"Friendly, Gentle, Adaptable."

The Samoyed is a gentle dog; very devoted, friendly, and playful. They love to make friends with anyone and everyone. They make terrible guard dogs, as they will run up to make friends with any stranger; though their bark will alert you to any outside presence. They can be trained not to bark, but they absolutely love to talk. We teach our Samoyeds to "awoo" instead.   

Samoyeds are highly adaptable, and they do well with positive training and a firm leader. They can be very stubborn if not given direction, and they can lose interest easily. They are highly intelligent, and can compete in the whole array of sports if given enough training. They work incredibly well in teams, and can get along easily with any member of the family, including children and other dogs. They will also attempt to befriend cats. However, they do have an instinct to hunt very small animals (such as rodents, birds, reptiles, etc.) and should be supervised around them at all times.  

Two problem behaviors to watch out for are chewing and barking. A bored Sammy will seek out entertainment, and - if not trained properly - that could mean your shoes. They should be taught from a young age the difference between toys and precious belongings by rewarding for playing with toys and limiting their exposure to non-toys. Samoyeds also love to talk, but this may get annoying for their human owners. Thankfully, they come equipped with multiple talking features that can be picked from and trained into, including howling, squeaking, and our personal favorite - the "awoo". Be prepared to be talked to early in the morning or whenever they want something.

Samoyeds are not velcro dogs, but they do need to be indoor dogs. They are actively social, and will want to spend time by your side. They need love, attention, and lots of petting to stay happy. They want to be where the action is, even if that just means sitting by your computer, though they can also appreciate personal space and independence on occasion. If they don't melt your heart with that classic Sammy Smile, then they will force their muzzle under your hand to receive pets. They need to be part of the family.

Their coat is long and coarse, consisting of a long outer coat and a short fluffy undercoat. This undercoat falls out almost completely once or twice per year (usually the spring and fall), and this is when they will do the majority of their shedding. They will need brushing at least once per month or every other week, though much more during the shedding seasons. It is recommended to buy a velocity dryer and blow their coat out completely on high pressure 1-3 times every shedding season, or you can also take them to a professional groomer to have this done.  

Do NOT shave a Sammy coat. Ever. Shaving the coat will cause it to grow back thick and matted, and can result in alopecia (hair loss). There is no reason for it, as their coat is insulted and keeps them both warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We live in Arizona, which is known for having record high temps, and our Samoyeds do just fine as indoor dogs. As long as you aren't taking your dog on hour long hikes in the afternoon with no water, they will be fine.  

Samoyeds, just like any dog, will benefit from being bathed and having their nails trimmed regularly. The biggest difference in grooming, though, is that their coat is self-cleaning. They are considered a hypoallergenic breed because dirt and dander don't stick to the coat easily, and after a long romp in the mud you may be surprised to find your Samoyed looking clean again after a few hours.  

It is also recommended that you learn how to trim their feet, as the hair on top of their feet and in between their toes can get pretty long from time to time, resulting in what we like to call "grinch feet". This can be done with salon scissors and a brush. Though not necessary for their health, it does help them look fresh and clean. If you have questions on this, we're happy to walk you through it.   

Our puppies learn to have manners for grooming from their first few weeks of life, but it is important that you continue to practice this at home or with a professional groomer. It will be much easier to de-shed a calm, happy dog than a scared, wild one.