If you are on the hunt for a puppy, you are likely looking for a breed that fits your family’s stage and lifestyle. Finding just the right breed can be challenging!
If you are reading this article, you’ve probably already heard something about the happy, graceful Samoyed or Sammie.
Today, Infinity Pups would like to help you get to know this breed. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea of what owning a Samoyed is like and if they are a good fit for you.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Samoyed Fast Facts
Before we dive in, here are a few fast facts about Samoyeds to pique your interest:
- Besides their ever-present grin, the Sammie’s most iconic feature is their gorgeous, snowy white coats. These dogs are certainly jaw-droppers. However, those coats are a bit high maintenance, and you can expect to perform regular grooming sessions.
- These dogs have a strong prey drive and cannot resist the thrill of the chase. No Sammie is ever completely trustworthy off the leash, no matter how well-trained.
- Historically, Samoyeds lived and worked very closely with humans and fostered strong bonds with their masters. Today, these dogs still tend to form strong, close bonds with the people they love.
- Bred to survive in some of the coldest climates on earth, this breed can take a lot of cold but not much heat.
- These dogs were bred to work, and they have lots of energy and smarts that you’ll need to put to use. Give them a job, or you may suffer the consequences of having a bored Samoyed around the house!
- Sammies love people! No Samoyed likes to be left alone for too long–your dog will want to be with you 24-7. Some Samoyeds may even pick out a special person and shower them with love and attention, though they’ll get along with other family members too.
- Fun Fact: You know that constant smile Samoyeds always wear? It has a purpose! The way their mouths turn up helps prevent them from drooling, which keeps icicles from forming on their jaws.
Now let’s dig deeper into Samoyed's history, personality, and care!
History
Samoyeds have a fascinating history.
Samoyeds originated in one of the coldest and most inhospitable places on earth: Siberia. They were bred by the Samoyede people, who needed dogs for pulling sleds, hunting, herding reindeer, and guarding their camps. The Samoyede tribes lived in tents, and their dogs normally lived inside with the family, even sleeping with their masters to provide much-needed warmth.
These living conditions created a tough, hardy dog breed with a great work ethic and a strong sense of trust and loyalty that came from living and working so closely alongside their human families.
The Samoyed made its appearance in the land of the living during the 18th century when Arctic explorers brought them to England and introduced them to British dog lovers. Queen Alexandra took a fancy to them and promoted the breed as a companion and show dog. Later the breed migrated to America and was registered by the AKC in 1906.
Modern Samoyeds still have the work ethic, trust, loyalty, and beautiful white coats that served them so well in the frozen wastelands of Siberia.
Personality
Every Samoyed is different, and a puppy’s temperament depends on factors such as heredity, training, and environment. However, there are certain characteristics that most Samoyeds tend to have.
Here are a few:
- Playful - Samoyeds have a happy, glass-half-full attitude towards life. They are rarely down and out and are normally ready for a good romp or play session.
- Family/kid friendly - Historically, Samoyeds lived closely with families, and they tend to love kids and make great family dogs. After all, they learned how to get along with kids by living in the same tents back when they were Siberian sled dogs!
- Hunter - Samoyeds have a strong prey drive and love chasing smaller animals, such as birds, rabbits, cats, or anything else that moves. You may want to monitor your Sammie’s interactions with any smaller pets you have.
- Intelligent - The Samoyed is a dog with a brain! They need plenty of mental stimulation to keep them happy, or they’ll get bored and start inventing their own “fun.” And the aftermath of their “fun” may not be super fun for you…
- Worker - Bred to work hard and earn their keep, these dogs need a job to give them a purpose in life. If not given a job, they may become dissatisfied with life.
- Social - Sammies love people. They are used to living in close quarters with their families (even sleeping on top of them!) and don’t like to be alone.
- Loyal - Samoyeds become strongly attached and devoted to their families. Some will even pick out one person to give special love and attention to, though they’ll love on other family members too.
- Gentle - Though large and energetic, Samoyeds tend to be gentle and kind, not overwhelming.
- Alert - This breed makes good watchdogs due to their loyalty and alertness.
Every dog is unique, but you’ll find a collection of these characteristics in most Samoyeds.
Now let’s move on to caring for this breed.
Care
Grooming
Samoyeds have profuse double coats that can be white, cream, or biscuit. These double coats shed quite a bit!
You should expect to spend time brushing your Sammie daily to keep the shedding under control. Bathing should happen once every several weeks or when needed. Bathing a Samoyed can be a fairly large job.
If you want to own one of these dogs, you should know that grooming your Samoyed may not be a walk in the park.
Exercise
Samoyeds don’t like to sit around, so exercising your Samoyed is important. They were bred to work hard, and they need plenty of activity, or they’ll become bored and destructive. Your dog will love hikes, playtime, dog sports, or anything else that keeps him busy and active.
Samoyeds don’t tend to adapt well to apartment living. We aren’t saying it can’t be done, but this breed tends to do better in wide-open spaces with room to run around. If you do want to keep a Sammie in your apartment, make sure he gets plenty of exercise, or you may start running into the issues that come along with a bored, active dog in a small space!
Training
As a working breed, Sammies enjoy the challenge of training and are intelligent enough to learn a wide range of tricks and skills. However, they are also known to have a bit of a stubborn streak. You should start training your Samoyed as young as possible and nip that stubborn streak in the bud!
While these dogs are intelligent and eager to please, they can be a bit of a challenge and may not be the best choice for a novice dog owner.
Sammies excel at nosework, herding, agility, and many other canine sports.
Health
Samoyeds tend to be hardy, healthy dogs, but there are still things you should watch out for.
One of the best ways to protect your Samoyed from health issues is to make sure he lives a healthy lifestyle. Feed him quality food, make sure he gets enough exercise, and familiarize yourself with his regular habits. If you are familiar with his regular habits, you’ll notice anything out of the ordinary.
A few issues Samoyeds may develop include:
And more. Most Sammies will live long, happy lives and may never develop health issues. However, it still pays to be alert.
The Bottom Line On Samoyeds
So what is the bottom line on Samoyeds?
Sammies are vibrant, intelligent dogs packed with potential. If you bring one home, your life won’t be boring!
However, the more potential a dog has, the more responsibility owning one carries. If you bring home a Sammie, be ready to commit to it and give it the attention it needs. You’ll get out what you put in with any dog.
If you decide to bring home one of these amazing dogs, we wish you all the best!
And if you’d like to check out some Samoyed puppies for sale today, check out the Infinity Pups website. We have Sammies and lots of other breeds to choose from, all from reputable breeders that we’ve fully vetted.
You can read up on some of our other breeds on our blog:
- Pugs 101: Everything You Need To Know About The Quirky Canine
- An Introduction To Chocolate Labs
- The Ultimate Quick Guide To The Bichon Frise
- A Guide To The Cavachon
- What You Need To Know About Cavapoos
Check it out on our website today.
We look forward to hearing from you and hope you find the perfect puppy!
