If you’ve ever met Samoyeds, you probably rolled through a common list of questions: Is that a giant Japanese Spitz? Or a white Husky? Maybe it’s a marshmallow on legs, just waiting for me to come gobble it up? That last one just us? Ok, fair. Either way, we’re here to tell you that this smiling, gentle pompom is in fact a very smart, friendly, and energetic breed of its own.
History of Samoyeds
As all that hair might suggest, Samoyeds are part of the ancient Spitz group of dogs that developed in Arctic areas. They have a strong history as working dogs; herding reindeer, pulling sleds, and helping to keep their families warm and safe. They’re famous for powering just about every early polar expedition. Not a bad resume.
Weight: 20-30kg
Colour: White, Cream, Biscuit or a mix
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
What You’ll Love
- Intelligence and independence: They’re loving and affectionate, but still enjoy their own company.
- Playful: The combination of brains and energy make them a lot of fun.
- Hypoallergenic: You wouldn’t guess it looking at all that hair, but they have low dander levels and hardly drool, making them a good match for people with allergies. Plus, they’re know for having a “little dog” smell–basically they’re not big and stinky.
- Well dressed: Their coats aren’t only beautiful, they also keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. They’re also surprisingly easy to keep clean. Which is lucky, as these guys loving to get muddy. But once they dry off most dirt brushes out easily.
- Loving: They’re great family dogs that may have been babysitting for thousands of years.
What You Might Find “Challenging”
- Barking: Unfortunately this is the downside of being a great natural watchdog.
- Stubborn: If they’ve made up their mind about something, you could struggle to get them to follow your instructions.
- Digging: They truly believe they need a new hollow to lay in every day.
- Grooming: That beautiful mane takes work. Their double coat requires a fair amounts of grooming to keep healthy. Also, they have two major sheds per year. Maybe consider switching out your black clothes for white instead
Common Health Issues of Samoyeds
- Hip Dysplasia and Patellar Luxation: Like a lot of larger dogs, they can have problems with their hips as they get older.
- Eye Diseases: They can developed cataracts with age, so keep up their eye exams.
- Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy: This is quite complicated to explain in a sentence, but you can read more about it here or chat to your vet.
In love with Samoyeds? The Samoyed Clubs of Victoria and New South Wales both help rescue and re-home Samoyeds.
The Best Aussie Samoyeds on Instagram
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