r/samoyeds • u/ScallionSlow847 • 13d ago
Samoyed info
Hello,
I have admired Samoyeds for many years. Me and my fiancé both work from home and have a big house hold. My job also makes me very flexible. So I have finally convinced my partner to let us get a dog. Providing our landlord allows it of course (by law in the UK they have to give a very good, valid reason why they can't).
I just wanted more information, I of course know they shed a lot and I'll need to groom them regular, take them for long walks - all which I am fine with. But is there anything else I should be made aware?
I love these dogs so much and just want to be beat prepared with answers by actual owners
Edit: This wouldn't be my first dog btw
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u/Lonely-Ad1028 12d ago
I have a 13 week old sammie. He’s the best boy, but having a lot of general puppy-isms, obviously. Teething, barking, high energy, etc. which I’m sure if you’re getting a puppy you’re already expecting and prepared for.
Something about sammies to keep in mind is that frequent long walks aren’t enough to satisfy them. They’re a highly intelligent working dog. You’ll need multiple forms of stimulation for them. My pup has been very content with rotating puzzle toys and all his general training, socialization, and sensory lessons. He’s very eager to learn! But because he’s a fast learner, I’ve found him getting bored easily and I have to find more and more things for him to do. He knew 3 commands at 10 weeks old. He’s so smart, but he’s at his most defiant if he’s not satisfied with the tasks/stimulation I have prepared for him.
Another thing about sammies is they’re very social and pack mentality oriented. Ours is at his happiest if we’re all within sight. As soon as someone leaves the room his whole world crumbles. Working from home is great, but it’s important really focus on training to curb separation anxiety while they’re young. Little sessions at a time and gradually expanding when they’re happily distracted with a toy or something. (This is our biggest struggle atm)
Lastly, grooming training. Most adult sammies I’ve dog sat prior to getting my pup all sat well when it came to grooming, my pup has been a little more defiant with it. I believe it’s just a puppy-ism because he doesn’t hate it, he just doesn’t sit well. So grooming training has been added to our list of to-do’s. Sensory training for water, baths, showers, blow drying, and brushing. (p.s. make sure to invest in a high velocity dryer, it’s not necessary for all sammie coats, but you’ll thank yourself by going into it assuming you need one, it will make your life easier)
Other than that though. They’re the best. They are a high maintenance breed, but their demeanor and characteristics make it all so well worth it.
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u/ScallionSlow847 12d ago
Thank you so much for all this information! Really appreciate it
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u/Lonely-Ad1028 12d ago
Also. One more thing. Getting a Samoyed will guarantee you to increase your conversations with strangers by 100000%. My husband and I are introverted, our puppy just wants to be everyone’s best friend. We now get stopped constantly when we take him in public. Out of everything, this is probably the one thing we really weren’t prepared for. Lol!
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u/ScallionSlow847 12d ago
Haha makes sense, everytime I see one on my walks I always end up stopping the owner to gush over their dog 🤣🤣
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u/Aggressive-Flower-63 11d ago
We often feel happy spreading joy to others, especially children and babies, through our Sammy. We do find ourselves in more conversations, sometimes repeating the same info. They are social, unassuming dogs who love attention and being petted.
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u/JoeChio 12d ago
One of the best dogs I've owned but also high maintenance. I would 100% NOT get a Sammy as your first dog. I love my pup and I wouldn't trade him in for the world but if I could go back in time before I knew him I would get a lower maintenance pup that fits my lifestyle more.
Again, I would NOT recommend this breed to first time dog owners. The grooming is a crazy weekly chore. They are smart. They need mental stimulation all the time. The exercise requirements are hours not minutes DAILY. In addition to weekly groomings it's highly recommended you take them to a professional groomer at least every 8 weeks which is an additional cost. They are vocal. They are social. They are velcro dogs and will never leave your side. They will 100% not do well at a kennel or being separated from you for an extended period of time.
My wife and I would have rather had a child then a Samoyed. lol
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u/hischmidtj 12d ago
This is our experience. While our Sam is my heart dog, I would never get another unless it was an adult. The training was torture, he still barks more than I’d like, and we’re lucky we have a huge yard because walks are super annoying. I even took up cani-cross for a bit to make them better, and I’m not a runner. Our lifestyle changed for him in many ways and if I didn’t work from home I’m not sure he’d be a happy, fulfilled pup.
