Samoyed puppies

About the Samoyed

The Samoyed was bred by the Samoyedic peoples of northern Russia and Siberia to herd reindeer, haul sledges and sleep alongside the family for warmth, which goes a long way to explaining how attached to people they still are. This is a medium dog of 15.9 to 29.5 kg and 48 to 60 cm, under a heavy double coat of harsh outer hair over a thick woolly undercoat, with the upturned mouth corners that give them their expression. Open friendliness towards everyone is a defining breed trait.

Energy is high and they want daily exercise plus company, ideally with a job of some kind attached. The coat sheds constantly and heavily during the seasonal blow, so daily brushing and a slicker or comb for mats become part of life. This is one of the noisiest breeds going, rated five out of five for barking, which rules out thin walled flats. They are rated five with children, with supervision and socialisation as always. Owners underestimate the roaming instinct, and a loose Samoyed will travel.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Samoyed puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• X-linked hereditary nephritis, also called Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy, detectable by DNA test
• X-linked progressive retinal atrophy (XL-PRA), detectable by DNA test
• Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Elbow dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Retinal dysplasia and other inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Uveodermatologic syndrome, an immune mediated eye and skin disorder, diagnosed by ophthalmic examination and skin biopsy

Your Samoyed puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Samoyed.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 29.5 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 29.5 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Samoyed

Previous: Saluki · Next: Schapendoes

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Samoyed breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/samoyed/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.