How to Find the Perfect Dog

If you are looking to purchase a dog, here are a few questions to ask yourself and your family.  I will be posting questions for you throughout the week.

1.  Are you looking for a purebred or a hybrid dog (mixed breed)?

2.  Have you ever owned a dog, or will this be your first?

3.  Do you feel you are able to control a dominating dog?

How did you answer these questions?

Description of the Samoyed

Here is a detailed description of the beautiful Samoyed.

• Compact, muscular body
• Wedge-shaped head is broad and slightly crowned
• Muzzle is in proportion to the size of the dog, tapering to the nose
• Nose stop is well defined but not abrupt
• Nose color can be black, brown or liver
• Lips are black
• Teeth meet in a scissors bite
• Dark, almond-shaped eyes are deep-set, somewhat wide apart, with a slanting lower lid and dark rims
• Erect, triangular ears are slightly rounded at the tips.
• Tail is moderately long, well-covered with hair, carried rolled on the back
• Legs are solid and muscular and the feet are flat and covered with hair
• Thick, double coat is profuse
• Undercoat is soft, short and thick with longer hairs growing out to the outer coat
• Outer coat is harsh and stands straight out, not wavy
• Males’ coats are more profuse than females’
• Ruff around the neck and shoulders, framing the head
• Coat colors include pure white, biscuit, yellow and cream. Sometimes white with silver tips. Pure white is preferred in the show ring.

Is the Samoyed the Right Breed for You?

Right Breed for You?

Intelligent, gentle and loyal, Samoyed's enjoy being with their families. Due to their working heritage, they may chase things, run and bark, so it's best to channel that energy into some kind of job or activity. Otherwise, these independent dogs may invent ways to keep themselves entertained.

Life Expectancy:  About 12-15 years

Exercise:  Samoyed's need a reasonable amount of exercise, including a daily walk or jog. Slow down during warm weather because the woolly undercoat inhibits loss of the heat built up during exercise.

Grooming:  Extensive grooming is needed. They are seasonally heavy shedders. The fluffy double coat needs frequent brushing, but tends to stay white without bathing. Some people with allergies have reported that the coat of the Samoyed did not bother them.

Living Conditions: The Samoyed will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is very active indoors and a small yard is sufficient. Its heavy coat makes this dogs unsuited to life in very hot climates.

A Look Back at the Samoyed

A Look Back at the Samoyed...

An ancient working breed, the Samoyed is very close to the primitive dog - no mixture of wolf or fox runs through the breed's gene pool.  They have lived in Siberia with hunters and fishermen known as Samoyeds  This is how the breed received its name He was developed by the Samoyede people of Siberia.  These people used the dogs for herding reindeer, hunting and hauling sledges as well as guard work. The breed was cherished by these people - they even allowed them to sleep in their tents - to keep them warm and for they depended on the dogs for their survival. 

Robert Scott, an explorer, brought the dogs to England in 1889.
It was in England that the breed was further developed and from there it spread throughout the rest of the world.

Samoyed Facts

Samoyed Facts

Height and Weight
Height: Males 21 - 23½ inches (53 - 60 cm) Females 19 - 21 inches (48 - 53 cm)
Weight: Males 45 - 65 pounds (20½ - 30 kg) Females 35 - 50 pounds (16 - 20½ kg)

Health Issues
Samoyed's are particularly prone to hip dyspepsia and some suffer from diabetes. They are also prone to skin allergies. They are prone to PRA (eyes), primarily in male dogs.

Samoyed's Temperament

The Samoyed is a very gentle dog. They are devoted, easygoing, friendly and quite playful. They love everyone. They will gladly be friendly to all, including intruders. Unfortunately, they are so friendly; they do not make very good watch dogs, although their bark will alert you to the presence of strangers. They willingly adapt to family life and get along well with children. They are highly intelligent, and will respond to firm, patient training, which should be started at an early age. Make sure you are this dog’s firm, confident, consistent leader to avoid potential problems such as, obsessive barking. The Sammy is accustomed to working in teams, and shows outstanding qualities. When they are given what they need to be a stable-minded dog, (mental and physical exercise) along with clear leadership, they prove to be outstanding, good-natured, lively and sociable. They never seeks trouble but can handle an adversary if necessary. These dogs have a reputation of being chewers. If the Sammy is lacking in leadership and/or exercise it can become very destructive if left alone for many hours at a stretch. Samoyed's can get along with non-canine pets when raised with them from puppyhood or when properly trained to do so, however they do have an instinct to hunt and caution should be taken around other small animals. They can get along with a family cat. This breed has an instinct to herd.

Samoyed Description

Description 

The Samoyed has a compact, muscular body. The wedge-shaped head is broad and slightly crowned. The muzzle is in proportion to the size of the dog, tapering to the nose. The stop is well defined but not abrupt. The nose color can be black, brown or liver. The lips are black. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The dark, almond-shaped eyes are deep-set, somewhat wide apart, with a slanting lower lid and dark rims. The erect, triangular ears are slightly rounded at the tips. The tail is moderately long, well-covered with hair, carried rolled on the back. The legs are solid and muscular and the feet are flat and covered with hair. The thick, double coat is profuse. The undercoat is soft, short and thick with longer hairs growing out to the outer coat. The outer coat is harsh and stands straight out, not wavy. Males’ coats are more profuse than females’. There is a ruff around the neck and shoulders, framing the head. Coat colors include pure white, biscuit, yellow and cream. Sometimes white with silver tips. Pure white is preferred in the show ring.