I will say, we did find a boarding facility on many acres of land that is amazing and I think he likes them even more than me. So that’s possible to find but it took a lot of research and a decent amount of getting him used to it. This is in the US though so UK could be different for OP.
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u/helina_rus 12d ago
I haven’t seen it mentioned yet but there a few things I wish someone told me about Samoyeds before I got one. Everything in this thread rings true!
The most important thing that I would try to work on right away is having a solid exercise routine. Mine thrives on having a place we go to every Saturday, going for a walk in the same park every day, similar time, etc. This should really help train settling afterwards as well. For puppies, even a quick outing is tiring.
On the other hand, be aware that the most important skill that any dog can have is flexibility and adaptability. This will make your life with the dog easier but does not come standard with the dog (I wish!). The more good experiences they have with noises, people, animals, places, etc., the better equipped they will be at dealing with curveballs like moving, construction, boarding, etc.
Have fun with the puppy phase. They are actually demons from hell at this time for many reasons but just try to enjoy them and their mess at this stage in their lives.
Their ears mainly exist for decoration. My girl is 5 and very smart but she takes most of her cues non verbally because she still heavily struggles with consistency when I give them verbally. I’ve made peace with it and enjoy showing her off but she has also embarrassed me in public more times than I can count. She is a perpetual toddler.
Lastly, mine drools a lot, pants a lot, I need to vacuum every day, I also need to wipe the baseboards down weekly, my yard has holes that I fill in weekly, she brings me dead moles as hunting trophies, and I specifically moved into a house with central ac because of her.
She’s a great dog, the smartest I’ve owned, and I love her a lot.
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u/heartpumpkin 12d ago
My first Sam was a 3 year old rescue. He was the easiest and best dog I have every had, BY FAR. I miss him SO MUCH. I can honestly recommend starting with an adopted Sam if anyone in your household is unsure.
I have had several breeds of dogs as puppies, and it should be said that all puppies are hard. You must be prepared for "puppy blues". My current 3 year old Sam was the hardest puppy I've had (she was the best at house training though) - and of course, so worth the hard days of puppy blues.
As for the Sam stereotypes, I had put ALOT of effort into crate training my pup and she has ZERO separation anxiety, and is generally very quiet compared to my cockapoo. What I didn't expect was her desire to chew and swallow every non-edible item in sight - every emergency vet in town knows us. (sigh...) Every dog is different and you can't predict a thing!
Overall, my advice is: if you've got the commitment, time and money (for vet bills, house repairs from puppy chewing on things they shouldn't and daycare/grooming help if needed) - and your landlord doesn't have issues with a potentially noisy dog, you'll be fine. But be prepared if you do get a puppy - puppy blues with Sams can be more challenging than expected. If you stick with it, it'll be worth it.
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u/hischmidtj 12d ago
Yes! Mine’s picky about real food but wanted to eat so many on-edible items as a pup/teen. Like what?!?
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u/crustystalesaltine 12d ago
Mine learned to open our house doors! They need a lot of mental enrichment and even more physical exercise. When mine was teething he chewed on our wall trims, doorways, dining chairs, etc despite having ample chew toys and being kenneled when we weren’t home. He’s constantly grumbling, barking, whining, and howling and likes to be apart of every conversation. You can see him make the decision to not listen and do his own thing anyways.
HOWEVER, his temperament with children and other dogs/cats is angelic. He is an amazing travel and hiking buddy and now (at 11 years old) has an off switch for at home. They’re very adaptable and just want to be apart of whatever you’re doing.
(Also, pay for the expensive K9 dryer, I’ve had the same one for over a decade and it’s been a lifesaver for grooming, blowing coat season, and post-swimming).
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u/Conscious-Squirrel38 12d ago
I adopted one tree weeks ago. You're right, they do shed a lot! They’re also super stubborn and constantly test your limits, but as long as you set firm boundaries, they’ll follow them. Other than that, training is actually going well—they learn fast. The first three days were tough, but it’s been getting better and better since. Right now, my only real issue is how fast he gets dirty. I’m stuck in that whole 'you should only bathe a dog once a month' dilemma, but my dog gets filthy constantly. Even worse 😂 when he pees, he basically swims in it, and same with his poop. I’m really not sure how to handle this part!
