Happiness fills the life of the Samoyed and those around him. This breed of dog has a good character and loves being with humans and receiving affection. In addition to her beauty, she is characterized by her constant smile, notable intelligence, and her family-oriented personality.
- Medium size .
- Weight : Between 23 and 20kg.
- Hair type : White, long and straight.
- Character : Intelligent, kind and loyal.
- Health : Healthy.
- Life expectancy : Between 23 and 30 years.
This canine hates loneliness. If you leave him alone for a long time, he will be very unhappy. Its fur stands out, which in winter becomes a fairly thick layer to protect it from the cold and then falls off. This means that in the hot months, there will be a lot of hair scattered everywhere.
It sounds great, but not everything is positive with the Samoyed. Below we present all the details of this breed so that you know it well and have a complete idea if you are thinking of having it as a pet.
History and origin of the Samoyed dog
The Samoyed breed has an origin in the Siberian area of northern Russia , where it was used as a hunting companion, as well as to pull sleds for the Samoyed inhabitants, from which it takes its name. After the workday, the animals were taken home and included in family activities.
Since then, a closeness was created that gave rise to the trust and loyalty that characterize the breed today, with a sweet character and a lot of strength.
Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century , the Samoyed undertook foreign routes with the purpose of polar expeditions. These were very unforgiving routes that affected the dogs, so only the fittest and strongest came out alive.
The expansion of the breed occurred when the specimens were brought to the United States and England in the early 1900s. From then on, it became popular throughout the world.
Physical characteristics of the Samoyed dog
The Samoyed is characterized as a working dog that presents an image of beauty, alertness and strength . Shows agility , dignity and quite a bit of grace . Since it originated in cold climates, it has a heavy coat that resists low temperatures.
It has a strong outer coat and a soft, thick inner coat, known as wool. This dog's coat colors can be pure white, white and biscuit, and cream or biscuit .
Males can reach a size of up to 57 centimeters and females 53 centimeters. Their weight ranges from 23 to 30 kilos and their average lifespan is 14 years.
The Samoyed has strong and thick ears, erect, triangular and slightly rounded at the tips, which adjust to the size of the head. His particular expression is made up of a combination of eyes, ears and mouth: the ears raised and the mouth curved upward to form a smile.
Regarding the neck, it is strong, muscular and erect, located between the inclined shoulders, so its head stands out. The chest is deep, with the ribs well extended from the spine and flattened on the sides to allow adequate movement of the shoulders and freedom for the front legs. The legs are strong, robust and straight, but have flexibility so they work correctly.
Character and personality of the Samoyed dog
The Samoyed is a dog with intelligence, kindness and loyalty . He integrates easily with all family members, as long as he is treated with affection. He hates loneliness, so he prefers to be with someone at all times. He is not capable of being left alone.
Another point in favor of these canines is their sense of alertness, which makes them a great guard dog. Your house will be free of intruders because the pet will raise the alarm when necessary.
True to his primitive nature, he loves to hunt . A Samoyed will live by chasing small animals and will often sneak away when not on a leash. You should avoid leaving it loose in open places.
The character and personality of this dog will be marked by the factors that interfere with its upbringing, in addition to heredity, training and relationships with people.
Nutrition and health of the Samoyed dog
When feeding a Samoyed, its particular characteristics must be taken into account. The recommended daily amount of food for adults ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food, served in two servings.
Good results are obtained with a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or prepared at home with the supervision and approval of a veterinarian.
Samoyed puppies need slow and steady growth. They do well on a high-quality, low-calorie diet to prevent them from growing too quickly and developing problems.
Some dogs are prone to being overweight, so you should monitor your pet's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times.
If you want to keep your Samoyed in good shape, feed him only twice a day. Obesity is detected by looking at it from above; If you can see the waist, no problem. You can also touch his ribs; If you don't feel them at once, your dog may be overweight.
The Samoyed is a dog breed that is quite healthy ; However, it is exposed to some diseases that must be known and treated in time:
- Glaucoma : this is increased pressure in the eye; It can be hereditary or caused by decreased fluid caused by other eye diseases. It causes pain and loss of vision and the treatment, surgical intervention or drops, depends on the intensity of the disease.
- Hip dysplasia : It is an inherited condition characterized by the femur not fitting well into the hip. Pain and lameness in the hind legs are often observed in dogs.
- Hereditary glomerulopathy – a genetic kidney disease; In males it occurs in the first three months and patients die from kidney failure around fifteen months. Females, on the other hand, develop mild symptoms, without leading to kidney failure.
