samoyeds

The Samoyed is a sociable, peaceful, and gentle dog. These powder puffs hail from Siberia, and were bred for hard work in cold environments. Commonly known as the "Sammy," these friendly pups love everyone and are great for families and children. They are easygoing, don't mind living in apartments (as long as there is air conditioning!), and are guaranteed to make friends with anyone they meet.

The Samoyed is a medium to large size breed that weighs 35 – 65 pounds and has a life expectancy of 12 – 14 years.  While Samoyeds are considered a generally healthy breed, they can be affected by a number of genetic conditions that can be minimized through health screening of potential breeding dogs.  Always contact your veterinarian as soon as you notice any physical or behavioral changes. 

Potential Health Conditions:

• Retinal Dysplasia (RD)/Oculoskeletal dysplasia 2 (RD/OSD, OSD2)

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy(PRA)

• Uveodermatologic Syndrome (UDS)

• Atrial Septal Defect (ADS)

• Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS)

• Pulmonic Stenosis (PS)

• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)

• Elbow Dysplasia (ED)

• Overweight, Obesity

• Dislocated Kneecap, Patellar Luxation

• Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy (SHG)

• Hypothyroidism

• Low Blood Sugar, Diabetes Mellitus

• Bloat, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) 

• Autosomal Recessive Amelogenesis Imperfecta, (ARAI)

• Arthritis, Osteoarthritis (OA)

• Allergies

• Ear infections, Otitis

Suggested Screening

• Ophthalmologist examination

• Cardiac examination

• Hip Evaluation

• Elbow Evaluation

• Retinal Dysplasia (RD)/Oculoskeletal dysplasia 2 (RD/OSD, OSD2) – DNA test

• Progressive retinal atrophy X-linked 1 (XLPRA1) – DNA test

Routine care:

• Spay or neuter

• Moderate exercise

• Weight management

• Routine dental care

The Samoyed is a double-coated that will shed year-round. It is important to routinely brush their coat to reduce the appearance of shedding to reduce matting. Not only do they require regular brushing to keep their coat healthy but to keep it bright white. White coats can easily become dingy-looking if not properly maintained. While you never want to over-bathe your dog, it is ok to wash them every 6-8 weeks or when dirty and to use a shampoo specifically made for white-coated dogs.