Grooming
Because of their double coat, Siberian Samoyeds look like white balls of fluff. With all this fur comes quite a bit of shedding year-round, although they’ll shed ridiculous amounts once or twice a year in the fall and spring. (People make sweaters from their shed wool!) To remove dirt and loose hairs and keep your Samoyed looking spiffy, brush their coat at least two to three times a week. Daily brushing is even better. Grooming tools that can help are a long hair de-shedding tool like this one from FURminator and a metal dog comb for removing and preventing mats.
If you think it would be easier to shave your Samoyed puppy, just don’t do it. Their double coat is weather-resistant, protects them from the heat and cold and helps them regulate their body temperature. Plus, the fur may not grow back correctly, and a shaved Sammy is susceptible to sunburns and overheating.
Start brushing your Samoyed’s teeth at an early age working your way up to once every day. Daily brushing helps keep their teeth healthy, and healthy teeth prevents periodontal disease and other health conditions down the road. And once a year, make sure your vet gives them a professional cleaning.
Trim their nails every three to four weeks. You’ll know it’s time when you hear them clicking on your tile floors. While you’re giving them their “paw-dicure,” be sure to trim the fur between their toes.
Sammies should be bathed at least twice a year, though more frequent bathing may be needed if you’ve got an especially active pup. The best time to bathe your dog is right after you’ve brushed out their wooly undercoat. In between baths, you can keep the coat clean by toweling off your dog when they come inside (or, if they’re really dirty, before they come inside). When you or a professional groomer bathes them, thoroughly dry their coat using a high-velocity, dog-safe blow dryer to dry them out quickly.
Close
Training
Because Samoyeds tend to be more independent—and a bit mischievous—start their training as early as possible, so they learn to listen to you. Basic obedience skills like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash are critical to helping your pup know how to be a well-behaved member of the family. When training your Sammy, remember to focus on what they’ve done right and reward them with lots of treats, toys and praise. At the same time, you need to be firm and consistent. Don’t be swayed by their infectious and perpetual smile!
Great training activities for your Sammy will involve their minds and their noses. Try a snuffle mat, like this one from Paw5, to engage their minds, to get them solving problems (how do I get that treat?) and to practice scent work. A pet cot is a great training tool, too; it provides a place to practices commands like sit and stay and is a great place to relax on. Some, like the K&H Coolin’ Cot, allows air to flow through the cot to the dog to help cool them off, which is a handy feature to have for your Samoyed in warmer temperatures.
Close
Diet
Samoyeds should be fed a high-quality dog food designed for their age, whether they are a puppy, adult or senior. High-quality ingredient diets will be beneficial to Samoyeds, and may also help prevent tear stains, hot spots and skin allergies. Your vet can help you pick one best suited for your pup’s lifestyle.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on their calorie intake and weight. And remember: Treats equal calories! Those extra calories can add up and contribute to weight gain. Lastly, be sure you keep their water bowl full all day so they can hydrate whenever they need.
Check with your vet if you have any questions about mealtime. They are in the best position to help you choose the right food and portions for your pup.
Close
Exercise
Samoyeds are highly active dogs who want to keep up with you. In truth, you’ll probably be the one doing all the “keeping up.” These working dogs have high energy levels and need up to two hours of exercise every day. This is easier for them to accomplish in cooler climates—they can run for miles, enjoy hikes, and go all day at games of fetch (the right fetch toy, like this Chuckit! Classic Launcher toy, is key). Sammies love playing with their family in a fenced yard or going on long walks. Be warned: They have a tendency to run off and explore, so if you’re not in a fenced area, make sure they are on a leash.
If you enjoy running, you’re in luck! Samoyeds make good running partners—and they’re fast. Sammies can get up to speeds over 30 MPH, but they’re happy to jog at a more leisurely pace alongside you.
Sammies are also good at dog sports, so if you’re into a little competition, try agility or obedience. You could also play to their instincts and get them into herding, sledding, flyball or skijoring (or bikejoring when it’s warm out).
Be mindful of playtime in warmer weather. Remember, those coats are thick! Plan your walks and other outdoor activities in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler. You may consider moving more of their “activity time” to indoor games where the AC runs cold.
Close
Environment
Samoyeds are super social and super adventurous, and their ideal home is with like-minded people. They love outdoor adventures (especially snowy ones) just as much as they love playing with their family and friends.
They’re true attention seekers, which means they’re not always crazy about sharing the limelight with other pets or people. But they’re not particularly territorial, either—they just want to play with everyone around them!
Samoyeds do well with other dogs in the home—especially when they’re a similar size—although again, they often do better when they’re not the only dog. They may not do as well with smaller animals like cats, since they have a strong chasing instinct. However, if you socialize your Samoyed puppy with cats, they’ll be more used to and accepting of each other.
Younger children and babies could be challenging since Sammies may treat them like a playmate and accidentally injure them. Samoyed dogs do great with older kids; generally, a younger Samoyed would do better with older kids, and an older Samoyed would complement a kid of any age. As with all dogs, be sure to teach any children in your Sammy’s life how to gently and respectfully play with pups.
Their attention-seeking ways means they don’t like being alone for long, either, so it’s best if someone is home with them for most of the day. Samoyeds don’t enjoy games of Solitaire; if you leave them in the backyard or the home by themselves for too long, they’ll get bored and create their own entertainment, usually by destroying things or digging up your bushes.
Since the Samoyed dog breed was bred for frigid cold temperatures that last for months, they are ideally suited for cooler climates. Your Sammy will truly prosper and shine during the frosty days of winter. However, their coats can handle a range of temperatures, so they are fine in warmer weather as long as you take precautions to keep your pup from overheating. While they’ll do OK in smaller homes or apartments, Samoyeds love outdoor activity, so a home with a fenced yard is their dream spot.
Close
