that can lead to mobility problems). Eye testing and hip scoring of dogs prior to breeding is therefore important.
The Samoyed dog breed needs a reasonable amount of dog exercise both on and off the lead. They do have a natural tendency to pull on a lead; however, they can be trained to walk beside you, or a headcollar can be used. An adult Samoyed needs a couple of hours of exercise daily, but his thick coat means he can easily over-heat and so very early morning exercise is ideal.
Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. Samoyeds can be prone to bloating and stomach problems. Smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk.
This is a high-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming and it's important that full instructions are given to you by the breeder of your puppy. A daily brush will keep them looking clean, with a more thorough grooming once a week. If the coat becomes wet or muddy, leave it to dry; it is then easier to comb the dirt from the coat. In their native country, the Samoyed will shed its undercoat once a year, normally in the summer. In centrally-heated homes, however, they may shed twice a year. When the coat is being shed, it will get everywhere and grooming will need to be more regular. Males seem to have a longer coat than females.
The Samoyed isn’t ever going to be an obedience champion as formal training isn’t in his repertoire! What he loves to do is run - so if you can find a club who specialises in Canicross, your Sami will be in heaven. If not, long lead walks will be in order after you've spent some time training him not to pull. After all, that’s what they were bred for!
Samoyeds make great family dogs as they enjoy being involved in everything and have happy, patient personalities.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
