The Samoyed breed of dog has taken its name from the Samoyed
peoples of northern Russia. These nomadic villages of reindeer herders raised
this breed to help with grazing, to pull sleds, and to keep their owners warm
at night sleeping next to them. An alternative name for the breed, especially
in Europe, is Bjelkier.
History
The Samoyed takes its name from a town in Russia that after
the Russian revolution changed its name to "Nenets". Different Arctic
explorers (eg Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen) brought different specimens
to Europe and kept the name "Samoyed" to establish hatcheries in both
Europe and the United States.
Fridtjof Nansen believed that the use of drag dogs was the
only effective way to explore the north and he used Samoyed in his polar
expeditions. Unfortunately, his plan was disastrous for the animals, planning
to feed the stronger dogs with the weaker dogs as they died during the
expedition. In the end, he lost almost all the dogs.
Roald Amundsen used a group of dogs led by a Samoyed named
Etah on the first expedition that reached the South Pole.
Recent DNA analysis of this breed led him to be included among
the fourteen oldest dog breeds, along with the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute,
Chow, and ten other breeds. Samoyed has been bred and trained for the past 3000
years.
Appearance
Males tend to be larger in size than usually weigh between
20-32.5 kg, while females usually weigh between 17-25 kg.
Eyes
They are generally black or brown and almond-colored.
Truffle
The nose or truffle should be well developed and preferably
black. At some times of the year it can clear up giving rise to the commonly called
"winter nose". Some other factors such as age or climate can clarify
it, but it is important that the edges are always kept black; otherwise it
would mean a mandatory veterinary visit.
Ears
The ears should be thick and completely covered with hair,
triangular in shape and erect. In most cases they are white, but occasionally
they can be very light brown (known as "cookie" color).
Tail
The tail of the Samoyed is one of the most distinctive
features of this breed. Like the Alaskan malamute, the tail hangs hook-shaped
on its back; however, and unlike the Malamute, the tail of the Samoyed touches
the back and goes over one side and should not be a very closed or
"flag" shaped hook. In cold climates, some Samoyeds sleep with their
tails over their noses to provide additional protection. Most Samoyeds allow
their tails to drop when they are relaxed, but eventually return them to their
original position when alert.
Hair
Samoyedos have a
dense double coat of fur. The top layer has dense, thick, straight hair that
looks white to the eye but has some silver tints. This top layer keeps the
bottom layer relatively clean and free of debris. The bottom layer consists of
soft, dense, short hair that keeps the dog warm. The bottom layer is changed
once to twice a year, a process known as hair shedding. This in no way means
that they shed hair only on these occasions, since throughout the year fine
hair is shed and replaced, which usually sticks to clothing or simply floats in
the air. The standard Samoyed can have a mix of white and biscuit colors,
although completely white or completely biscuit-colored dogs are not uncommon.
Males generally have a longer coat than females.
Samoyedos are
usually good at cleaning themselves to keep the bathroom as little as possible.
The grime usually falls easily from the outer layers of fur, making the dog
very clean. Puppies' hair is more porous, making it easier to stain with grass
and mud if they are outdoors a long time. The brushing aspect is more
difficult, since due to its thick fur some areas such as the back of the ears
tend to get tangled if it is not brushed (ideally) weekly. Samoyedos will
occasionally require that the hair that grows between their leg bearings be
trimmed, but with this exception the rest can naturally stay that way. Except
for medical reasons or that the hair is extremely tangled, it is not
recommended that the Samoyed be shaved, since its hair acts as an insulator
from both cold and moderate heat, in addition to protecting the clear skin of
the Samoyed from burns by sunlight.
An important
characteristic of this breed is that they do not have the characteristic dog
smell, making them good dogs for living indoors. Lack of dandruff also makes
them hypoallergenic. The thick layer of hairs can make them feel uncomfortable
in summer in places where the weather is warm, where they prefer indoors as the
air is colder. Her hair also acts as a natural repellent against lice and
ticks. The hair can reach about 15 cm.
Temperament
An active Samoyed
The Samoyed's
willingness to play makes him an inadvisable dog as a guardian. However, with
its tendency to bark it can be a good watchful dog, since it will bark when
something or someone approaches its territory. Properly socialized it is a good
companion dog for young children and even other dogs, maintaining a jovial
character until old age. They are known to be somewhat foolish at times and
difficult to train, so they must be trained with patience and perseverance if
they are to obey the orders given to them. Due to his heritage as a sleigh
shooter, he has no problem throwing objects or people, so an untrained Samoyed
will pull his owner on a leash when he is taken out for a walk, instead of
walking alongside him . They instinctively act like herding dogs, so when they
play, especially with children, they will tend to try to steer them in a
different direction. This breed is characterized by its alert expression.
