History

The Samoyeds are a spitz-type dog known to have originated from Siberia. The Nenets—a group of people in the Northern Samoyeds from which the Samoyed breed gets its name—trained the dogs to be used in hunting and herding of reindeer. They are a breed from the lineage of the Nenet laikas which had a wider variety of coat colors.

By the 20th Century, they were on their way to the Antarctic, pulling sleds as they went. A group of them went on expeditions with Fridtjof Nansen and Ernest Shackleton (on different expeditions) and only the strongest of the group survived.

A number of standards have been published for the Samoyed breed but the first was released in 1909 after the breed had made its way to England.

Temperament

Samoyeds are as playful as they look. They are smart, obedient and their curious nature could lead them into mischievous deeds but other than that, they are friendly pets. This does not take away the need for training and supervision as they can be a handful when left alone.

When a Samoyed comes across a stranger, it may bark to let the owner know that someone new is around the block but their playful nature usually gets in the way and it quickly welcomes the person by wagging its tail. They enjoy the company of people, animals and anything that can be “herded” because of the nomadic traits they possess.

Environment

Although Samoyeds do not pose a lot of problems, they should not be kept in confined areas. They love to play and run around and as such, require adequate space to carry out their daily activities. A well-fenced yard devoid of harmful elements would make a good home for Samoyeds. This space should be close enough to the residence to aid supervision and if allowed to wander into the home, the dog should be monitored to prevent it from turning appliances into toys.

Exercise

Being lovers of fun, the Samoyed breed requires a reasonable level of exercise on a daily or weekly basis. In addition to this, the Samoyeds are prone to becoming overweight since they eat a lot and regular exercises would help keep them in check.

Being good herders, they love to pull things around including the one holding the leash so it is important to train the dog to listen to simple commands which would be useful in times when they cannot get a grip of themselves.

Grooming

As a result of the highly-dense coat they possess, the Samoyeds require a high level of maintenance. Besides the expected period when they blow their coat, strands of fur get detached regularly as they run around.

Also, their sleek white coat may get stained in the process and as such, would require regular baths. All of these factors make the dog time and energy demanding which every prospective owner should gear up for.

They rate low when it comes to drooling but this is almost unavoidable when they wag their tails to welcome you home. As mentioned earlier, they have large appetites but this can be regulated with consistent training.

Frequently Asked Questions about Samoyed