The Samoyed, how can you not love that beautiful lush coat, expressive face, and Trademark Sammy Smile?
5. The Samoyed Is One of the World’s Oldest Dog Breeds. The Samoyed, which I am assured is the correct pronunciation by Yeti’s Place, although not the only accepted pronunciation, is one of 14 ancient dog breeds with genetic footprints closest to wolves. Along with breeds such as Siberian Huskies and Pomeranians, Samoyeds belong to the Spitz family of dogs, originating in Asia, and were bred by the Samoyede people of Siberia to pull sleds, herd reindeer, and hunt. It’s said that the Samoyede treated their dogs more as members of the family than possessions, which will explain an upcoming fact. The Samoyed first appeared in England in the late 19th century, and in the US. in early 20th. The breed was added to the American Kennel Club’s Working Dog Group in 1906.
4. The Samoyed breed has been on expeditions to both of Earth’s poles. In the 19th century, adventurers acquired some Samoyeds to help them on expeditions to the North and South Poles. Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen, I know I probably butchered that name, chose Sammies for his trip to the North Pole in 1893 because of the breed’s endurance and trainability. Although his trip was not successful (because obviously he’d never been on a road trip and Ummm he didn’t pack enough food), the dogs proved to be excellent sled dogs. English explorer Robert Scott and Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen also used the dogs on their expeditions to the South Pole. Scott had a team of 33 dogs; Amundsen had 52. Amundsen beat Scott to the Pole with his team, led by a Samoyed named Etah.
3. Adaptable, friendly and gentle, they’re great dogs, but they’re not for everyone. Samoyeds Need to Be Full Members of the Family Samoyeds are known as affectionate family dogs, though they often bond closest with one person in the household. These dogs need to be with their people, and like any people dog, when left alone too often or for too long, can become lonely, depressed, and destructive. Samoyeds are known to be chewers and can be quite destructive if they are under-exercised or left alone for long periods. While very friendly and smart, the Samoyed can be challenging for novice dog owners. This is a vocal dog and needs to be kept busy and active to prevent undesirable behaviors. The Samoyed also has a strong hunting instinct and will give chase after small animals, including cats. But, if introduced as fellow pets, the Samoyed can do well with the family cat. Agility and tracking are excellent activities to keep your Samoyed physically and mentally stimulated. If you’re considering one of these dogs or any other breed for that matter, remember there are breed specific rescue organizations all over the world that are usually a Google search away.
2. The Samoyed Is Sensitive to Heat As you might guess from its thick, luxurious coat, the Samoyed prefers cooler temperatures. That thick double coat is after all meant to hold in heat and protect from very cold weather. If you live in a place with hot summers and not so cool winters as I do, this is probably not the breed for you. Don’t allow your Sammy to overexert itself in the heat. Schedule exercise and play sessions for the cooler hours of the day, and keep your Sammy inside in air conditioning when the temperature heats up.
1. Unlike certain breeds (we’re looking at you, you corn chip smelling hounds), the Samoyed is a stinkless pooch. You don’t need to bathe Sammys as much as you would some other breeds, but frequent brushing is a must to keep your buddy’s fur from matting.
Bonus Fact: Samoyeds have a thick double coat. The bottom is soft and wool-like while the top is coarse and straight. The dogs shed so much that some owners have gotten in the habit of collecting all the excess fur. This surplus can be spun into yarn that can be used to make clothing. The material is warm and strong (and not to mention stinkless), making it a great alternative to sheep’s wool. The Potomac Valley Samoyed Club takes fur donations, which they then use to create everything from scarves to mittens. One crafter claims that a medium-sized paper bag of fur can yield a large shawl and three pairs of baby booties.