- Patella Luxation – A common problem that involves dislocation of the kneecap and often causes pain. Many dogs live normal lives despite having this condition.
- Hypothyroidism – A thyroid disorder that causes other diseases such as epilepsy, alopecia, obesity, lethargy, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma, and other skin conditions. It is overcome with medical treatment and a healthy diet.
- Diabetes mellitus : difficulty regulating blood sugar levels and causes weight loss. It is controlled with diet and insulin application.
- Progressive retinal atrophy – is the progressive deterioration of the retina that causes blindness or limited vision.
- Subvalvular aortic stenosis : a heart problem that causes fainting or sudden death.
- Cancer – This disease causes swelling sores, ulcers, bleeding, and difficulty breathing. Various treatments are applied to control it.
Many of these diseases are hereditary. For this reason, it is recommended to purchase specimens whose health is guaranteed. Likewise, the Samoyed should be taken to the veterinarian for a constant checkup.
Samoyed dog care
Apartments are not the right home for the Samoyed because these canines require a large garden in which they can put all their energy to work. Due to their nature of work they require plenty of space to play, explore, run and have fun.
It is recommended in cold climates and even more so if it can play in the snow, so its fur will not be favorable in hot places. On hot days, exercise should be avoided and kept cool with air conditioning.
If you plan to raise a Samoyed, you will have to follow special care that can be discouraging. Some of the recommendations are:
- Do not expose them to heavy work until they have reached two years of age. Stick to normal yard games and small agility drills.
- Brush daily when the coat is shedding and once a week when it is not.
- The bath is done every eight weeks or if it has become very dirty. Grooming includes soaking, rinsing with shampoo, and letting it dry thoroughly.
- Brush your teeth at least two to three times a week to avoid built-up tartar and bacteria that cause gum disease and bad breath.
- Trim your nails once or twice a month so you don't hurt yourself. Do not cut them too much, otherwise you will affect the blood vessels and cause bleeding.
- Check the ears every week for redness or bad odor, which may indicate an infection. They are cleaned with a mild liquid without reaching the inner ear.
This grooming and care routine should begin from the first months of life, making it a rewarding experience for your pet. Take advantage of the cleaning sessions to detect in time something that is not going well with the Samoyed's health .
Education and training of the Samoyed
Training a Samoyed could become a challenge . While it is true that this is an intelligent breed that learns quickly without problems, training must be done with the right attitude. He likes to be put to use his brain without so much boring repetition, so agility and tracking exercises are recommended.
Keep him mentally challenged with ongoing training and dog sports. When bored, it seeks to dig, nibble, or escape to entertain itself. Another important aspect has to do with socialization so that they learn to be friendly and get along with other dogs and people.
If the Samoyed is not socialized, it becomes shy . This is avoided by exposing him to unknown people, taking him for walks and giving him many different experiences.
As for dog manners, you may be able to teach them in your own home or opt for formal classes. These canines learn to obey as long as you have a good attitude when teaching it.
Despite being a friendly and intelligent breed, it is not easy to have a Samoyed as a pet. He is a very “talkative” dog and spares no effort to express his feelings with bellows, howls or loud barks.
You'd better keep him busy all the time so he doesn't resort to annoying or destructive behaviors that give you headaches. Even a trained and educated Samoyed could have a bad attitude if not given enough attention; In addition, it should never be left loose in open spaces because its hunting instinct leads it to escape to very distant places.
Conclusion
The Samoyed is a dog breed with a mischievous and playful character, which also does not hesitate to show a lot of affection to all members of the family. He gets along very well with children and other dogs, thanks to his ability to socialize.
He has an appearance of permanent happiness known as the “Samoyed smile”, since his mouth curves as if he were actually smiling because his eyes shine and his face lights up.
Its origin in the Siberian region gave it a thick coat that covers its entire body and protects it from the cold. A Samoyed owner must be clear that the dog requires an open space where he can satisfy his needs for exploration and physical activity every day. It has remarkable intelligence, so training will not be a problem.
It is worth having one of these canines that for generations have been a companion, work and security dog with great power and agility. As if that were not enough, the maintenance cost is medium because it does not need excessive care.
Despite all the benefits of this animal, it is recommended to think carefully before including it in the family to know if you are in a position to care for it as it deserves. You should also evaluate whether the Samoyed will give you what you are expecting from a pet.
Don't miss these articles:
