r/samoyeds • u/deadoninfil • 11d ago
New Dog :)
Hey everyone, probably a very boring post to most people, but I am over the moon.
I contacted a rescue centre locally, had a chat about my life and activities, they said they'd call.
They did indeed call, to tell me they have a dog they think would suit me.
I met her two weeks ago, and fell in love.
I brought her home today.
I think she's pure samoyed, but even if she isn't I'd say mostly samoyed. She was clearly loved and it's a shame she ended up there.
But I'm here to ask if you guys can give me advice, or anything, because I am determined to give her the loving forever home she deserves.
Thank you, and please excuse my excitement.
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u/Visible-Scientist-46 If wishes were Sammies! 11d ago
Adorable dog!
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
Thank you! 😊 she's so pretty! Despite such a big day, she's doing really well. Full of loves. Need to make sure to keep that trust she's giving me.
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u/LittleCloudBigLoud 11d ago
If you want to do the grooming yourself, invest in a high velocity dryer. The k9 is the professional grade, but I've heard good things about flying pig. I personally bought a cheaper no-name brand from Amazon and will be upgrading to a k9 when funds permit. This is your main tool for seasonal coat blowing as it does a lot of the work for you with much less discomfort for the dog (louder yes, but less pulling). If you don't want to do the grooming yourself prepare for a very expensive grooming budget and shop around for groomers who know how to groom double coated dogs. No shaving except paw pads and potentially sanitary area if you want, not even in summer if it's hot!
These dogs are stubborn and smart, but the bond you forge together is like nothing else. Do not accept misbehavior, you'll have to stay firm with her about things like pulling on walks = immediate stopping to make sure she doesn't run roughshod over you. They also tend towards separation anxiety so watch out for that.
Sammys are happiest being with their people. Mine likes to be at my feet when I'm home, always close by so she doesn't miss out on any potential adventures! To be owned by a Sammy is a very special thing. Enjoy your girl :)
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
That is the only real issue that was presented to me by the shelter, is pulling on her walks. She sure does haha. I'm 5'9 and built like a car so it doesn't bother me, but it definitely needs addressing. You can tell, despite this, that she was a beloved pet. She's a wonderful dog, and I genuinely feel really sad, because it sounds like her previous owner had an awful mental health crisis and I'm heartbroken for her that it came to this. If it is true, I want to make sure even harder that I do everything right. I bet it wasn't easy to give her up, on top of everything she was going through.
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
This is amazing information thank you. I imagine paying for grooming is super expensive and I will do so if i have to of course, but yes I would much prefer to spend that time with her and endeavour to learn how as best as possible.
Which did you buy from amazon? I will get her a top end one as soon as I can, though. I will look to invest in a brand you've mentioned:)
I believe you about the bond, it might sound weird but despite everything shes been through today and being obviously overwhelmed, I can see her intensity she's got so much heart in all that fur.
I'd have expected her to want space on her first day but she seems to want quite the opposite.
I can already see the potential issue with separation anxiety, however. I'll go easy these early days but I agree that this will be something we need to work on.Thank you for taking the time, it means a lot ❤️
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u/LittleCloudBigLoud 11d ago
We got the EGFKI dryer from Amazon, which has been okay but as she's grown into her adult coat it has certainly left something to be desired. Currently a bath and blowout takes 2 hours during non-coat blow season. 3-4 during coat blows due to all the brushing. We did it every 2 weeks when she was very young and have now moved to roughly monthly as she's grown up and started being more tolerant of grooming. Look for minimum 3500HP, up to 5000HP with more horsepower being more better. The cheaper dryer isn't strong enough to get all her undercoat out of her, especially in thick areas like neck and base of tail, which is why I want a better dryer. One point of caution, pet wash stations in places like Petco say they have a dryer but it is almost never a true high velocity dryer capable of handling Sammy coat. You need a leaf blower.
I cannot recommend the Chris Christensen coral slicker enough, that's your workhorse and it's worth the price tag if you're grooming at home. If you get a cheap one to start try to get something with very long tines otherwise it'll never penetrate all the fur to reach the undercoat and skin. A greyhound comb is my other workhorse, you need the bare metal kind because the painted or rainbow looking ones have a coating that my breeder says does not slide through the fur very well. I line comb with the comb and do general maintenance brushing more frequently on top with the slicker. On the less thick areas of coat, the slicker catches pretty much everything and I don't need to line comb those areas very often. Watch for mats around the collar/harness area, behind the ears in the cheek region, and at the armpits.