Health
They have a lot
of vitality, so they take care of their youth and that jovial spirit until
their old age. Their average life span is 12 to 13 years, 8 although some may
live a little longer. Being a working breed, they have excellent endurance and
without daily exercise, they will become bored and / or depressed, which can
lead to excessive barking, destroying, or behavior worthy of an escape master.
Although they are healthy dogs, they tend to certain diseases.
Hereditary
glomerulopathy
They may be
affected by a genetic disease known as "Samoyed hereditary
glomerulopathy", a kidney disease. The disease is known to be caused by a
faulty recessive allele linked to the X chromosome, making the disease more
severe in males. Carrier females develop mild symptoms after 2 to 3 months of
age, but do not develop kidney failure. The disease is caused by a defect in
type IV collagen fibrils of the glomerular basement membrane (MBG). As a
consequence, the collagen fibrils of the glomerular basement membrane are
unable to form crosslinks, so the integrity of the structure is weakened and
the membrane is more susceptible to wear and tear damage. As the basement
membrane structure begins to degenerate, plasma proteins are lost in the urine
and symptoms begin to appear. Carrier males appear healthy for the first three
months of their lives, but symptoms begin to appear and worsen the disease
process: the dog becomes sluggish and the muscles waste, as a result of
proteinuria. From three months on, the glomerular filtration rate can be
detected, indicating progressive kidney failure. Death from kidney failure usually
occurs at 15 months of age.
As there is
currently no test available to detect Samoyed hereditary Glomeropathy, females
known to be carriers of the disease should not be used for breeding. If a
female carrier and a healthy male are crossed, puppies have a 50% chance of
being carriers of the disease.
Other health
problems
Hip dysplasia is
also a problem that can occur as well as cataracts and glaucoma, in addition to
other retinal problems. They are prone to diabetes, which can appear when the
owners are not careful.
Care
When you shed
your hair, most of the outer layer falls off and is replaced, the old one can
fall out in large bunches, leaving gaps in extreme cases. The hair can be
brushed with a metal comb, so we can speed up the shedding process and help the
Samoyed to regain its appearance more quickly. Brushing it frequently will help
keep it from getting tangled. Giving the Samoyed a bath is a long process, as
the hair is almost "waterproof", so it will take time for it to be
completely wet and then completely wet. The Samoyed's hair should be dried with
forced cold air (using a hair dryer), as water can get trapped in the undercoat
of thick hair making it difficult to evaporate. Drying the Samoyed also reduces
hair tangling due to wetting of the undercoat. It is important to rinse well,
as the remaining shampoo or soap can lead to a fungal infection, difficult to
eliminate without having to shave the affected area. To keep the Samoyed's hair
radiant, brushing and a healthy diet cannot be underestimated.
Samoyed dog
breed, a lovely furry
Where do we
start?
If you are
interested in the breed of Samoyed dog, this is the first thing you need to
know:
Height: 53 - 57
cm.
Weight: 20 - 30
kg.
Life expectancy:
14 years.
Ideal lifestyle:
houses, sports, hiking, children ...
history of the
samoyed dog breed
The origin of the
Samoyed dog is located in the area between Siberia and northern Europe. It was
at the time of the Russian tsars by the Samoyed tribes, who give the breed its
name. They managed to raise and develop a dog not only capable of pulling
sleds, but multifaceted and that helped them in all kinds of daily tasks.
The Samoyed breed
of dog inherited a great robustness from its ancestor, the northern wolf. This
made the Samoyed a perfect dog for hunting, shooting, guard and protection and
even a sheepdog. On the other hand, they found in the Samoyed breed a dog of
excellent character, a perfect companion animal.
As the areas in
which the Samoyed dog breed developed are so remote, this is considered one of
the oldest purebreds known to humans. It is believed that, once settled, the
Samoyed dogs never crossed wolves again, retaining their purity.
How did the
Samoyed breed of dog get to the rest of the world?
How the Samoyed
Dog Breed Came to the Rest of the World
Ernest
Kilburn-Scott is believed to have been the first interested in importing
Samoyed dogs into England, and it was he who set the standards for this breed
for the first time. The first Samoyed dog he acquired was called Sabarka,
"the fat one." He got it in Russia, as a gift for his wife. Shortly
thereafter, the family acquired a female and began crossbreeding of Samoyed
dogs in England, gradually increasing their popularity among dog lovers, to the
point of being highly appreciated at dog shows.
