Dog Breeds <Back to Breed Profiles

		Select the dog breed you are interested in from the list below. Alphabetical Search: A - E F - J K - O P - T U - Z or Select A Breed

Samoyed

General
Other Names		Sami, Sammy, Samoyedskaya
Dog Group Kennel Club		Pastoral
Breed Classification		The Samoyed is a member of the pastoral group. They were originally used for herding reindeer and pulling sledges; today they are used mainly as companions.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		£7.50-10 per week
Feeding Requirements		On the whole these dogs are not big eaters when you consider the amount of exercise they require.
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		The purchase price of a puppy ranges from £600-£750
Average Puppy Price		£700-1000
Lifespan		9 - 15 years On average the Samoyed lives to around 14 – 15 years of age.
Average Litter Size		4-6 The average litter size is 4 – 6 puppies, however some can have more or less than this
General Physical Description		The Sami is a medium sized Spitz breed, showing the typical characteristics of erect, pricked ears and a tail curling over its back. They are white in colour with a weather resistant coat. Their feet are flat and have an abundance of hair between the toes and on the pads making them like snowshoes. Their unique feet prevent snow from forming ‘snowballs’ between the toes and hampering their working ability in their native lands.
Height Min Max Bitch 46cm (18") 51cm (20") Dog 51cm (20") 56cm (22") Weight Min Max Bitch 23kg (51lbs) 30kg (66lbs) Dog 23kg (51lbs) 30kg (66lbs)
Size Category		Medium
Weight Height Range		Ideally dogs should measure between 51-56cms at the withers; bitches should measure between 46-51cms. The weight ranges between 23-30kgs, it should be in proportion with the overall size.
Ailments		As a breed the Samoyed is a hardy dog that doesn’t suffer from many health problems. However they have been known to suffer from hip dysplasia, deafness, PRA and other eye problems, but the breeders are managing to keep the incidence of these under control.
Common Ailments		Deafness
Susceptibility To Illness		Low
Other
History		A herding dog in northern Russia, the Samoyed acquired the name after the nomadic tribe it served. They were also used to guard the reindeer that they herded. The Sami worked closely with the tribe and shared their tents, so has a great love of family life. On occasion they were used to pull sleds or boats, but this work was usually reserved for the reindeer. Many explorers used these dogs at the turn of the century when there was an increase in polar exploration. After the expeditions many of these dogs returned home with the explorers. Mr and Mrs Kilburn-Scott first introduced the Samoyed into the UK at the beginning of this century after they saw them in their native country in 1889. They became popular very quickly and are still so to this day.
Intelligence		This can be a difficult dog to train, as they are known to be quite wilful, so patience is a must. They can be independent and will only do something because they enjoy being with their owner and at times they will happily go off and do their own thing. They are vocal and so must be trained to curtail this on command. As puppies these dogs should be properly socialised, especially with cats and other household pets.
Show Characteristics		The Samoyed should have a wedge shaped head with a flat skull. The medium lengthed muzzle should taper slightly to a black nose. The jaws should be strong and have a complete scissor bite. The medium sized eyes should be almond shaped, set well apart and are medium to dark brown. The ears are thick, erect and well covered inside with hair. The neck is strong and arched. The back is of moderate length, broad and muscular. The chest is deep but not too broad. The front legs should be straight and muscular and back legs should be well angulated, straight, parallel and very muscular. The feathered feet form great snowshoes. They are long, fairly flat and the soles are cushioned with hair. The tail should be long, profuse coated and is carried over the back and to the side when alert. The undercoat should be thick, soft and short, with harsher hair growing through it to form the straight, silver tipped weather resistant outer coat. The colours desired for the show rings are pure white, white and biscuit or cream in colour.
Country Of Origin		Siberia
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		> 2 hours per day. The Sami needs a reasonable amount of exercise both on and off the lead. They do have a natural tendency to pull on a lead; however they can be trained to walk beside you.
Distress Caused if Left Alone		High
Personal Protection		Low
Suitability As Guard Dog		Low
Risk of Sheep Worrying		High
Tendency to Bark		High
Ease of Transportation		Medium
Level of Aggression		Low
Compatibility With Other Animals		High
Suitable For Children		High
General Character And Temperament		In general the Samoyed is a friendly, outgoing and devoted dog. They are protective of their homes; no intruder will ever go unheard. Samoyeds get on well with children, make good family pets and like to be included in all family activities. However if they are left to their own devices they can be destructive and are known to enjoy digging. As they are great escape artists, a high fence around the garden is a good investment. They have to be socialised from an early age especially with cats and any other household pets. As a breed this dog can be quite vocal.
Grooming
Coat Length		Short/Medium
Grooming Requirement		> Once a week
Trimming		None
Requires Professional Groomer
Grooming		Grooming the Samoyed needs to be done on a daily basis, dogs seem to have a longer coat than bitches. A daily brush will keep them looking clean, with a more thorough grooming once a week. If the coat becomes wet or muddy leave it to dry, it is then easier to comb the dirt from the coat. In their native country the Sami will shed its undercoat once a year, normally in the summer. In centrally heated homes however they may shed twice a year. When the coat is being shed it will get everywhere and grooming will need to be more regular. However when they are not losing their undercoats they will not shed hair, so you will only have to put up with the loose hairs once, or twice, a year.
Colour		The Samoyed can be pure white, white and biscuit or cream in colour.
Shedding		Heavy
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies

Breed results: P-T
Papillon Parson Russell Terrier Pekinese Pekingese Pharaoh Hound Pinscher (German) Pinscher Miniature Pointer Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pomeranian Poodle Miniature Poodle Standard Poodle Toy Portuguese Water Dog Pug Pyrenean Mountain Dog Pyrenean Sheepdog Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Rough Collie Saluki Samoyed Schipperke Schnauzer Giant	Schnauzer Miniature Schnauzer Standard Scottish Terrier Sealyham Terrier Segugio Italiano Shar Pei Shetland Sheepdog Shih Tzu Siberian Husky Skye Terrier Sloughi Smooth Collie Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Spanish Water Dog St Bernard Staffordshire Bull Terrier Sussex Spaniel Swedish Lapphund Swedish Vallhund Tibetan Mastiff Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier Tiibetan Mastiff