Samoyeds are an eye-catching breed, with their thick coat and curly tails. They are ideally suited to colder climates and should be avoided in hot climates or tick areas. They are gentle giants, with a playful disposition. They do like to be kept busy, love herding and digging and need lots of exercise.
WHAT DOES THE BREED WANT IN THEIR PERFECT LIFE PARTNER/FAMILY?
I would love to live with a family who has time to play with me and take me for big walks. Ideally I would like a nice backyard with somewhere to dig and another dog to play with. I don’t like to be left alone and I will need lots of training and activity.
AT A GLANCE
| Lifespan | 12-13 years |
| Weight | 17-30 kg |
| Height (at shoulder) | 48-60 cm |
PERSONALITY
Stubborn/strong willed – Samoyeds are known to be a little stubborn at times. They can be easily trained if motivated and only positive training methods are used, but they will often have a mind of their own.
Playful – Life is just a game to your average Samoyed. They love chase, ball-games, playing with other dogs and lots of activity. As they get older they can become a little lazy, but if kept at a healthy weight will often stay playful into middle age.
EXERCISE & TRAINING
| Exercise Requirements | High – 1-2 hours per day |
| Training Requirements | Medium – 0.5-1.0 hours per day |
| Apartment Friendly? | No |
Samoyeds can be high energy dogs that need good training to ensure they don’t rule the household with their big, furry paws. They also need to use their intelligence and have an outlet for their playful, independent nature. Ideally involving them in obedience, agilty work or long walks will keep them tired and happy. They also love to dig.
GROOMING
| Trips to the Groomer | No – easy care at home | |
| Tick Friendly? | No | |
| Hypoallergenic | No | |
| Brushing | High – Daily brushing required | |
| Hair fall | High Shed – you will be living with lots of hair | |
| Coat Type | Long |
Samoyeds have a very dense coat, will shed and need a good brush to avoid matting. They should be avoided in hot climates and tick areas. You will end up with a house full of hair if living with a Samoyed.
FAMILY SITUATION
| Good With Kids | Good – okay with older kids, but maybe not those under 5 | |
| Good With Other Small Pets | Medium – Ok with other pets, supervision advised | |
| Sociability | Medium – Can live alone or with others. |
These are quite big dogs and can be very rambunctious with young children. They adapt well to family life if well socialised when young.
EXPENSES
| Overall Expenses (Annual) | High $2000+ | |
| Veterinary Expenses (Annual) | Medium – $200-$500 | |
| Food Expenses (Weekly) | High (large and giant) – $20-$30+ |
Being a larger breed dog, these can be expensive to own. They are prone to a number of health conditions and do cost a fair amount to feed. Pet insurance is recommended.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
MAJOR HEALTH CONCERNS
Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy – This X-linked trait is more common in males, but can mildly effect females also. It causes renal failure from 3 months of age and onwards.
Hip Displaysia – Many breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, and while more breeders are hip scoring in an attempt to breed out this devastating disease, in some cases it can still occur, particularly with overfeeding at a young age.
Diabetes – this disorder of insulin production is common in Samoyeds when they reach middle age. The early warning sign is increased thirst and perhaps weight loss and is treatable with insulin therapy.
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis – This is a heart problem is caused by a narrow connection between the left ventricle and the aorta. It can cause fainting and sudden death.
PRA – progressive retinal atrophy is disease that leads to gradual blindness and occurs in many breeds. In the beginning it tends to cause night blindness.
PREVENTATIVE CARE & WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Increased thirst in your Samoyed can be an early warning sign of impending diabetes or kidney failure problems and should be checked by your vet.
Samoyeds are also prone to orthopaedic diseases, so it is important to avoid over-exercising or over-feeding your dog, particularly while growing.
Ask your vet to examine your dog’s hips and heart regularly to detect problems early.
BREED ORIGIN AND INTERESTING FACTS
These Spitz-type dogs were originally bred by the Samoyed people of Siberia. They were used for sledding, hunting and guarding flocks of sheep. They were often incorporated into family life at the end of the day, which is why they are a little more sociable and family oriented than some other Spitz breeds.
Samoyeds are one of the ancient breeds and are thought to have been bred for at least 3000 years.
Roald Amundsen used Samoyeds on his South Pole expedition of 1910-1912, using the dogs to pull the sleds and as a food source. On their second and successful attempt to be the first expedition to reach the South Pole he set off with 52 dogs and arrived home with just 11.
Samoyed fur is similar to Angora and can be used for knitting and has also been used for making fly fishing lures.
RESCUE A SAMOYED
Petfinder lists all types of dogs who need homes, both purebred and mixed breeds, adults and puppies.
The ASPCA often has Pugs for adoption, just do an advanced search on their adoption page.
