The Samoyed looks like a big soft toy with its fluffy white coat, smiling face and intelligent eyes. Even though gentle and good nature, this is a working dog requiring a lots of walking and exercise. Before buying one, there are some things you should know about this beautiful dog breed.
If you want a medium or large sized “spitz-like” dog with foxy face, prick ears, curled tail and thick white coat, the Samoyed might be the best dog for you. This canine is spirited and robust and craves athletic activities and vigorous exercise, in particular in cold weather. It is the most responsive and the brightest of the spitz breeds. On the other hand, if you are not really interested in dealing with exuberant jumping and rowdiness, excessive barking and heavy shedding, the chances are you won’t be happy as the Samoyed’s owner. Although very intelligent, these dogs can be quite stubborn. Also, they can be destructive when left alone too much.
Training and grooming are the most important aspects of owning the Samoyed. First of all, they need a firm, but fair leader and they don’t like being harshly treated. These dogs do not need formal training to be great pets, simple commands and firm boundaries of what they can and cannot do are enough. Don’t change your training methods and rules half way through, because that can only confuse your Sammie. Be prepared for your trainings and make them fun and active. When it comes to grooming, it takes time and effort to care for that glorious coat! You should groom your Sammie at least once a week and don’t even think about clipping that coat, since it protects your furry companion from cold, heat and sunburn. When we mentioned excessive shedding, well we meant that seriously. Prepare yourself for a lot of hair, especially in periods when they replace entire dense coat (males once, female twice a year). However, your Sammie rarely needs bathing. Even if your pet gets muddy, you should wait it to dry and then simply brush out.
About the barking, a Samoyed loves the sound of its own voice. Well, it doesn’t mean they will bark for hours (especially if you train them on regular basis), but be prepared to be greeted once you get home or alerted when someone’s in front of the house. A Samoyed is a dog that always seems to have something to say. If you can’t deal with that, it’s not the dog for you.