Husky/Samoyed crossbreed?

A lot of people read this forum. You are clearly the exception that proves the rule, and you only have to visit any rescue centre to see that some types of dogs are more challenging than others when they end up with owners who aren't quite prepared. No, neither @Kikaah nor the rest of us are giving warnings just to have a go at anyone! What drives the members here is a respect for dogs and their way of life — which has to be a good match for what the owners are actually able to provide. Claiming that training takes precedence over instinct is potentially putting everyone in danger, because it’s simply not true. (The eight dogs I’ve raised definitely have things in common because of the way I’ve trained them, obviously, but the objective needs of different breeds often have very little in common. Trying to pass off a working dog, a gundog, or a primitive breed as just a companion pet is misleading buyers, making life difficult for people, and just increasing the chances of them being rehomed.)

It seems you’re one of those know-it-alls popping up everywhere these days, the type who think they have the right to put everyone else down. No, I’m not perfect, but I thought that giving advice like listening to your dog and having a bit of self-confidence was better than belittling someone by telling them they aren’t capable. But clearly, tearing people down and telling them they’re worthless and their advice is even worse is just how you do things. Thank goodness not everyone is like you, otherwise the world would be in an even worse state. I won’t be replying anymore, as I’ve no interest in stooping to that level. All the best.

Sorry, but I get the impression you’re mainly talking about your own dog and your own personal experience. However, I doubt every Husky-Samoyed cross is going to be exactly like yours. You only have to read @kiki87’s post to see that not all 'Samskys' are the same, and not all of them are going to be happy with just an hour on a lead in a city like Paris. And it isn’t all down to training; training, no matter how good it is, isn’t the be-all and end-all. Maybe the person who bought the pup at the show will know how to look after it properly, but if they blindly believe what that breeder is saying, there’s a high chance that puppy will end up in a rescue... Well, as a vet assistant, I can assure you that training and environment are everything. Funnily enough, dogs from the same household always seem to have the same issues. Dogs of the same breed never have the exact same temperament, even though they’re supposed to share the same traits. A dog with no aggression whatsoever can become aggressive with bad training. You mustn't forget that training isn’t just about listening to your trainer all the time; you have to follow your own instincts and give your dog some freedom. I have four dogs of different ages, and I’ve had others in the past, and strangely they all have the same temperament and way about them. So, sorry, but with my experience, speaking to so many different people and trainers, and my job, I think I know what I’m talking about.

I’m sorry, but I get the impression you’re mostly talking about your own dog and your own personal experience. However, I highly doubt that every Husky and Samoyed cross is going to be just like yours. You only have to read @kiki87’s post to see that not all "Samsky" dogs are the same, and not all of them will be happy with just an hour on the lead in a city like London. And it’s not all down to training; as good as it may be, training isn't everything. Maybe the person who bought the puppy at the dog show will know how to look after it properly, but if they blindly believe everything that breeder says, there’s a much higher chance that the puppy will end up at the RSPCA...

At the last pet show in Paris, I overheard a Samoyed breeder telling some very interested potential buyers, "They're perfect companion dogs; they only need an hour's walk on the lead every day." I tried to talk the young couple out of it when I bumped into them further down the aisles, but they didn't listen to a word I said—they completely fell for the breeder's sales pitch! Hi there, How can you be so negative and scare off someone who might actually take brilliant care of this breed? I own a Samsky and, honestly, it’s nothing like what you’re describing. She’s a very well-balanced dog. We hadn't specifically set out to get this breed, but now that we have her, we’re actually looking for a second one because she brings us so much joy. The cross between the two breeds brings together the pros and cons of both, admittedly, but it’s given me a dog that certainly needs a lot of exercise, but it’s not unmanageable. I work long hours and during the week I can’t manage more than an hour’s walk, and that’s plenty for her. I can even stay home if I’m tired one day without her tearing the house apart. We have a garden, but she prefers staying inside with us. It all comes down to your training; I’m very close to her and she gives that back tenfold. For an "independent" dog, she’s very affectionate and a total Velcro dog (I should mention we also have an Aussie, who gave me a much harder time, and a Medium German Spitz; I’m saying this for the benefit of the cynics who’ll claim she isn't being raised as part of a pack). She’s stubborn, yes, because she’s not a huge fan of learning new tricks, but she does them very well; you just can’t ask her to do the same thing twice, that’s all. The only downside I can mention is her very high prey drive, but you adapt and just make sure to stay alert during walks. Please stop talking about things you don't know anything about. A dog is all about balance; observe them, give them what they need, and they’ll be the perfect fit for you.

 

Basically, she’s a dog with no recall.

 

Having a big garden is no substitute for the need for walks or other outdoor activities.

I’ve got a one-year-old female Samsky, and she’s got about 1.7 acres of land to run around and let off steam. She absolutely loves human company and also gets on well with other dogs, like St Bernards. Her recall is very much "only when she feels like it," but she’s spot on with commands like "sit" and "down." She’s perfectly happy spending the night indoors without causing any damage, but an attempt at living in a flat was a complete disaster in less than a day. As requested in the thread, I’ve attached a photo of her. I’d strongly advise anyone thinking of getting this crossbreed to make sure they have enough fenced-in space for the dog to properly burn off energy. That doesn’t stop her from coming over for a fuss, though—she can spend hours enjoying a good stroke.

Two highly inbred pedigree dogs with genetic defects won't produce a hardy puppy just because it’s a crossbreed.

No KC registration? Huh? As for resilience, it’s got nothing to do with being KC registered or a crossbreed. Dodgy genetics affect crossbreeds just as much as pedigree dogs (I’ve known little crossbreeds riddled with health issues... so much for being 'hardier'). But because everyone naturally assumes a non-KC dog or a crossbreed never has health problems, nobody bothers checking. Lol. If you cross two mutts or crossbreeds without knowing their health status, you’re just as likely to end up with dodgy puppies as if you try breeding pedigrees without looking at the genetic screening first. It’s also completely reckless to cross breeds whose temperaments aren't as straightforward as others, just because they’re trendy. Not everyone is cut out to own a Husky or a Samoyed, so crossing the two just to produce a 'fun' dog to attract a few clueless people looking for an 'unusual' pet is pretty poor form. Because with these types of crosses, it’s only the 'image' that matters—not selection, not a love for the dog, and certainly not preserving its genetic heritage or innate traits. But you’re probably right, let’s keep supporting the crossbreeds that rake in the cash, let’s cheer on the mixing of all and sundry and never mind the rest (temperament, health... pffft, we’ll worry about that in a few generations, won’t we, once the bank accounts of the people churning out these 'breeds' are nice and full).