Samoyed Puppy Facts

The tribe of local people after which the breed was named had used Samoyed dogs as hunters, sled dogs and reindeer herders. They also used them to stay warm at night.

The breed became very popular, especially among English aristocracy, after early arctic explorers brought these dogs home with them in the late 1800s.

It was brought to the United States in the late 1800s and is now very popular as a pet and a companion dog.

Physical Characteristics of a Samoyed Puppy

This is a medium-sized breed. It has a wedge-shaped head, prickly ears and almond shaped eyes. It has a long tail and its body is slightly longer than it is tall.

As all Northern breeds, it has a double coat that consists of a very dense and soft undercoat and a much coarser and longer outer coat. The coat is usually white, but some dogs have a combination of white and light beige.

One of the most distinctive features of this breed is its facial expression - dogs always appear to be smiling.

Temperament

The Samoyed is a good "people" dog. It's affectionate, good natured and gentle. It loves being around people and craves their attention. And, unlike many other breeds, it's good with children.

Unfortunately, their friendliness extends to almost everyone, including intruders. Needless to say, they make lousy watchdogs.

But their good nature doesn't extend just to humans - they also get along well with other dogs.

Though intelligent, they are known to be stubborn and may be difficult to train.

Best Owner / Living Conditions

Samoyed puppies are very active and are not well suited for an "apartment lifestyle". They are also not the easiest dogs to train.

Because of these two facts, they require an experienced dog owner living in the suburbs.

Some Samoyed breeders may interview prospective owners to make sure this is the right breed for them.

Activity and Exercise

I already mentioned earlier that this is a very active breed. It needs plenty of exercise to stay healthy.

If you like jogging, this is a perfect dog to take along, but be careful when the weather is warm. Because of the heavy coat, they can overheat quite easily.

At a minimum, take your pet for one or two daily walks.

Grooming

This is not the easiest dog to care for. It's a heavy shedder and requires regular brushing.

During the shedding season, it will completely replace its undercoat. To speed up the shedding process and prevent matting, brush daily.

Because his coat is semi-waterproof, bathing a Samoyed dog is a time consuming affair. When rinsing, to prevent an allergic reaction and fungal infection, make sure to get all shampoo out. It's also a good idea to dry his coat with a blow dryer.

Health Concerns

Like all dog breeds, the Samoyed is susceptible to complications caused by parasites such as dog ticks, fleas, and puppy worms, including tapeworms, roundworms, and heartworms.

Additional health concerns include cardiac problems, renal disease, and hip dysplasia. For more information about dog diseases and health, visit dog health problems.

To reduce the risk of the above and many other health problems, buy only from reputable Samoyed breeders (visit dog breeders to learn how to identify responsible dog breeders).

No matter how small the risk of health problems is, any puppy may get sick or injured. Many health problems will require an immediate attention from your Vet, but there are many others that will not, and you may handle them on your own.

To save time and money, learn how to diagnose and treat dog health problems that don't require your Vet's attention.

Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years.

Did you ever consider adopting your next pet?

If this is the breed you are interested in, and adoption appeals to you, consider contacting your local Samoyed rescue. There are thousands of pets waiting for a loving home and, yes, it's possible to adopt a purebred dog.