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About

The Samoyed

Beauty and brains in a white fur coat

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• Introduction
• The Samoyed today
• Owning a Samoyed
• Health

Introduction

In ancient times, as the population of the Iranian plateau increased, stronger tribes drove weaker ones into the wilderness, and eventually, the Samoyed people wound up in Siberia. A gentle, nomadic tribe of family groups, they were accompanied everywhere by their dogs. The Samoyed people used the dogs to herd reindeer, pull sledges loaded with goods, and keep them warm in the frigid Siberian winters. The temperament of the well-bred Samoyed is a reflection of the breed's beginning: brought up within the family, eating at the campfire, snuggling in the beds, this dog is the ultimate companion, gentle with family members and happy to work.

The first written comments about Samoyeds was in 1696, when Adam Brand wrote of white dogs shorn to the skin pulling sleds. These dogs were depicted as medium-sized, with a curved tail quite unlike the tightly curled tail of today's Sammy. Pictures and descriptions from 1787-89 identified the dogs as terrier types, bearing little resemblance to the magnificent modern Sammy.

The first mention of Samoyeds outside Russia comes from an English newspaper advertisement in 1891, placed by Ernest Kilburn-Scott, offering for sale "Lovely white Russian (Samoyed) sledge dog pups, like small polar bears, most gentle and affectionate. Splendid coats and tails. Very rare. Parents imported."

At about the same time, Arctic explorers were putting together teams of dogs for polar expeditions, and Samoyeds fit the bill for their stamina and willingness to work. In 1911, a Samoyed lead dog on Roald Amundsen's trip to the South Pole was the first animal over the pole.

The Samoyed today

The breed's history seems contrary to the Samoyed today, for few people captivated by the dog's long white coat, smiling face, and affection for people can imagine it pulling a sled or herding reindeer. The Sam seems more at home on a sofa than in harness, but in truth, he is happy in both places.

Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1906, the Samoyed is a member of the Working Group (although some fanciers think the breed could do equally well in the Herding Group). The breed standard describes it as a medium-sized dog of moderate build, almost square, with the length slightly longer than the height. It is a double-coated breed, well suited for work in cold weather. The undercoat is short, soft, and thick, and the guard coat is long and harsh with straight hairs standing straight out from the body. The Samoyed people combed the undercoat for use in yarns, and today some spinners include Sam hair in hats, sweaters, and scarves.

Although the original Samoyed dogs were of several colors, the standard calls for the coat to be white, cream, biscuit, or white and biscuit. All other colors are disqualifications. Most Samoyeds are white, and many have biscuit marking on the ears and around the eyes.

The eyes should be dark, and the lips and eye rims black. The nose should also be black, but a liver, brown, or Dudley (flesh-colored) nose is acceptable. Blue eyes are disqualifications.

The Samoyed should move at a trot with grace and dignity. His is a ground-consuming, steady pace, well-suited for herding reindeer over the tundra or pulling a sled to the South Pole. He has a deep chest, well-sprung ribs, strong loin, well-muscled rear and strong neck. Males should be masculine without being aggressive; females feminine without appearing weak.

Owning a Samoyed

Health

Generally healthy, the Samoyed, like most medium and large breeds, can be plagued by hip dysplasia. Recent findings also indicate a predisposition to hypothyroidism and related autoimmune diseases such as von Willebrand's Disease, a bleeding disorder.

Fleas and tapeworms (carried by fleas) can be a problem because of the breed's long coat, so prevention is especially important. Any veterinarian can recommend a flea prevention program.

As with any breed, visit several breeders before making a decision. Since the Samoyed bonds so closely with people, look for a breeder who whelps puppies in the house instead of a kennel. The pups should be exposed to the sights, smells, and sounds of family living from the day they are born. They should be played with, allowed to romp inside and out, and accustomed to different surfaces and situations. Parents of the litter should be OFA registered to decrease the chance of hip dysplasia, and they should have obedience titles in their pedigrees to indicate trainability.

The Samoyed has changed little in temperament, appearance, and ability from the time and place of his origin. He is still the consummate family dog, affectionate to almost everyone, at home on sofa or in harness, traveling hither and yon with his master. No one could possibly be lonesome with a Samoyed for a companion.

[More on finding a dog]

Norma Bennett Woolf

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