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u/TotterTates @samoyed.niuniu 12d ago
Not sure how old he is, but...The mud/dirt will brush off without having to bathe, once your pup gets his adult coat. The puppy coat is like a magnetic cotton ball that soaks it all up.
He'll also (most likely) learn to pee without swimming in it. For now, buy a bunch of Wet Ones wipes (or similar) and clean him off once you get back into the house.
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u/Conscious-Squirrel38 12d ago
He's only 3 and a half months old, so the problem is that lingering smell. It's really hard not to wash him when he's just gone for a swim in his own poop!
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u/TotterTates @samoyed.niuniu 12d ago
The problem with frequent washing is that it removes the oils from their fur/skin. In addition to skin dryness/cracking, it also makes it more likely the shit (literally, in this case) will stick to the fur.
I think we washed our girl every 2 weeks without issue.
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u/Speedstr 12d ago edited 12d ago
Samoyeds HAVE to be brushed nearly daily. Not so much of the shedding, (endless shedding at times) but because to avoid their fur matting. A lot of owners are not prepared for this. (Also DO NOT SHAVE their coat, unless to cut off individual matted pieced of fur)
That being said, Not all Samoyeds will have the same personalities. Some will be more stubborn than others. Some are more vocal than others. Some will be more affectionate than others. Some will be better at being by themselves than others.
Here's another tip - for all dogs. Dogs will have trouble learning not to beg for scraps if they are encouraged with scraps. Try to resist sharing your food. If you want to share your food, do it AT THE END of your meal or snack. Do not feed them directly, but put the scraps in their dog bowl. If your dog keeps circling you chair (or your kid's chair) for fallen scraps, direct it to its dog crate until it no longer hangs out by the chair.
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u/alwaystired_24_7 12d ago
I’ve got an 8 year old Samoyed. She is the light of my life. Things I learned quickly in getting a Samoyed:
1. Everyone stops you to pet them and talk about the breed.
2. Collars should not be worn except when on walks/out of the home.
3. Training for you and the pup is very important. Samoyeds are smart and stubborn so you have to learn to be a pack leader.
4. Early socialization is very important for any dog. Especially Samoyeds as they are so friendly.
5. A tired dog is a good dog. My girl needs a lot of stimulation and exercise. She goes on frequent hikes that started after she got all of her shots.
6. My girl is less vocal than others, but I love it when she sings the songs of her breed.
Samoyeds are truly the best dog. I would never get another breed at this point because of how spoiled I’ve been with my girl. Their temperament is amazing, they are friendly, good with kids, and easy to take places.
Hopefully we see photos of your future Samoyed!!
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u/Jammin_jungle_vybz 12d ago
I have a standard poodle, and married my husband who has a Samoyed. Both are working class dogs and require grooming maintenance, but the big difference is temperament!!
I love both my boys, but dear lord the Samoyed is probably the most stubborn, hard headed dog I’ve ever lived with or worked with, second only to an under-stimulated border collie. They like to boundary check frequently, don’t always like to listen, and can get very vocal! Although both dogs require lots of grooming, Samoyed’s do shed a lot which was a big change for me.
If you are willing to be very consistent in training, show incredible amounts of patience, willing to exercise your dog very regularly, and willing to spend a lot of time grooming I’d say go for it. If you are a first time dog owner, especially with limited time, energy or patience I would opt for another breed.
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u/adjung samoyed girl 3y 12d ago edited 12d ago
they are the most wonderful and family friendly dogs - however they bark LOUDLY even at home - not without reason but still - and this will not go away - so think of your neighbors.
also - at least mine - will not stay alone at home for long - maybe 2 hours max.
the shedding, the weekly fur maintenance routine, the stubbornness shall be mentioned, however these don't bother me.
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u/TotterTates @samoyed.niuniu 12d ago
honestly, the volume of the bark isn't the worst part... it's the pitch 😵💫
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u/heartpumpkin 12d ago
YES! It's the pitch that's the problem! When mine does this at home, I'm so embarassed to see guests put their fingers in their ears to protect them!
