Samoyed
The upturned mouth stops it drooling, which would freeze in Siberia, and it is why it looks like it is smiling. It herded reindeer and slept in the tent.
Overview
The Samoyed was bred by the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia to herd reindeer, haul sledges and sleep with the family for warmth, and that last job explains the temperament: this is one of the few northern breeds selected for being safe and affectionate around people.
The permanent upturn at the corners of the mouth, called the Sammy smile, is functional: it stops the dog drooling and forming icicles in extreme cold.
Temperament
Friendly, gentle and thoroughly social. Samoyeds are excellent with children, sociable with strangers and other dogs, and they are useless as guard dogs.
They are vocal, with a wide range of talking noises and a substantial bark, and it is a real consideration. They are also independent and stubborn, with poor recall and a genuine prey drive. They do badly left alone and a bored Samoyed digs and howls.
Care and grooming
A thick white double coat that needs brushing two or three times a week and daily during the two enormous moults, which last weeks. It should never be shaved.
Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy, a kidney disease, has a DNA test and is specific to the breed. Hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and diabetes also occur. Twelve to fourteen years.
Living and exercise
An hour and a half to two hours a day. They pull, and harness sports suit them.
Heat is a serious problem for a dog built for Siberia. The coat, the noise and the shedding are the three things owners consistently underestimate.
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