Samoyed: Your Complete Guide
With their cheerful facial expressions and fluffy looks, the Samoyed is a breed that conquered the hearts of many. These spitz-type dogs have a fun-loving and energetic temperament that makes them suited for individuals and families living an active life.
Samoyeds become the most loving and playful dogs that will instantly brighten your day when provided with everything they need, though some of their care needs might be too demanding to meet every single day.
As with any other breed, deciding if the Samoyed is the right dog for you involves many considerations. Our article will guide you through everything about the Samoyed, covering this white fluffy breed’s physical features, temperament, family life, intelligence, trainability, and more.
Quick Look at the Samoyed
Below is a quick look at the Samoyed’s physical characteristics, grooming needs, coat type, temperament, intelligence, trainability, and lifespan. You’ll find detailed answers to each point in the later parts of the article.
| Weight/Height | 35-65 pounds / 19-24 inches |
| Coat Type | Long double coat |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Friendly, alert, outgoing, playful |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years |
What Is the History of Samoyeds?
Samoyeds descended from the reindeer spitz, also known as the Nenets Herding Laika. These dogs were utilized by the Samoyed people native to the Russian Arctic and Russian Far North. Samoyeds lived alongside their people for many generations, where their duty was to help hunt reindeer.
As the culture shifted to herding reindeer rather than hunting, Samoyeds adapted to their new duties and became herding dogs. Samoyeds were also utilized as sled dogs – and good ones at that. They can pull up to one and a half times their weight, making them hard-working dogs for their size.
Samoyeds were introduced to the United Kingdom after the Arctic exploration in the 1800s. Queen Alexandra took an interest in the breed and promoted the Samoyed as a companion dog. She is one of the leading figures that contributed to the breed’s emergence at the time.
Samoyeds first arrived in the US in the early 1900s. The adorable appearance of the breed, coupled with their ability to pull sleds for long distances, made the Samoyed a favorite among mushers. In just a few years, the American Kennel Club added the Samoyed to the working group in 1906.
Today, you will see Samoyeds mainly as companion dogs. Although a handful of Samoyeds are still working as sled dogs, sometimes competing in the Iditarod, most enjoy life as loving family pets.
What Do Samoyeds Look Like?
The Samoyed mainly has a white-colored coat, but cream, biscuit, and white are among the accepted colors according to the breed standards. The coat is solid-colored without markings on any part of the body.
Besides their coat color, Samoyeds have an alert and cheerful facial expression described as the Sammie smile. This gives the Samoyed a distinct appearance, much like other spitz-type dogs. Added to their unique style of walking that resembles a horse trotting, Samoyeds appear full of character and pride during walks.
What Size Is a Samoyed?
The size of a Samoyed varies. Females are between 19 and 21 inches tall at the withers and weigh 35 to 50 pounds. Males are bigger, standing 21 to 24 inches, and weigh between 45 and 65 pounds.
With their broad weight and height range, Samoyeds are categorized as a medium-to-large dog breed, with their size varying based on their parents and genetics.
What Is a Samoyed’s Coat Type and Length?
Samoyeds have a double coat. The undercoat is soft and thick, almost wooly. The top coat is straight and dense. A Samoyed’s coat can be soft or rough to the touch, with males typically having a rougher coat texture than females.
With their thick undercoats and Siberian origins, you can expect a Samoyed to shed quite a lot.
What Is a Samoyed’s Temperament?
Samoyeds are proud-looking dogs that act accordingly. They are very outgoing and friendly dogs that treat everyone as a playmate, including strangers and unfamiliar dogs. However, this tends to happen only when their owner is present. When alone, Samoyeds typically acts vigilant towards unfamiliar faces and react by barking.
The playful temperament of this breed makes the Samoyed perfect for families with active children. Samoyeds also act gentle around young children outside of playtime but may act boisterous when encouraged.
While the herding instincts may make Samoyeds chase after small animals, these dogs typically get along well with cats when raised together.
Are Samoyeds Good With Kids?
Samoyeds pair well with both quiet and energetic children. They equally accept playtime in the yard and cozy snuggles on the sofa. Since these dogs historically lived close to their family members, they instinctively know to behave gently around kids.
Still, Samoyeds are fairly large dogs that may not be aware of their size when excited during playtime. They may act rowdy, especially if their herding instincts kick in and they make an attempt to herd young children. This may lead to minor injuries in kids, so an adult’s supervision is essential to ensure everyone plays nicely.
Are Samoyeds Good With Other Animals?
Without a doubt, a Samoyed will get along nicely with the dogs they grew up with. They have a high pack drive, making them bond strongly with every dog and human in their family. During walks, their friendly personality also makes them accept unfamiliar dogs, as long as proper socialization is received as they grow up.
However, this generally only applies to similarly-sized animals that a Samoyed may consider a friend. Samoyeds have a high prey drive that may make them chase after small animals like cats and squirrels.
When raised together, Samoyeds can get used to the presence of cats and view felines as part of the group, but they shouldn’t be kept with prey animals like Guinea pigs and rabbits.
Are Samoyeds Aggressive?
Samoyeds aren’t inherently aggressive. They naturally have a friendly disposition that makes them accept new faces quickly, especially during walks with their owner. New dogs may be intimidated by a Samoyed’s big appearance due to their coat making them appear larger, but Samoyeds are social dogs that know how to let other dogs know they only mean good.
Samoyeds are naturally friendly dogs, but they still need socialization at an early age to ensure they become well-mannered adults. Like any other dog breed, Samoyed owners should introduce their dogs to new smells, people, and dogs while using positive training techniques to curb unwanted behaviors.
Do Samoyeds Bark?
Samoyeds are known to be excessive barkers. This trait can be perfect for dog owners seeking a watchdog, but it isn’t ideal for most. Samoyeds are also prone to reactive barking, which may make them bark at virtually anything moving.
Having a dog that barks non-stop during walks at everything can be embarrassing for a dog owner. If you notice early signs of reactivity, fixing this behavior is essential to ensure your Samoyed doesn’t resort to barking to respond.
Besides barking, Samoyeds may also make noise when excited, especially during playtime. They also have a unique way of greeting their owner, making woo-woo noises similar to howling. Samoyeds are overall vocal dogs that don’t make ideal pets for those living in apartments with noise restrictions.
Are Samoyeds Affectionate?
Samoyeds are very affectionate dogs that love spending time with their owner more than anything else. When they have nothing to do, they are comfortable turning their adoring gaze onto their family and relaxing at their owner’s side. This friendly disposition makes the Samoyed an excellent breed to cuddle with after a quality playtime or physical exercise.
Samoyeds may also act similarly towards new people. These dogs typically enjoy receiving attention and pets from strangers and warm up to new people after a quick, friendly interaction. However, it takes longer for a Samoyed to warm up to unfamiliar dogs than new people.
Are Samoyeds Intelligent?
Samoyeds definitely have an above-average intelligence. These dogs understand human cues and read social situations well. With a Samoyed, you’ll have a dog that understands pretty much everything happening around them.
Intelligence is a trait that many dog owners seek in their pups, but it can work against you if your Samoyed doesn’t get enough diversity in their life. These dogs have high mental stimulation needs and require a channel to get their minds involved.
Dog puzzles, scent work, and exploring new sights and smells are effective ways to satisfy a Samoyed in this regard.
Are Samoyeds Energetic?
Samoyeds are high-energy dogs that require rigorous physical exercise to benefit their mental and physical health. Daily walks of at least two hours are needed to ensure your Samoyed stays healthy and happy.
Knowing that lengthy daily walks aren’t possible for many dog owners, incorporating a wide variety of mentally and physically challenging activities, such as agility training, is a great way to keep a Samoyed tired.
The importance of keeping a Samoyed active shouldn’t be underestimated. Otherwise, a Samoyed may develop behavioral issues, such as excessive barking and destructive behaviors. When exercised sufficiently, Samoyeds become fairly low-maintenance dogs that want nothing but to cuddle with their owner on the sofa.
Are Samoyeds Easy to Train?
Samoyeds are very intelligent but aren’t the most eager to please dogs. They tend to be free-willed dogs that do what they want, not what their owner wants from them. This makes training these dogs quite challenging.
When training a Samoyed, using high-value rewards is crucial to get through basic obedience training. Other than treats, testing if your Samoyed is more motivated by play, praise, or a favorite toy will give you the upper hand in training. Once you know what your Samoyed likes the most, you will have an easier time in training and can advance to more complex commands.
With their physical abilities and energetic temperament, Samoyeds also make great candidates for agility training. You can incorporate this to meet your Samoyed’s exercise, mental stimulation, and training needs all at once.
Are Samoyeds Good Watchdogs?
Samoyeds are great watchdogs that keep an alert eye on their territory. Although they are friendly (sometimes overly) towards strangers, they may bark to alert their owner of someone approaching the yard. Because Samoyeds also tend to bark a lot, they can be a great watchdog.