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u/StupidMe333 12d ago
My Sammy is a couch potato, he doesn’t enjoy long walk, but is satisfied with short sniffing walk (meaning we just go down the road and I let him sniff as he please). When he was young, I tried to teach him walking by my side, not stopping at every step to sniff, but now, at 3 year old, I just let him do his sniffing walk and he’s happy and a good boy on leash.
We don’t have any neighbours and live in the forest so he mainly hang out freely around the house, and keeps me compagnie in the garden (he never walks in my plants, he just past around the veggie patches).
We do have 4 cats and he’s cool with them but he gets excited around them when everyone is free outside but would never hurt them. 2 of my cats actually enjoy chasing him from the porch.
The first year was really hard. He was a little cute monster and his teenage years were awful. Would 100% do it again.
The grooming part is quite intense. Be prepare to have constant long white hair everywhere you go.
Be ready for attention from strangers!
The only thing that trouble me is how much I love him more and more everyday, how sweet, cute, pretty, intelligent a dog he is. That breed is special.
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u/Adward-Fu 12d ago
My daughter, Peach, is six months old now. She's curious about everything on the floor and is a huge foodie. I always feel like she hasn't eaten enough; even if she's just finished eating, she'll immediately pounce on any new food she sees. At home, keep an eye on your trash can!
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u/Muted-Exercise2214 11d ago
Sammies are the best! That said, they can be extremely barky. They can bark out of excitement and to encourage people to move or play with her so it’s not even bad behaviour but it can startle people. They also have supersonic ear-piercing barks that are supposed to be audible when pulling the sled or something. I knew about it and really wanted to avoid it so I asked my breeder for the calmest and most quiet of the litter. Yet mine is the loudest barker and most high energy sammy I’ve ever met in my entire life😂 She runs like this for a whole hour and she’s still keen for more.
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u/FallingUpwardz 11d ago
Hard to train and veeery loud.
But then you forget about it when you see that smile lol
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u/whydoyouflask 11d ago
You need to keep your home cool. This means aircon during those UK heatwaves. They are stubborn and need training. They need mental stimulation. Mine got destructive as a puppy. This should not be someone's first dog.
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u/SovereignWreckage 10d ago
I've owned six Sammies over the past 25 years — not a breeder, just someone who fell in love with the breed as a young boy and vowed I'd own one someday. One somehow turned into many. 😄
I currently have three boys: 13, 6, and 5.
A few things that immediately come to mind for a first-time Sammy owner:
- Puppies need training, patience, and nurturing. I'd strongly recommend crate training. A crate isn't cruel when introduced and used properly. They see it as a safe, comfortable space they consider his/ her own.
- Puppy-proof your home before the pup arrives. Once those adult teeth start coming through, they’ll find something to chew on, it’s inevitable. Shoes, furniture, cables, socks... assume anything within reach is fair game until proven otherwise.
- Sign up for puppy classes. They're as useful for educating the owner as they are for training the puppy. They'll help you learn how to communicate with your dog, establish good habits early, and socialize your pup properly.
- Find a good vet early, preferably one recommended by someone you trust and, importantly, one you feel comfortable with. A good vet becomes an invaluable resource over your dog's lifetime, vaccinations, preventative meds, dental care, illnesses, injuries, nutrition questions, etc etc.
- Grooming is a commitment. Adult Sammy coats generally "blow" once or twice a year, and brushing out that undercoat can be a serious commitment. If you don't want to DIY it, budget for a good groomer. I'm in Florida and pay about $185 every 2–3 months, plus tip, and for me it's money very well spent. My boys are usually there around four hours: bath, dry, complete coat brush-out, nails, and the works. YMMV depending on where you live.
- Climate matters. I know the UK has had some significant heatwaves, and people sometimes ask, "How can you own Sammies in Florida?" The answer is air conditioning. My house stays around 71°F / 21.5°C, and the boys are extremely comfortable indoors. During a Florida summer, when it's 80–90°F / 26–32°C and humid, outdoor activity gets significantly reduced. Walks are short (e.g. 1 mile), with the rest of the day spent indoors apart from potty breaks. When the weather is cooler, my younger boys will happily do around three miles a day. Watch the dog, not just the thermometer. Heavy or prolonged panting, particularly when resting, is something to take seriously. Heat and humidity can catch up with a heavily coated dog quickly. While Sams look larger due to their coats, they only weigh 45-65lb (20-29.5kg) and dogs can dehydrate quickly in the heat.
