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An ancient Siberian sledge dog bred to herd and guard reindeer,, the Samoyed is characterized by his hefty, weather-resistant coat and signature smiling black lips. This working breed thrives on having a job to do. A perfect companion for families with children, he is kind, gentle and devoted. The highly intelligent, active Samoyed needs daily exercise and will retain his puppy-like playfulness throughout his lifetime.
DID YOU KNOW? A team of Samoyeds accompanied Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on his quest to discover the South Pole in 1911. The Samoyed’s gene pool contains no wolf or fox blood, distinguishing this dog as a primitive breed.
ALSO KNOWN AS: Bjelkier, Samoiedskaya Sobaka, Nenetskaya Laika
| Lifespan: | 12–13 years |
| Weight: | 23–30kg |
| Height: | Adult males are 51–56cm and adult females 46–51cm |
| Colours: | Pure white, white and biscuit, or cream |
| Size: | Medium |
| Kennel Club group: | Working |
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 5/5 |
| Energy level: | 5/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 5/5 |
The Samoyed is generally a friendly, outgoing and devoted dog. Samoyeds are protective of their homes. No intruder will ever go unheard, although they rarely do much more than announce their presence. He loves to be included in all family activities and can become destructive and vocal if left for too long or bored. They enjoy digging and are great escape artists, so garden security is essential. They have to be socialised from an early age, especially with cats and any other household pets. They can be quite vocal.
Country of Origin: Russia
Known at various times as the Smiling Dog or the Reindeer Dog, the Samoyed is an ancient reindeer-herding dog who takes their now universally known name from the tribe that treasured it so highly and worked alongside it - the Samoyede people of Northern Siberia.
While largely a herding dog, the Samoyed (or Sami) was a multi-purpose dog who would not only control livestock but would also pull sledges, and on occasions, provided the tribe with fur garments to keep them warm in the most inhospitable of climates.
These dogs lived and worked closely with the tribe and even shared their sleeping quarters, so has always lived alongside families, and was treated as a companion (and often a hot water bottle) as well as a working dog. At the end of the 19th century, explorers to the area took an interest in the Samoyed and their powers of endurance and stamina, using some as sledge dogs for early polar expeditions. A few Samis came back with them to England - where their stunning looks and cheerful personalities meant they become almost instantly popular with show enthusiasts and even royalty. This popularity continues to this day and the breed is remarkably unchanged - except unlike their ancestors, the modern Sami comes only in white!
