Description written by: Judie Lucas
Samoyeds are of medium size
with females weighing 40 to 50 pounds and males 55 to 70 pounds. They are in the Working
Group and were originally used by the Samoyede people (a nomadic tribe in Siberia) to haul
sledges and herd reindeer and were also used in early Arctic expeditions. Samoyeds are one
of only two non-herding breeds that are eligible to receive AKC Herding Titles.
The Samoyed is a double coated breed. The
undercoat is of soft, short, thick, close wool with longer and harsh guard hair growing
through it to form the outer coat, which stands straight out from the body and glistens
with a silver sheen. Samoyeds can be pure white, white and biscuit, cream, or all biscuit.
Biscuit color can range from a light buff color to a deeper burnt orange and often darkens
with age. Biscuit appears most often on ears and as freckles on the muzzle or face. Nose
pigment can be black, brown, liver or dudley and often lightens during winter and with
age.
Samoyeds are intelligent and learn quickly but can be quite stubborn at times and
training sessions
must be fun for them. While not known for their obedience, many have Companion Dog and
Companion Dog Excellent titles. They excel in herding, agility and tracking in addition to
sledding,
weight pull and packing. Although beautiful, samoyeds aren't for everyone and have
undesirable
traits such as barking, chewing, digging and escaping in addition to shedding.
Samoyeds are very
social and must be with their human pack. They are good family companions, however as with
any
animal, they should not be left with young children unsupervised.
