Samoyed

Coat and looks how to spot one

thick double coat (polar coat)

A dense, weatherproof double coat: a short, soft woolly undercoat under longer, harsher straight guard hairs that stand away from the body and carry a silvery sheen. Males usually grow a fuller ruff around the neck. The body is a medium, elegant Arctic spitz shape, just a little longer than tall, with a high-set tail that curls forward over the back when the dog is alert, and flat, hair-padded feet that work like snowshoes.267

Personality what they are like

A cheerful, outgoing and lively dog that loves being part of family life. Bred to live in close quarters with people, it is sociable with visitors and usually gets on well with other dogs, so it makes a welcoming companion rather than a guard dog. It is bright and eager to please, but its reindeer-herding past also gave it a streak of independent thinking, so it learns best with consistent, gentle and upbeat training.26854

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. The Royal Kennel Club suggests more than 2 hours of exercise a day, while Hill's cites 20-40 minutes as a minimum. Samoyeds enjoy mental work too and take well to obedience, agility, herding and sledding sports. A securely fenced garden helps, as the herding instinct can send it after small animals.7458

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brush daily, and expect heavy seasonal shedding ('blowing coat') plus fine hairs year-round. The club advises bathing at least twice a year, ideally after combing out the loose wool, and trimming nails roughly every 3-4 weeks along with the hair between the foot pads. Offer shade in sunny weather, since strong sun can tint the white outer coat.953

Home where they are happiest

Suits an active home with outdoor space; The Royal Kennel Club recommends country living with a large garden. The thick coat is built for cold climates, so provide shade and cool resting spots in warm weather. It should live indoors as part of the family rather than kept kennelled or chained.7859

Food basics what goes in the bowl

An easy keeper that does well on modest portions of good-quality complete dog food. Adjust portions and treats to activity level to keep the dog lean.4

Company who they like around

Very people-oriented; it was bred to live and even sleep alongside its family and dislikes long spells alone. Generally sociable with other dogs, pets and new people, with early socialisation and puppy classes recommended.854

The story where it all began

The Samoyed takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Arctic Siberia, such as the Nenets, who kept these white spitz dogs for herding reindeer, hunting, pulling sledges and guarding the herds, and who shared their tents with them for warmth. Genetic studies place the breed among the old 'basal' dog lineages, with links to dog remains from the Yamal Peninsula dated roughly 850-2,000 years old. In 1889 the British zoologist Ernest Kilburn Scott brought a puppy home to England from near Arkhangelsk, and he is credited as the founder of the western breed. Around the turn of the 20th century polar explorers, including Nansen, Borchgrevink, Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen, used Samoyed-type sledge dogs, and some expedition survivors joined the English breeding stock. The first breed standard was drawn up in England in 1909, the AKC recognised the breed in 1906, and early dogs came in several colours before white became the preferred look.32876410

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 212, Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 1 (Nordic Sledge Dogs); definitive acceptance 26 Jun 1959; current standard published 4 Sep 20191

The Royal Kennel Club

Pastoral Group; not a vulnerable native breed7

AKC

Recognised 1906 (Working Group)10

UKC

Northern Breed Group; recognised 19276

Popularity AKC rank 55 of registered breeds11