Samoyed

The coat can be completely white, white biscuit or cream.

The fur is long.

The outer coat is long, straight and coarse, while the undercoat is short, soft and dense. Both of these create a thick and abundant fleece-like fur. 

Females’ fur is slightly shorter and softer than males’.

The eyes are dark brown.

Samoyeds are an elegant, strong and resilient dog. They are proud, robust, and assertive. There are notable differences between the males and females of the breed.

This dog is gentle and affectionate. It will love playing with its owners, all the while maintaining a certain distance, which is very common among nordic dogs.

Even as an adult, this nordic dog will always want to play. This is especially the case with children, which this breed adores.

This sled dog is very dynamic and active. However, if its exercise needs are met with a diverse range of stimulating activities, the Samoyed can be calm and appreciate the comfort of its bed.

On one hand, the Samoyed’s ability to adapt to a number of lifestyles shows its intelligence.

On the other hand, the Samoyed won’t cooperate easily. Communication can become difficult if a Samoyed notices a lack of coherence in its training or doesn’t trust its trainer. It may seem paradoxical, but this is also a sign of intelligence.

This beautiful white dog is a good hunter, even if this isn’t its favourite activity. Samoyeds can see small animals as prey. However, being more playful than predatory, this instinct is not overly prevalent.

Unlike many dogs of this type, the Samoyed is mostly welcoming of strangers, which makes it a less-than-suitable guard dog.

The Samoyed isn’t fearful or aggressive towards strangers, instead preferring to be stroked by them or even played with.

Like many nordic dogs, the Samoiedskaïa Sabaka is very independent in nature. However, it is still very attached to its owners, and always seeking to please them.

This dog will not cope well with being kept separate from its social group. Nor will it cope well if left on its own in the house. A Samoyed may resort to barking or destruction as an outlet for its emotional discomfort.

In general, training nordic dogs is no easy feat. Their independence and stubbornness doesn’t leave much room for spontaneous cooperation.  

However, this white dog can cooperate if its owner is consistent, patient, and trustworthy.

Samoyed dogs must be trained at a very young age to avoid picking up bad habits.

You should train your dog using positive reinforcement. Never get aggressive, or you may scare your Samoyed to the point where training will no longer be possible.

This nordic dog barks a lot to communicate with both humans and other dogs, whether to express its joy, frustration or enthusiasm.

The Samoyed’s independence coupled with its propensity for hunting, (depending on the lineage), can make this nordic dog prone to running away. 

This tendency can be accentuated if its physical, social and sensory needs aren’t properly met by its owner.

Being a very active dog in need of almost constant activity, boredom is its worst enemy. 

A Samoyed can become destructive if not sufficiently exercised or if left for too long on his own.

However, this isn’t the case for dogs that are regularly exercised and stimulated.

This big white dog won’t ever refuse a treat, but must only ever be given one as a reward for good behaviour.

Obesity is not appropriate for the Samoyed’s lifestyle; your dog must therefore learn not to beg and to wait patiently for mealtime.

The Samoyed’s friendliness, happiness, and enthusiasm upon the arrival of strangers doesn’t make it a good guard dog. 

Intruders might be scared off by barking, but owners might not take the signal seriously, since this is very normal behaviour for the Samoyed dog.

The Samoyed’s majestic appearance has the potential to melt the hearts of future dog owners, but it’s important to remember this dog’s true nature.

Not everyone will be able to take on such a stubborn and active dog. 

A lot of time and patience needs to be invested to have a successful experience with this dog. The Samoyed therefore has the potential to quickly overwhelm an inexperienced owner.

This dog is not at all suited to life as a couch potato; behind its elegant appearance lies a rustic personality and true athlete who has to be kept in shape through constant activity.

A Samoyed is happiest living in a home with a garden in the countryside, and even more so in the mountains. Heat is not well suited to this dog.

Whether living in an urban or rural environment, indoors or outdoors, the Samoyed should regularly be taken for long and stimulating walks, as well as engage in other sporting activities.

As a sled dog, the Samoyed was born active and needs to run on a daily basis to burn off excess energy. Simple walks around the block won’t be enough to satisfy this dog. 

To add to this, a Samoyed should also participate in regular sporting activities in order to maintain its physical and psychological well-being. 

Dog sports like agility, dog dancing or even tracking are all activities in which this beautiful white dog can excel.

Medium-sized, this dog can accompany its owners on trips without too much difficulty. The thick fur is actually what makes the Samoyed seem like a big dog.

To ensure that the journey goes as smoothly as possible, your dog should’ve been trained, in a firm but fair way, as well as properly socialised.

While its hunter instinct may be weak, it is nonetheless present, particularly around small-sized animals such as cats.

Harmonious cohabitation between dog and cat can therefore be difficult, unless your Samoyed was socialised at a very young age.

Having evolved to live in a pack, this white dog can be quite rowdy, and won’t hesitate to initiate conflict with its canine counterparts. However, proper socialisation will keep this reflex in check.

With unneutered males, however, do not set your expectations too high!

The Samoyed is a gentle, affectionate and attentive dog who loves children, making it the perfect playmate.

Nonetheless, rules should still be established and respected, notably by the children, in order to ensure everyone’s safety.

Unfortunately, this dog’s unrelenting energy makes it incompatible with inactive people.

This dog loses a significant amount of hair, notably during the annual shedding periods. During these times, the loose hair will have to be removed daily.

Its lifespan is around 11 years.

This dog is very robust, mainly thanks to its thick double coat that protects it very well. Samoyeds also have a relatively long life expectancy and rarely fall ill.

While this nordic dog is very well suited to a European climate, it is still best adapted to the cold, only tolerating the heat to a very limited extent.

Samoyeds can remain comfortable even in very cold temperatures, thanks to their incredible coat.

If properly exercised on a daily basis, this athletic dog will easily stay in shape. However, it’s still important to monitor dogs who don’t have an optimal diet or physical condition.

• Hip dislocation
• Overheating
• Atrophy of the retina
• Cortical cerebellar abiotrophy (destruction of cells in the cerebellum)
• Skin disorders
• Kidney failure
• Spongiform leucoencephalomyalopathy (neurodegenerative disorder)
• Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune disease resulting in muscle deterioration)
• Diabetes

The Samoyed’s origins stem from Nordic countries, a trait shared with other sled dogs as well. Its name originates from the Samoyed tribe, which bred this dog in the far North. However, the dogs they bred were not white, but instead predominantly black. The Samoyed’s white fur was selected for in modern breeding practices, which began in the United States and England, from both the “bear” and “wolf” varieties created by the tribe. The breed was first thought to have come from England, however, we now know that it is linked to North Russia and Siberia, under the Nordic Kennel Union (NKU).