Samoyed

The Samoyed breed is a working dog of the Nenets. They once pulled sleds, herded reindeer, and kept their families warm by sleeping on top of them, like blankets.

The Samoyed's Behavior

Source: Wikipedia.

Recommended for: pet, working dog

The Samoyed dog breed is generally regarded for and are characterized by their friendly disposition. Members of the breed are poor guard dogs. Instead, they are good companions and get along well with children and other people. Their stubborness will manifest itself sometimes and this can lead to challenges in training. They must be persuaded nonetheless to learn to obey commands. They are strong dogs who will not hesitate to pull things, including, in the case of untrained Samoyeds, owners holding the leash.

Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.

The Samoyed's Physical Characteristics

Here are some of the characteristics of the Samoyed breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.

* Size: males 21 - 23 1/2 inches, females 19 - 21 inches
* Coat: doublecoated; undercoat: soft, short, thick close wool; outer coat: long, harsh, stands straight out
* Color: white, cream, white and biscuit, biscuit
* Eyes: dark, set well apart, deep-set, almond-shaped
* Ears: strong, thick, triangular, rounded tips, set well apart
* Muzzle: mid-length, mid-width, tapers towards to nose
* Nose: black, brown, liver, Dudley nose
* Tail: moderately long, long-haired

The Samoyed's Origins and History

Source: Wikipedia.

Country/Region of Origin: Russia

Original purpose: sled-dog, herding reindeer

Name: Derived from the obsolete name of the people that developed the breed, the Nenets who were once called Samoyeds; also known as Samoiedskana Sobaka and nicknamed Smiling Sammy

Historical notes: Samoyed dogs were bred by the Nenets to be working dogs and they adapted well to the climate. European explorers utilized the Samoyeds because of their adaptation to arctic conditions. They were brought to Europe and their numbers increased there as well as in the US.