Meet The Breeds: Samoyed
Samoyed is a medium-sized dog breed known for its incredible blend of elegant appearance, stunning personality, and energetic body. Their typical characteristics include pricked, erect ears and a curling tail going on the back. Samoyeds are also known as “Smiling Sammy” because of their adorable smiling face.
Samoyeds were bred and trained in Siberia’s freezing weather, which is why their coat is thick and profuse. Due to their hardworking nature and loyal personality, Samoyeds have proven themselves to be a valuable companion for Siberian people. They are so pretty and friendly with everyone that people sometimes underestimate their capabilities as working dogs. They make strong bonds with their family, even the ones with children. Their behavior with strangers is amicable, and they remain gentle with other animals, primarily if they are raised together.
Samoyed Breed Information and Facts:
Here are some of the fun facts about Samoyed which can assist you better understand the breed:
- Breed Group: Working Group
- Height: 51-56 cm (males), 46-51 (females)
- Weight: 20-30 kg (males), 16-20 kg (females)
- Life span: 12-13 years
- Coat: Double layer, Dense coat
- Color: White
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
- Temperament: Stubborn, Lively, Alert, Friendly, Sociable, and Playful
- The difficulty level for first-time owners: On a scale of 1-10 paws for increasing difficulty, Samoyeds have scored 3/10 paws according to the feedback from many Samoyed owners. According to the owners’ testimony, Samoyeds are trainable breeds because they urge to please their owners. They follow voice commands and obey the owners. Hence, Samoyed trainability is an easy task given that a Samoyed is appropriately bred. Harsh training measures are not necessary for their training.
Samoyed History:
Samoyeds belongs to the spitz or northern dog groups. From their emergence in the 19th century, Samoyeds were mainly used for hunting, herding, sledding, and guarding. This breed is descended from Nenets Herding Laika, a dog known for its variety of charming colors including Snow White and many more. Samoyeds were bred in Siberia by the Samoyede people to hunt, herding their cattle, and guarding them against dangers. Since then, Samoyed dogs are an essential family member of the owners. The AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized the 58th breed of the Samoyeds in 1906.
What are the types of Samoyed?
There are three types of Samoyed in the market based on the shape and quality of their heads. These include:
- Bear type
- Wolf type
- Classic type
Are Samoyeds HDB approved?
Unfortunately, due to Samoyed’s medium size, Samoyeds are not approved by HDB in Singapore. The HDB supports only the dogs which are small in size, height, and weight, and keeping the dogs of large size is a violation of HDB policies in Singapore.
Are Samoyeds High Maintenance?
Yes, they are very high maintenance breed, and only those who can quickly meet their demands should keep them. They shed a lot and would require frequent grooming which will require your time and energy. So, if you think you can invest your time, only then should you proceed to have a Samoyed. Otherwise, it might not be the right choice for you.
Having said that, there are many suitable grooming tools to help with Samoyed care and maintenance. Check it out!
What Health Issues Do Samoyed Face?
Adult Samoyeds have a high tendency to develop eye diseases. In adult Samoyeds, the most common eye diseases are Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Cataracts, Glaucoma, and retinal dysplasia. Other common disorders among adult Samoyeds include diabetes, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and gastric dilatation or volvulus, commonly known as bloat.
Samoyed puppies can develop a severe syndrome known as OSD (Oculo Skeletal Dysplasia) if their parents suffer from retinal dysplasia and are carriers of OSD. Puppies with OSD are born with skeletal malformation like dwarf legs, and they become blind at puppyhood.
Are Samoyed Good Family dogs?
Yes. Samoyeds are very friendly with their owners! Usually, Samoyed personality is warm and affectionate. They love being included in household activities, and they are gentle with children too.
Are Samoyeds Aggressive?
Not at all. Samoyeds are neither aggressive nor dangerous. Although they have a high tendency to bark, they will only do so to alert the family if they see a stranger nearby or entering the house.
Do Samoyed Bark A Lot?
Yes! Samoyeds have a higher tendency to bark. However, they bark for the “right” reason. They have a conservative nature which is why they are excellent watchdogs. For instance, they would start barking as soon as they see a stranger walking into the house. They are protective and want to alert their owners regarding any possible danger. Excessive barking can be stopped with training. You can teach your Samoyed when it is okay to bark and when they should keep quiet. Since they are brilliant, they will obey your command.
What are popular mixed breeds with Samoyed?
Samoyeds are so attractive and stunning that every breeder wants to create new breeds through them. They are being used as parents for many mixed breeds due to their pleasing appearance and heart-touching personality. Many types of Samoyeds are a mix of Samoyed and other breeds. Some of the successful crossbreeds are listed below:
- Golden Sammy: a cross of Samoyed and Golden Retriever
- Samusky: A cross of Samoyed and Siberian Husky
- Sammypoo: A cross of Samoyed and Poodle
Are Samoyeds Hypoallergenic?
Yes, this breed is considered to be hypoallergenic. They made it onto the hypoallergenic dogs’ list because they don’t drool and have a deficient dander level. So, the owners prone to allergies can easily have them as a pet because their dander level is low and hypoallergenic.
Are Samoyeds easy to train?
Yes, Samoyeds are easy to train because they urge to please their owners.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, if you are willing to commit your time and attention to Samoyeds, they are the best choice for you. Samoyeds are smart, intelligent, and alert working dogs. They can quickly adapt to various situations and environments due to their hardy nature. Even though they are high maintenance, they are loving companions and love to spend time with their family. If you have children in your family, they will love this new addition since these breeds love playing and living with kids!