However, Samoyeds aren’t good guard dogs. While they may bark at a stranger approaching home initially, they may toss a toy in front of intruders after meeting them up close. It would be wise not to expect a Samoyed to guard your property.
Are Samoyeds Good Service Dogs?
Whether or not a Samoyed can be a good service dog depends on training and your dog’s individual temperament. Samoyeds tend to have independent minds that make training difficult. Since service dogs must stay on task no matter the distractions, training these dogs to become service animals takes time and effort.
Nonetheless, a properly trained Samoyed can become a hard-working service dog. With their affectionate and loving personalities, Samoyeds make exceptional psychiatric service animals that not only comfort their owner but also perform tasks to calm anxiety attacks and remind medications.
In addition to service animal work, Samoyeds are naturally good emotional support and therapy animals that can put a smile on everyone’s face.
How to Care for a Samoyed?
With all their other needs on top of exercise and mental stimulation, Samoyeds are high-maintenance dogs that require an involved owner to live a fulfilling life. Your dog will need their own space in your home, toys to keep occupied when you aren’t around, and plenty of exercise on a daily basis. The Samoyed will also benefit from routine and consistent training, and you will need to make sure you stay on top of their grooming and veterinary needs to encourage a happy and healthy life.
Do You Need to Groom a Samoyed?
The fluffy, adorable appearance of the Samoyed requires a quick brushing every other day or a thorough brushing twice a week. Considering that this is manageable for many dog owners and his breed doesn’t require full haircuts like long-haired breeds, Samoyeds have average coat care needs.
Also, brushing your Samoyed’s teeth regularly, preferably daily, is important to prevent dental problems. Dental care should be prioritized in the grooming routine, along with nail trimming, ear cleaning, flea prevention, and paw care. Some Samoyeds may also require keeping the area around their eyes clean to prevent tear stains.
Do Samoyeds Shed?
Samoyeds are among the dog breeds that shed the most. These dogs are average shedders year-round and enter a heavy shedding period during seasonal changes in fall and spring. As you can expect, the Samoyed isn’t the best breed for those suffering from pet allergies.
What Health Problems Do Samoyeds Have?
Samoyeds are generally healthy dogs that don’t suffer from a lot of canine health conditions. Aside from dental problems that can be prevented by regular brushing, Samoyeds are prone to common health problems like hip dysplasia, eye problems, and cardiovascular diseases.
However, Samoyeds may genetically inherit a kidney disease known as Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy. It’s a more common kidney disease that affects male Samoyeds more than females, with first symptoms, such as vomiting, excessive drinking and urination, and lethargy, appearing around three months of age.
Since this is a genetic health issue, it is crucially important to work with a breeder who screens their breeding stock for this health condition, as well as others mentioned above.
How Long Do Samoyeds Live?
On average, Samoyeds can live anywhere between 12 and 14 years. However, this doesn’t mean all Samoyeds live at least 12 years. Many factors can affect a dog’s lifespan, regardless of breed, including genetics, environment, diet, exercise, stress levels, and more.
While some are out of dog owners’ hands, providing the best care possible for our dogs as responsible dog owners will ensure they live as long as possible and spread joy for many years to come.
What Should a Samoyed Eat?
Samoyeds can eat high-quality commercial dog food appropriate for their size, age, and activity levels. Depending on body weight, an adult Samoyed should eat between two and three cups of dog food per day.
Samoyeds can also thrive on a homemade or raw diet monitored by a licensed vet. If on such diets, Samoyeds should eat two to five percent of their body weight.
Is Samoyed the Right Dog for Me?
Samoyed is an energetic, lively, and affectionate dog breed with high grooming and exercise needs. These dogs aren’t for people living on a busy schedule and planning to leave their dogs home alone. Samoyeds require an involved owner, and possibly a family, to live a fulfilling life.
The outgoing and social temperament of the Samoyed, coupled with their gentle nature around kids, makes this breed an excellent fit for families with children. They keep kids active and spread positivity to everyone in the family with their loving nature.
Samoyeds can also be an ideal dog breed for single individuals working from home. They will happily wait for their owner to finish work to get outdoors and have fun.
All in all, deciding if the Samoyed is the right dog for you comes down to whether or not you’re ready to meet the care needs of this breed. Samoyeds can be loving companions that bring so much joy, but only when their care needs are met. If under-exercised or trained, a Samoyed may develop behavioral issues that can be difficult to manage.