Samoyed

The Samoyed is believed to be one of the world's oldest breeds. It was the breed that traveled with the nomadic Samoyedes people of Russia as they hunted and fished their way over Siberia. Their dogs had to be versatile: they served as watchdogs and they hunted (there is documentation of their even hunting polar bear!); they were used in teams to pull sleds full of supplies. They were the constant companions of these people, sharing their campfires and food; they herded the tribe's captive reindeer; they were the bedwarmers for families through the cold Siberian nights. Many of the qualities that were undoubtedly bred into these dogs to serve them well in their ancient roles still survive to make the breed special today. The Samoyed is intensely people-oriented and affectionate, but is a good watchdog. It is sturdy, compact and capable of great endurance. Its heavy bone structure gives it extra strength and the deep chest gives room for good lung capacity, adding to its stamina. Its dense, heavy coat protects it both from extremes of cold, and from sunburn. The Sami's coat is double, made up of a coarse outer coat of long silvery guard hairs, and a dense woolly undercoat. There is a pronounced ruff around the upper chest and neck. The outer coat serves well to protect it from environmental dirt, debris and parasites (such as ticks and fleas). The undercoat is so soft and woolly that the Samoyedes have traditionally spun it like sheep's wool and used it to make warm clothing. The fur of the Sami once came in a variety of colors, but the modern dog is always some combination of white and "biscuit"� and many appear upon first sight to be entirely white. The Samoyed stands from 19"� to 24"� at the shoulder on average, depending upon sex of the individual, and weighs up to 70 pounds. It has an alert, content and very friendly expression: indeed, its characteristic "Sami smile"� is described within its standard. The American Kennel Club recognized the Samoyed in 1909 , where it is categorized as part of the Working Group. Recent DNA research suggests that the Samoyed dog was living and working in Siberia around 3,000 years ago. The earliest documentation of the unique, hardy working dog of the Siberian nomads occurs in the 17th century. As explorers began to travel through recent centuries, north over the most desolate, harsh terrain of Asia, there continued to be occasional mention of the large, friendly furry dogs that pulled the sleds of the natives. The heyday era of the great expeditions to the Arctic brought the Samoyed into further use as the most coveted of sled dogs, and its fame continued as it was chosen for expeditions to the Antarctic as well. It became the preferred worker of the famous explorers of the time as they uncovered the harshest and remotest reaches of the world: Jackson, Harmsworth, Duc d'Abruzzi, Shackleton, Scott and others. It was only in 1889 that explorer Robert Scott was able to procure some of the dogs while in Siberia, and take them back to Europe, where they were instantly an object of great interest amongst those of the upper classes, who began to give specimens of the breed as gifts. They soon caught the attention of England's Queen Victoria. (Samoyed descendants of those belonging to that nation's famous dog fancier are still found in top lines today.) In 1904 a Russian noblewoman visited the United States and brought her Samoyed companion dog with her, and thus the breed was introduced to America. The Samoyed is a working dog and needs considerable exercise to stay both physically and emotionally fit; like most working dogs, it can become destructive and unmanageable when denied adequate outdoor exercise. However, it is ultimately wired to be a close companion to the human pack, and it can live happily either on a farm with acreage or in an apartment, where it is surprisingly docile. This dog should be walked on a leash, since it is not likely to be totally reliable to come when called. It should be confined within a high fence, but the owner should take care that the fence is secure and should check periodically that the dog isn't digging a tunnel under the fence. Care of the Samoyed requires an owner with a casual attitude toward dog fur on the furniture. The Sami's coat sheds moderately year round, and heavily seasonally, when it "blows"� its undercoat. During these periods, bathing can assist the owner in removing excess dead coat, as can daily brushing. The prospective owner of a Samoyed should understand that the coat will need time-consuming attention, not only to keep it looking good but to keep the dog in a healthy condition. Frequent brushing as often as several times per week is required all year round because the Samoyed's coat is fine and silky in areas and prone to matting, particularly in the undercoat. Allowing mats to form can cause continuous pain to the animal and encourage the start of skin infections. The owner or handler should begin by using a comb to first untangle a particular section of the coat, and then brushing that section thoroughly from root to end before going on to the next section. The Samoyed must be taught as a puppy to tolerate grooming. This is an exercise in patience, because the young Samoyed is extremely playful. But failing to teach this routine when the dog is young creates an enormous problem when the dog is grown and more difficult to control. Samoyeds, like many large dogs, can be prone to hip dysplasia when breeding is not experienced and selective. Occasionally they also present with Von Willibrand's Disease. But they are generally a healthy breed, and although average lifespan is about 10-13, it is not uncommon for individuals to reach 15 or 16 years of age. The Samoyed is one of the world's friendliest breeds, great with other household pets and other canines. This breed is famous for its love of children, although a small child could be easily overwhelmed by the Samoyed's playful exuberance.

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