Samoyed - A Complete Dog Breed Profile for Pet Owners

History of Samoyed

This thick, hard, and sturdy dog breed originated from Russia. The name came from the Siberian Samoyedic people who used the breed for the purpose of hunting, pulling, and snuggling.

The existence of Sammies pre-dates the origin of the modern dog breeds. Their friendly nature and strong work ethic make them a great companion to humans. In the late 18th century, this dog breed was first brought to England by the Arctic explorers. That was the time when Samoyed’s double coat and attractive personality made them a favorite choice of pets among the elite.

Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions loved this dog breed. In 1906, a dog named ‘Moustan of Argenteau’ was the first Samoyed registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

While this dog was already very popular among North American mushers, the recognition by the AKC made Samoyed a show-worthy breed. In 1909, the first Samoyed was adopted in England. In 1923, the Samoyed Club of America was organized.

Samoyed Personality & Temperament

The Samoyed dogs are friendly and fun-loving. They are smart, gentle, and playful. They usually get along well with children, strangers, and other pets.

They can be great indoors but sometimes need daily exercise. They will dig and bark when they are bored. Often independent, they love to please everyone around them.

Samoyed's smile is unavoidable. He is active and loves to do something, whether it is bringing up the paper in the morning or giving you company in hiking, or long walks. They love to participate in sports such as weight pulling and herding.

In major snow-prone areas, he can be a perfect companion for snowshoeing, skijoring, or sledding. Whatever he is asked to do, he will do it with enthusiasm.

His alert nature makes him an excellent watchdog but he is so loving and friendly that he will let anyone inside the house easily. A Sammy is anything but shy and aggressive.

Samoyed Physical Appearance

The Samoyed is popular as a working dog represents beauty, elegance, grace, and alertness. As he can live in cold climates, his coat is thick and weather resistant.

Males are masculine in appearance and females are feminine with no softness of temperament. Both give the appearance of great endurance. Below you can find more about the physical characteristics of this beautiful medium-sized dog breed.

Samoyed Care & Grooming

Samoyed dogs love to chase things and bark when they are excited or bored. You will need to provide him a fenced yard and will have to learn how to train your dog to stay in the yard to keep him safe. This dog’s pulled sleds, hunted game, and herd reindeer have protected him against predators.

A Samoyed is also an independent thinker that makes it difficult to train him. As he gets bored easily so try to keep the training sessions short and interesting. Don’t leave him alone for a long period of time, he will probably not like it.

Start training your puppy when you bring him home. Never think it is too early to start training, you can use a dog whistle to train them. Getting him to a puppy training class is also a good idea.

Keep in mind that certain puppy training classes require vaccines to be up to date. Veterinarians also recommend limited exposure to dogs and other pets if your dog is not vaccinated.

In the context of formal training before vaccines, you can start training your dog at home and socialize him with your family members and friends. These experiences will help your dog grow to be a sensible and well-behaved dog.

You should talk to the breeder and describe what exactly you are looking for and ask for. Breeders know a lot about puppies and will make correct recommendations once they get to know about your personality and lifestyle.

Samoyed Diet & Nutrition

Samoyed dogs do not need any sort of special diet. Most are happy and healthy eating good quality commercial and homemade food. Though, all dogs should be watched for the signs of weight gain.

Their diet should be according to their age. You can talk to your veterinarian about the best dog food for your beloved canine. In addition to the best food, give plenty of water to your Samoyed.

Samoyed puppies eat more frequently as compared to other adult dogs. Young puppies eat three to four times a day until they are six months old. After six months, you can give your puppy two meals a day which is the same amount an adult Samoyed dog should eat.

Samoyed dogs, no matter of any age should be given high-quality food that can meet their nutritional needs. An adult Samoyed may eat 2 to 2.5 cups a day. Although the exact amount will depend on his age and activity level. Check on your veterinarian to ensure the food you give to your dog is appropriate and contains the required nutrition.

