Samoyed

Size
Medium (11kg - 27kg)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Weekly
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Often alone
Grooming
Frequent
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mr Alan Stunt (HELENIA)

melon001@bigpond.com
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Breeder - Mrs Joanne McDougall (Arcticlight)

joannemcdougall@hotkey.net.au
See Details

2. Submitted by Helen Chen. Photo by Anna Zabo

History

The Samoyed was named after a nomadic Inuit tribe from northern Siberia in Russia, called the Samoyede people. The Samoyede people were a gentle, nomadic tribe of family groups, that were accompanied everywhere by their dogs. They used the Samoyed to herd reindeer, pull sleds loaded with goods, and keep them warm in the frigid Siberian winters. The breed was also used to babysit the Inuit children and was brought into their chooms (or tents) at night to keep the families warm.It was this close bond over thousands of years that made the Samoyed such a people-loving, family-orientated dog.

Appearance

The Samoyed is actually a rugged, compact working dog of both dignity and grace. It is a double-coated breed with a softer undercoat and a harsher standoffish outer coat. The Samoyed coat can be white, cream or biscuit, or a combination of any of the three. The breed standard describes it as a medium-sized dog of moderate build. Males are larger than females. Females are 45-51cm at the shoulder, the males are 51-56cm.

Temperament

The Samoyed is charming, intelligent, active and playful through to old age; the breed is amazingly comical, yet thoughtfully sensitive. What sets this breed apart, aside from its magnificent beauty, is its love for all people. It is an exuberant, independent and good-natured dog and the constant companionship with man through the years has given the Samoyed an uncanny human understanding.

It is a highly intelligent breed, which is sometimes confused with disobedience or stubbornness when it comes to Obedience or other types of training.

8. Submitted by Rachel Mills .Jess Fynmore Photography

Dane and Dannika the newest generation at Airebis

Health

The Samoyed is a hardy, robust breed, able to survive in harsh conditions, so only a fit and healthy dog survived to be able to breed. This means a lot of common hereditary problems found in Northern breeds are not present in the Samoyed. Hip Dysplasia is one problem that has occurred in the breed, but responsible breeders are aware of the condition and are taking steps to ensure against an increase. Eye problems are virtually unknown among Australian Samoyeds, as are kidney problems and heart conditions. However, they may occur in individual dogs from time to time. Diabetes is another problem that may occur, but usually in older dogs.

Maintenance

The Samoyed’s coat is a thick double-layered hair coat. It is not a fur coat like common breed dogs and thus tends to have fewer allergic reactions. The coat requires little washing even when coated in mud, as after drying, the dirt tends to fall off easily, or with gentle brushing, leaving a white coat underneath.

A Samoyed will only smell if ill, or if the undercoat is left wet for long periods of time. For this reason, when washing a Samoyed it is important to dry the thick undercoat as quickly as possible. A strong hair dryer or dog blower with a good supply of talcum powder is a great investment if you own a Samoyed. You should also be prepared to brush its coat once a week for at least half an hour.

Suitability

The Samoyed is a comical, intelligent breed, and is happiest at home with its chosen pack. Although highly intelligent, the breed can be diffcult to train. The Samoyed learns tasks easily, but tires quickly of repetitive training, and thus does better with motivation rather than with correction. The Samoyed, like Malamutes and Huskies, is a dominant breed and highly intelligent; if you give it an inch it will take a mile.

However, for those with a sense of humour to cope with this recalcitrant nature and who have the time to groom, the Samoyed is a wonderful family pet. The breed is excellent with children, always loves to play, and has a great, witty sense of humour.

Information from the NSW Samoyed Club

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Samoyed, you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Samoyed and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 21 May 2009)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

The Samoyed being essentially a working dog should be strong and active and graceful, and as his work lies in cold climates his coat should be heavy and weather-resisting. He should not be too long in back, as a weak back would make him practically useless for his legitimate work; but at the same time a cobby body, such as a Chow's would also place him at a great disadvantage as a draught dog. Breeders should aim for the happy medium, viz. a body not long, but muscular, allowing liberty, with a deep chest and well sprung ribs, strong neck proudly arched, straight front and exceptionally strong loins. Both dogs and bitches should give the appearance of being capable of great endurance but should be free from coarseness. A full grown dog should stand about 53.5 cm (21 ins.) at the shoulder. On account of the depth of chest required the legs should be moderately long, a very short-legged dog is to be deprecated. Hindquarters should be particularly well developed, stifles well angulated, and any suggestion of unsound stifles or cowhocks severely penalised.

Characteristics

The Samoyed is intelligent, alert, full of action but above all displaying affection towards all mankind.

Temperament

(See under Characteristics.)

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Head powerful and wedge-shaped with a broad, flat skull, muzzle of medium length, a tapering foreface not too sharply defined. Lips black. Hair short and smooth before the ears. Nose black for preference, but may be brown or flesh-coloured. Strong jaws.
Eyes	Almond shaped, medium to dark brown in colour, set well apart with alert and intelligent expression. Eyerims should be black and unbroken.
Ears	Thick, not too long and slightly rounded at the tips, set well apart and well covered inside with hair. The ears should be fully erect in the grown dog.
Mouth	Upper teeth should just overlap the underteeth in a scissor bite.
Neck	Proudly arched.
Forequarters	Legs straight and muscular with good bone.
Body	Back medium in length, broad and very muscular. Chest broad and deep ribs well sprung, giving plenty of heart and lung room.
Hindquarters	Very muscular, stifles well angulated; cow hocks or straight stifles very objectionable.
Feet	Long, flattish and slightly spread out. Soles well cushioned with hair.
Tail	Long and profuse, carried over the back when alert; sometimes dropped when at rest.
Gait/Movement	Should move freely with a strong agile drive showing power and elegance.
Coat	The body should be well covered with a thick, close, soft and short undercoat, with harsh hair growing through it, forming the outer coat, which should stand straight away from the body and be free from curl.
Colour	Pure white; white and biscuit; cream.
Size	Dogs 51-56 cms (20-22 ins) at the shoulder.Bitches: 46-51 cms (18-20 ins) at the shoulder.Weight in proportion to size.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.Severe unprovoked aggressiveness.Long foreface.Blue or very light eyes.Big ears with very little feathering.Drop ears; narrow width between ears.A bull neck. A long body.Slack tail carriage; it should be carried well over the back, though it may drop when the dog is at rest.Round, cat-like feet.A soft coat; a wavy coat; absence of undercoat.Absence of Feathering.Black or black spots.Any sign of unsound movement.