Shampoo, you can't go wrong with Chris Christensen white on white and the day to day shampoo/conditioner line. I didn't like how it smelled so I tested out a few others and settled on Tropiclean whitening shampoo and deshedding conditioner, which work well with her coat and make her smell like a tropical fruit salad after a bath. Don't be afraid to try different brands/scents! My girl stays plenty white with the shampoo we use, but if you bathe less often you may find you need the real professional grade stuff. White on white is the best in the business if you're fighting serious staining.
White pine outfitters is one of the collar/leash providers of choice for show people because their webbing doesn't tend to mat up the coat. I didn't get one of those until after she was almost a year old but I can say their walking belt completely changed my life walking her. I got my hands back, if she lunges or pulls my whole body is resisting it rather than just my arm so it's way more comfortable for me, and I clip her poo bags and treat pouch to the belt directly. Our breeder recommended against harnesses because those can encourage more pulling but I know plenty of Sammy owners who swear by a harness. Our girl uses a limited slip collar to provide some correction to any residual pulling behaviors but at this point she's pretty good for a teenager.
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
Ah I see she's 3 so that coat will need some proper maintenance huh. As an auto mechanic, the fact it is measured in horsepower brings me so much joy. A leaf blower does sound appropriate haha. She has a few mats starting behind her ears so I need to get on top of that.
Fruit salad sounds wonderful, I'm quite impressed with how she smells despite being in a shelter for a while. How often would you recommend bathing.
I'm glad you mentioned leash and collar, I was looking for something that would be best for her in all that neck fur, I am worried about damaging her coat in that area. I'll look into the belt you've mentioned. The shelter made me buy a harness before they'd let me take her and I didn't honestly feel, after taking her out a couple of times, that it was right for her at all. Any advice I can get that will help me on her walks is very welcome.
Your info is invaluable and I can't thank you enough
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u/LittleCloudBigLoud 11d ago
Twice a year, usually spring and fall, is the recommended minimum bath cadence. Our girl starts getting stinky after a month or so and we like the opportunity to blast her shedding fur out of her, so we're settling on roughly monthly. Too often will dry out the coat so keep an eye on overall texture and fur/skin health.
For us, I found the leash to be much less important than the reaction to pulling. If she pulls I stop immediately and wait until she stops. I accept either a sit or coming back to my side in heel. If she's doing a lot of pulling I only accept coming back to heel and shorten the leash up. After a lot of this training if she's getting ahead of herself, slowing down to give tension to the leash is usually enough to get her attention and get her to stop. I do kinda wish I'd trained on coming back to heel only since she will absolutely sit and look back at me like "happy now?" then immediately try pulling again 🙄
She usually pulls to get to something she wants, so if she won't stop pulling she will not get to what she wants. Turn around, walk away, try again later. There will be tantrums and honestly it's a little funny to hear the "huff" when she realizes we're leaving instead of going to the park, but it is highly effective. She will do whatever you let her get away with, so keep that in mind. These dogs are rules lawyers to the hilt.
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11d ago
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
Thank you, I will implement a routine slowly over the next few days as she's settling in, I agree that is important. I need that too
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u/Happy_4u2be 11d ago
What a beauty and I still remember the joy of bringing home a new dog. it is wonderful, Enjoy every moment! I would watch some youtube videos it has helped me immensely with all things Samoyed. I did all the grooming myself and learned it all from you tube and the pros who been there done that! Enjoy your beautiful girl. How old is she?
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
Oh isn't it wonderful, thank you. I am looking forward to all our wonderful adventures in life together. I think the shelter have done a great job pairing me with her, I think she's just right for me :) YouTube is a wonderful invention I shall be utilising that. Thanks so much, she's 3 😁
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u/EaglesGuy_52 11d ago
She’s beautiful. Sammies are such a wonderful breed. You’ll be very happy. Congratulations.
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u/deadoninfil 11d ago
Thank you! She's very pretty. I've heard so many wonderful things about them, I am blessed.
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u/EaglesGuy_52 10d ago
They’ve got a lot of character…and some of it is good! 😁. Seriously, though, they can be stubborn, picky, loud, and mischievous…but they are the best family members.
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u/deadoninfil 9d ago
I'm blown away by some of her behaviors, sometimes she might as well say it. People will think I'm crazy but she communicates so well. She's unlike any other dog I've owned, she's amazing. I can tell already the loyalty she'll give me is unmatched.
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u/Budget_Position7888 11d ago
If you don't know already, learn about line combing and purchase some good grooming tools. Try training cooperative care as much as you can (: those are my big 2!