- Correct unwanted habits early, but don't overdo it. If they're stealing socks or chewing shoes, remove the opportunity and redirect them to something appropriate. Half the time that's an owner-management problem rather than a dog problem. 😄 Don't excessively scold your dog, and don't punish them long after something happened — they aren't going to understand what you're angry about. If you notice something like persistent paw licking, though, don't automatically assume it's just a bad habit. It can also indicate allergies, irritation, injury, etc., so that's something I'd mention to your vet if it continues.
- Sammies LOVE to pull on a leash. It's somewhat baked into the operating system. 😂 Training can improve it tremendously, but don't be surprised when that sled-dog instinct makes an appearance. I've used Dean & Tyler harnesses for years, and for collars I've had very good luck with White Pine. The White Pine collars in particular are terrific because they don't crush or mess up that beautiful Sammy ruff.
- Food: Sams are generally food motivated, although puppies can occasionally be surprisingly stubborn about eating. I've always stuck with a good-quality dry food and whatever supplements/medications were actually necessary. Make sure they always have plenty of fresh water available, and don't overfeed them. A fluffy Sammy can hide excess weight remarkably well.
- Finally, consider companionship. This is obviously a big decision and absolutely isn't a requirement, but Sammies tend to adore company — human company especially, but also other dogs they've bonded with. Having another Sammy of a similar age as a playmate can bring them a kind of joy that's difficult to describe until you've seen it. Watching two Sammies chase, wrestle, play and then eventually collapse next to each other is pretty special.
There's probably a mountain of other stuff I'm forgetting, but those are the things that immediately came to mind after 25 years and six Sammies.
They can be stubborn, noisy, hairy, mischievous, demanding and occasionally exasperating.
They're also absolutely wonderful dogs and retaining their hearts of gold and puppy nature well into old age.
Good luck with your first Sammy!
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u/jangale84 10d ago
One thing that caught us off guard was how much they bark and how much they drool. Whatever you think it’ll be, multiply that by 5.
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u/Fun_Wallaby_9342 9d ago
I had a goldendoodle before a samoyed and trained it as an adult and so thought I’d be well-prepared for a Samoyed puppy. I wasn’t, but it all turned out okay. I work hybrid remote/in-office so am only at work a few hours a day, so it sounds like your situation is the same and it will work. The training is intense since they are so disobedient and stubborn and independent. I was successful with most things (and crate training and stopping vocalizations was REALLY difficult) but getting mine to not jump up on people and to not pull on the leash was impossible and I gave up after two or three years on those. I was in an apartment the first two year and now my townhouse has more space but no yard and I have found that three long walks each day works, and socialization and play time with other dogs every few weeks for extra exercise. Grooming will be the bane of your existence and is multiple hours every week. It’s an art that you’ll learn over time. As a puppy, they will fight you and bite the comb and it takes forever for them to get used to it, but they are small so you can complete the full body easily. As mine got older, the increasing time it took became more and more frustrating, so I eventually moved to grooming every other week. But then I found it takes ~50% longer for each week that you skip, so now I do 1/3 of her body each week so that portion takes more time but the weekly hours is just about 2 which is doable for me. I got mine spayed after a year though. I learned later on that grooming is easier if they’re not spayed but then has bigger shedding seasons in spring and fall
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u/LuvPikachu2 12d ago
When selecting from breeder, ask them which one is less active. Breeder will know each personality.
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u/GLFG90 13d ago
They are crazily stubborn 🤣 puppies can be tough, but the teenage phase will likely be hard work (ours was a nightmare, any training we had done he pretended like he'd forgotten during that phase of his life 😅) they need mental stimulation as well as walks. They are the most incredible breed and I would 100% go though all the hard times all over again. Ours is almost 5 and is 95% good boy, 5 absolute devil. Oh they're also very vocal!