Pastoral group · Siberia, Russia
Samoyed
Also called Sammy, Samoyedskaya, Bjelkier.
Medium dog, high energy, trains well with consistency.
- Friendly
- Gentle
- Adaptable
- Alert
- Playful
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 16 to 29 kg35 to 65 lb
- Lives
- 12 to 14 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a Samoyed
Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.
Independent but Social
Start here
More independent than many breeds but very people-oriented. Training works best when it's fun and social.
Heavy Shedding Reality
They blow their coat twice yearly in spectacular fashion. Prepare for tumbleweeds of white fur.
The Sammy Smile
Their upturned mouth corners prevent drooling but also make them appear to always be smiling, even when plotting mischief.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Samoyed and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.
Gets on with
- ChildrenVery High
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersHigh
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1-2 hours daily. Active breed needing regular exercise. Loves cold weather activities.
- Grooming
- Very high maintenance. Daily brushing recommended. Massive seasonal shedding twice yearly.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Double coat, Dense, Silver-tipped outer coatWhite, Cream, Biscuit, White and Biscuit
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint malformation common in medium-large breeds
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Moderate
Inherited eye disease causing vision loss
Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy
Severe
Inherited kidney disease; more severe in males
Where they come from
History
Ancient breed developed by the Samoyede people of Siberia for herding reindeer, pulling sleds, and keeping their owners warm. One of the 14 ancient breeds closest to wolves genetically.
- Antarctic Expedition Dogs · Samoyeds were part of many early Antarctic expeditions including Amundsen's 1911 South Pole expedition