Already in the
20th century, the recognition of this dog, a breed with a Samoyed name, was
finally made official. A few years later, the Samoyed Fan Club was created. But
it did not stop there! In 1902, Mercy d’Argenteau, Belgian princess and
countess, traveled to St. Petersburg and attended a dog show where, guess what?
fell in love with a specimen of the Samoyed dog breed; the Russian monarchy
decided to give it to him. The countess ended up so in love with the Samoyed
that she ended up having up to four of them. And best of all ... is that he
emigrated to the United States and took them with him! She managed to enroll
them in canine beauty pageants and that thanks to her dogs the Samoyed breed
was registered in the American Kennel Club.
And we already
know that everything that becomes popular in the United States expands
everywhere! Today, the Samoyed breed of dog is known and appreciated by many in
all parts of the world.
Physical
characteristics of the Samoyed breed dog
What physically
characterizes the Samoyed breed dog
The Samoyed breed
dog is an arctic spitz type dog, of medium size in its adult stage. It has a
strong, resistant and robust appearance, but without neglecting elegance.
The Samoyed has a
very well-proportioned head with a wedge-shaped body and a slightly convex
skull. Its muzzle is not very wide, but it has a fairly developed truffle and
is usually black. The eyes are dark, almond shaped and somewhat oblique. The
ears of the Samoyed breed dogs are upright and small in proportion to their
body.
The body is, as
we said, medium in size but very powerful. Both the back and the legs of the
Samoyed are very strong. It is entirely covered with dense, soft and long hair,
typical of polar dogs. There are several colors accepted in Samoyed breed dogs;
the most popular and appreciated is pure white, but they can also be cream or
white and light brown. It should never give the impression of being very dark;
Although there is a variety of shades, the lightest should be the main one in
the dog. The Samoyed dog's body ends with a large, well-covered tail.
The Samoyed breed
dog and his character
The Samoyed is a
breed of dog known for having an extremely affable character and attached to
its human family; loves pampering and games and gets along well with children.
On the other hand, it is a very self-confident and very intelligent dog. If
given all the exercise he needs, the Samoyed will be able to adapt to life in
an apartment, despite its size.
If you want a
watchdog, the Samoyed breed is perfect as these dogs are barkers when they are
active or on alert. However, this can be a disadvantage if you only want one
pet. Anyway, never forget that every dog must be educated; The tendency to
bark of Samoyed dogs can be neutralized with a good education.
Puppies of the
Samoyed breed
Talk about dog
training! Puppies of the Samoyed breed can be very mischievous, biting
everything they find in their way ... They will need you to teach them not to
bite what they should not so that they do not destroy your furniture. As we
said, it is an intelligent dog, so do not worry !, learn easily, respond very
well to positive training.
Caring for a
Samoyed breed dog
Like any other
dog, in order for our Samoyed to live long and have the best quality of life
possible, we must start by giving them a good quality diet and in appropriate
doses. We recommend that you consult a veterinary professional to recommend the
most appropriate rationing for your furry friend.
Regarding education,
it is also important to start as soon as possible. From the moment a dog enters
a home, we must begin its training, so that we can mold the character of the
Samoyed to our needs so that its behavior is appropriate in the future.
The Samoyed breed
dog is very active, so it needs a good amount of physical exercise every day.
Various active walks, combined with canine games and / or sports can complete
the physical development of our friend.
To finish the
care of the Samoyed breed dogs, we have to comment on the need to brush their
hair frequently. Three to four times a week is the most appropriate; In the
molting season, it is best to do it daily to prevent dead hairs from being
scattered around the house. In this way we will make the Samoyed dog's hair
look healthy, beautiful and strong. Dog bathing should not be very frequent, as
it damages its natural layer of skin protection. Ideally, bathe them every 4-6
weeks or when they are really dirty.
Samoyed breed dog
health problems
Samoyed breed
dogs often have health problems
Well-groomed
Samoyed breed dogs tend to be very long-lived, being able to live up to
approximately 15 years. But like all dog breeds, they can develop some health
problems.
As is common
among large dogs, Samoyed dogs can suffer from hip dysplasia. This can happen
due to too exhaustive or inadequate exercise. Progressive retinal atrophy is
also common.
To a lesser
extent, muscular problems, dwarfism, albinism, deafness or pulmonary stenosis
can also be observed in Samoyed dogs. On the other hand, they can also inherit
allergies and a propensity for rashes and skin irritations from their parents.
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