The Samoyed

Appearance

The Samoyed being essentially a working dog should be strong and active and graceful, and as his work lies in cold climates his coat should be heavy and weather-resisting. He should not be too long in back, as a weak back would make him practically useless for his legitimate work; but at the same time a cobby body, such as a Chow's would also place him at a great disadvantage as a draught dog. Breeders should aim for the happy medium, viz. a body not long, but muscular, allowing liberty, with a deep chest and well sprung ribs, strong neck proudly arched, straight front and exceptionally strong loins. Both dogs and bitches should give the appearance of being capable of great endurance but should be free from coarseness. A full grown dog should stand about 53.5 cm (21 ins.) at the shoulder. On account of the depth of chest required the legs should be moderately long, a very short-legged dog is to be deprecated. Hindquarters should be particularly well developed, stifles well angulated, and any suggestion of unsound stifles or cowhocks severely penalised

History

The breed was originally used for herding reindeer, hunting, and to haul sledges for the Samoyede people in north western Siberia. The Samoyed derived their name from the nomadic tribe. They are very placid in temperament, and are a dog of great beauty. They lived closely with their owners as family members. The dogs developed a great understanding of mankind and are the guardian of children. They were introduced to England at the latter end of the 19th century, and in 1909 the original Samoyed Club was founded in England, and the breed standard was drawn up based on the knowledge acquired by Mr & Mrs Kilburn Scottg who had bred from many types of imported Samoyeds and they selected the best specimens in establishing the breed in England. Samoyeds were also used to haul sledges on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. They have adapted well to the warmer climates. As a companion dog they prefer to live their life as part of the family, rather than live in a kennel environment

Temperament

The Samoyed is a very ameniable breed with a steady, kind disposition. They love nothing more than to be part of the family, and live their life as a family member rather than be a kennel dog. They will play the role of protector of all children. They need to spend a lot of time with people, they enjoy being fondled and interacting with humans. They are not over-active like many large dogs can be. They get very excited when the family first arrives home, they will run around and greet everyone, then after 5-10 minutes they will settle down.

Care / Grooming

As with most spitz coats, they are an easy care coat compared to breeds with silky coats which will knot up easily. The Samoyed should be brushed and combed through once a week, and this should take around 30 – 40 minutes. Regular bathing is not necessary as long as the coat is groomed on a regular basis. If the coat becomes dirty – allow it to dry first before brushing through. Once the coat has dried, the dirt will come off very easily. You could use potato flour or corn starch to help loosen dirt on a damp coat, but allow the coat to dry out before brushing. Always keep nails filed or cut short, and consult your vet regarding dental hygiene and cleaning.

Health

Samoyeds have few health problems. Provided you feed your Samoyed quality food your dog should live a long healthy life. I recommend feeding a good quality dry food e.g. Pedigree Advance, either combined with raw or cooked meat, or on it’s own. Feed your dog according to the manufacturers recommendations. Do not under or over feed your dog. If you are unsure as to how much to feed, consult your breeder, or your veterinarian. Ensure that you keep your dog’s vaccinations and worming up to date. Your annual visit to the vet for a vaccination booster serves two purposes – the vaccination, then the vet will give your dog a general health check up. Remember that if you have any concerns regarding your dog’s health, do consult your veterinarian as they are the people trained in animal health care.

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