Plymouth Pets Breed of the Week - Samoyeds
With the recent polar vortex across the northern US and Canada earlier this month, many who are used to more temperate climates got a taste of what’s often considered the norm in Arctic parts of the world. Certain dogs do thrive in the snow – Huskies and St. Bernards are often some of the first that come to mind, especially for Americans, but the now fairly popular and widespread Samoyed breed comes to mind for people of many different cultures. Like other “snow dogs” mentioned, you may see them more and more in areas far from the arctics or high altitudes. While Samoyeds can often have lively, even intense, personalities – these Siberian natives are very smart and reliable companions ideal especially for medium-to-large families and less urban areas.
Samoyeds were originally bred generally around Northern-Central Siberia, by the indigenous Nenets peoples in what is now Russia. They were, like many famous and typical herding dogs of the north, bred from spitz-style breeds for herding, guarding, and hunting abilities. They have a notable spitz-type pointy tail, and are of average to larger sizes for dogs in their category. Due to breeding in the dramatically cold climates of Northern Siberia, where daytime temperatures often go below -30 Celsius, they have distinctive thick fur coats relative to their body, allowing them to withstand these severe temperatures. Samoyeds, like Huskies, also gained some fame worldwide during the endeavors to seek out the North and South Poles in Person over a century ago. Some of the most famous British, Scandinavian, and Russian/Soviet arctic explorers held the dogs in high regard for their herding and organizational abilities, tough build, and fierceness in fighting off (and even hunting!) larger animals like bears. This is still reflected in their nature today, as Samoyeds can still get stand-offish around new or unfamiliar animals. Even with modern Samoyeds, it is good to keep a close eye on their behavior in public or private other dogs, pets, and common wild animals.
Despite this fact, Samoyeds are not so particularly fierce towards their human companions, in fact quite the opposite. Like many herding dogs, they are often affectionate not to mention incredibly loyal and protective towards their owners and friends. Samoyeds lived in small, usually tent-like domiciles right next to their owners and their families. They are not only used to close human contact, but are trained for it. But they were always trained in an assertive-but-careful manner to ensure discipline for these very energetic, strong-willed, and surprisingly dominant dogs. Maintaining your authority while training a Samoyed is possibly the most important aspects of caring for the dog, also minding its health. Samoyeds are naturally calm and are quite safe with children or the elderly, but may start acting up if they feel too stuffy and need to (literally) stretch their legs. This also helps prevent arthritis and joint issues later in life.
Like many other herding dogs such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, Samoyeds need a lot of space during their training and day-to-day lives. They are high-energy dogs with a passion for outdoor activity, so at least having them walk for at least 70 to 90 minutes a day (especially in earlier years) is greatly beneficial to their general and mental health. Grooming them is extremely important – their thick coats carry dirt and other particles very easily (and their often-white coats will start yellowing/browning) not to mention pests like ticks and fleas in more wild or unclean environments. It is important to properly wash and care for their fur – hire a groomer at least semi-regularly if you lack the complete skills and/or tools to groom a Samoyed and care for their fur, teeth, etc. When visiting the vet they will often take a close look at their ocular health and any issues possibly related to the Samoyed’s liver, due to two common mutations. One mutation is common in Samoyeds’ eyes, where a defect will cause them to lose sight gradually over time, sometimes from a young age. A more serious mutation affects many Samoyeds’ kidneys, and while usually passing quickly in young age for Samoyed pups, may lead to liver failure, also surprisingly early in life. Keeping up with a vet and watching for these issues while assertively training your Samoyed will help ensure it leads a happier, healthier, and fuller life with you and your other loved ones.
