Samoyed Dog Breed Profile

by Luke Blaise

AKC Group: Working Group

The Samoyed dog comes to use from Siberia. Known for its black lips which form a "Samoyed smile." Normally white in color, its fluffy coat makes it a popular show dog. Very intelligent, it makes a great family dog.

History

The Samoyed dog comes to us from the Samoyed folks of Siberia. These folks trained the dogs in herding reindeer, hauling and hunting sledges and also protective work. The dog was valued by these folks and they even allowed them to sleep in their tents.

Physical Features

The Samoyed dog features a compact toned body. The wedge-shaped head is wide and a bit crowned. The body must be properly protected having an undercoat of wool, that is soft, short, and thick. The outer coat is longer and harsh.

Coat color should be white, biscuit, pure white, or cream. The height of dogs 21-23 inches Bitches 19-21 inches. The weight of dogs 45-65 pounds and the bitches 35-50 pounds.

Personality

The Samoyed dog must display an image of alertness, beauty and strength, grace, dignity and agility. Alert and bright, he loves to stay busy and enjoys taking part in agility, conformation, herding, pack hiking, sledding, weight pulling shows and much more!

The Samoyed is an excellent dog for kids. They're a very smart breed, which is oftentimes wrongly identified as stubbornness or disobedience with regards to obedience or other forms of training. One way to train the fun loving and happy Samoyed is with lots of consistency, patience and praise just like you'd do with the human kids. The breed is a vocal dog, which will sing or bark. Some are chewers and diggers, particularly as puppies.

Common Health Problems

Samoyed dog is specifically vulnerable to hip dysplasia and some have problems with diabetes. They're also vulnerable to skin allergies. They are susceptible to PRA mostly in male dogs.

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