What Is a Samoyed?

With black-lipped "Sammy smiles" and thick, light-colored coats, Samoyeds make smart, gentle family companions. These dogs are suited for cold climates, and love to work. Their grooming needs and activity level, however, aren't for everyone.

  1. History

    • The Samoyed Club of America says the Samoyede people in northwest Siberia used Samoyeds to herd reindeer, haul sleds and hunt. The dogs pulled sleds for Arctic and Antarctic explorers in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

    Characteristics

    • According to the SCA, "Sammies" range from 17 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder; the American Kennel Club breed standard calls for 19 to 23 1/2 inches. Samoyeds have a woolly undercoat and coarse outer coat. This coat is white, cream, biscuit or white and biscuit---all with a silver sheen. Samoyeds are loyal family dogs with a lot of energy.

    Considerations

    • Samoyeds usually have one or two annual shedding periods, but their undercoat will be everywhere once shedding begins. The SCA recommends grooming the coat daily. Samoyeds always need something to do; bored Sammies may become destructive.

    Health Concerns

    • Improper coat care and overheating can lead to skin conditions such as "hot spots" (acute moist dermatitis), the SCA says.

    Fun Fact

    • The AKC claims the Samoyed is more like the primitive dog than any other modern breed, with no mixture of wolf or fox in its bloodline.