Samoyed

Samoyed adult
Sky Hi's Special Edition
"Corky"

A member of the Spitz family of dogs, the Samoyed was originally bred by the Samoyede tribe of Siberia as an all-purpose dog for sledding, herding reindeer, guarding, and as a companion. The Samoyedes were nomadic people who lived north of the Arctic Circle and relied upon their dogs for their very survival. Until the end of the 1800s, Samoyeds were never seen outside their country. More recently, the Samoyed has been used as a sled dog in polar expeditions. In 1911, he had the distinction of being the first dog to see the South Pole as the leader of Roald Amundsen's sled dog team.

The Samoyed's straight, thick double coat comes in white, cream, or biscuit. It requires brushing several times per week. The Samoyed sheds his undercoat in thick tufts twice per year. His heavy coat makes him unsuited for particularly hot climates. The Samoyed stands up to 23 1/2 inches tall at the shoulder and, like all Spitz dogs, he carries his tail curled up over his back.

Renowned as the dog with "Christmas in his face", the Samoyed is a beautiful animal with a grin that splits his face from ear to ear. He is good-natured and especially fond of children. He is intelligent, alert, affectionate, and mischievous. Firm, consistent training should begin early. Samoyeds can become willful and intractable if bored or treated harshly. Training may require extra patience and repetition.

As a working breed, the Samoyed requires a healthy amount of exercise and interaction with his people. He may be kept in a kennel environment if he has regular people contact. He should have daily walks, free exercise in a yard, or some working activity to keep him healthy and happy.

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