How to Care for a Samoyed

Originally hailing from Siberia, the fluffy Samoyed (a member of the Spitz family) was first bred to herd reindeer, pull sleds and keep their owners warm at night. And nowadays -- even though they're more likely to be pulling in the newspaper than pulling a sled -- "loyal, intelligent, friendly and great companion" still define this breed. And although they are relatively healthy dogs -- you will still need to know the following things about Samoyed care -- to make sure they keep that big ole "Sammy smile."

Instructions

1. Take your Samoyed for regular health checkups, including eye exams. Do a monthly home exam of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, teeth and gums.

2. Stay current on vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative.

3. Spay/neuter your Samoyed. Spaying your female before the first heat will prevent breast cancer and uterine infections. Neutering your male at a young age will prevent testicular cancer, help maintain a healthy prostate and curb aggression.

4. Have your Sammy's teeth cleaned professionally once or twice a year. Check with a vet or teeth-cleaning professional for a recommended schedule.

5. Feed your Samoyed a quality diet with the proper nutritional balance. If feeding a commercial dog food, choose a quality natural brand. If feeding a homemade diet, research what foods and food combinations are best.

6. Bathe your Samoyed about every three months. Since their white coat has a tendency to show dirt, you can blow dry and brush the dirt out in between baths. Keep the nails trimmed to a comfortable length; every few months during bath time is a good schedule.

7. Brush your Samoyed's thick double coat regularly and more frequently during heavier shedding periods. A metal pin brush works best. Grooming is important for keeping your Sammy comfortable in hot weather; therefore a visit to a professional groomer may be a good idea.

8. Provide regular exercise and activity for your Samoyed including a daily walk or jog. They are energetic indoors and will do OK in an apartment or with a small yard, provided they get sufficient exercise.

9. Use motivational rather than repetitive training with your Samoyed; due to their intelligence and a "mind of their own" they get bored with the same thing over and over and require motivation.

Tips & Warnings

• Although originally bred for cold climates, Samoyeds can adapt to any climate. However, as with any dog, make sure they are well-insulated in cold weather and have plenty of water and shade or air conditioning during warmer weather.

• Samoyeds like nothing more than bonding with their family (pack). Spend quality time with them and return their affections.

• There are Samoyed rescues throughout the United States that list dogs available for adoption on their websites and would be happy to answer any of your questions about training and behavior issues. Petfinder.com also lists Samoyeds up for adoption throughout North America (see Resources below for some links).

• The Samoyed has a tendency to bark a lot and alert you when someone is approaching, but usually warms up to strangers quickly.

• Samoyeds have a tendency toward separation anxiety and destructive behavior such as chewing and barking if left alone for long periods. Since the Samoyed is such a sociable dog you might consider a pet sitter or doggie daycare if you work full time.

• Samoyeds tend to have a strong chasing instinct which can include kids on bicycles, joggers, cars, cats and other fleeing creatures. Make sure your fence is strongly secured.

• Never shave or clip your Samoyed; this puts them at risk of skin irritation and sunburn. Their coat acts as insulation during both cold and hot weather.

• The breed may be predisposed to: hip dysplasia, skin allergies, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and diabetes. (It's always best to get dogs from responsible breeders that you visit in person or from rescues and shelters, which normally screen for health issues.)

Resources

• National Samoyed Rescue
• Samoyed Rescue Alliance
• Petfinder.com