Samoyed With Children and Other Pets

The Samoyed can easily get attached to all the family members. An early socialized dog will not mind the attention and company of people if you have raised your dog with care and respect. Due to his small size and activeness, he can easily knock over a kid without even realizing what has happened. So, it is important to supervise your dog when he is interacting with kids and other pets.

As with other dog breeds, you should teach your dogs how to approach and touch dogs. Teach your children to never approach a dog when he is eating or sleeping and do not take the food away when he is eating. No dog, no matter what age he is, should be left alone with a kid unsupervised.

All Samoyed dogs love the company of other dogs. This is true especially when the dog is raised with other dogs and pets from an early age.

Remember, Samoyed dogs love to chase. So, proper training and early socialization are essential. In addition to that, close supervision is also important.

Common Health Issues in Samoyed Dogs

Samoyed dogs are generally healthy but there are some health conditions they are prone to. It is not like all Samoyed dogs will get any of these diseases. But it is important to be aware of these common health problems if you have a Samoyed or planning to get one.

If you have decided to buy a puppy, choosing a good breeder will show you health clearance for your puppy’s parents. This will help you make sure the puppy is tested and cleared of a particular condition.

The following are the most common health conditions that a Samoyed may face.

• Glaucoma

  This condition is defined as increased pressure in the eye. This condition can happen because of two reasons. The first is hereditary and the second is because of the decreased fluid in the eye.

  The most common symptoms are pain and vision loss. The treatment for Glaucoma may vary depending upon the type but the most common is eye drops and surgery.

• Hip Dysplasia

  An inherited disease in which the thigh bone fails to fit into the hip joint. Some dogs do not show any symptoms while others show pain and lameness in the rear legs. X-ray screening is used to diagnose the disease. Dogs suffering from Hip Dysplasia should not be bred so if you are buying a Samoyed, make sure his parents have been tested for the disease and are free of such problems.

• Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy

  A common genetic disease of the kidney. Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy is more severe in males who appear healthy in the starting months of their lives until the symptoms appear. Renal failure occurs usually by the age of 15 months. Females show mild symptoms but do not suffer renal failure.

• Patellar Luxation

  It is a common health problem that usually occurs in small dogs. Another name is Slipped stifles, which is when the knee joint changes its place and causes pain. This condition can be crippling to many dogs while others do not show any obvious symptoms.

• Hypothyroidism

  A common health problem of the thyroid gland. It can lead to other health issues such as epilepsy, obesity, alopecia, pyoderma, hyperpigmentation, and other skin-related issues. This condition can be treated with improved diet and medications.

• Diabetes Mellitus

  A disorder in which the body fails to regulate blood sugar levels. A dog with this condition may show a healthy appetite but will lose weight because the food is used inefficiently. Thirst, excessive urination, weight loss, increased appetite are the most common symptoms of Diabetes mellitus. This condition can be controlled by proper diet and insulin shots.

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

  This is a common eye disease that involves the deterioration of the retina. Dogs with this condition might go blind at night and as the disease progresses, the dog might lose vision even in the day.

• Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis

  It is a heart problem caused by the narrow connection between the aorta and the left ventricle. It can cause fainting and even sudden death if the dog does not get proper treatment.

• Cancer

  Sores, bumps, and abnormal swelling, bleeding from any opening of the body are the most common symptoms of Cancer. Medications, surgery, and chemotherapy are used for treating the condition.

Pros and Cons of a Samoyed

Here are the pros and cons of Samoyed dogs that you have a look at if you are planning to buy one.

You can learn about the other dog breeds if you are looking for an ideal pet companion.

Samoyed Dogs as Great Emotional Support Animals

Samoyed dogs are at the top when it comes to emotional support dogs. They are beautiful, strong, and empathic dogs. They can provide great emotional support to people with any mental condition.

A good emotional support dog must provide love, affection, companionship. The Samoyed dog will not disappoint you in this. He can perform at incredible levels when used as an emotional support animal.

If you are thinking about getting a Samoyed or already have one and want to use him as an emotional support animal, you need an ESA letter.

Contact RealESALetter.com to see if you qualify for an ESA.