Samoyed
SAM-oy-ed
Russia· Siberia
The Samoyed is a dense-coated Siberian sledge and herding dog, instantly recognisable by its brilliant white coat and the upturned corners of its mouth that give it a permanent, so-called "Sammy smile".
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
60+ minutes daily
Home size suited to
Medium to large home
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush, hand-strip a few times a year
Coat length
Wiry
Sheds
Yes, heavily when moulting
Lifespan
12–14 years
Town or country
Happiest in the country
Garden size needed
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Samoyed
Named after the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia, the breed lived and slept alongside its herders, pulling sledges and guarding reindeer through some of the coldest inhabited regions on earth.
- Region
- Siberia
- Climate it was bred for
- Extreme Arctic cold
- Original job
- Herding reindeer, pulling sledges and guarding camps
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
5/5
How openly the Samoyed greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
Willing but can be vocal and stubborn about repetition.
Energy
4/5
Bred for sustained work; needs a proper daily outlet or becomes destructive.
Barking
4/5
Vocal breed, prone to howling and barking if bored or left alone.
Grooming
5/5
Thick double coat sheds heavily and needs brushing several times a week.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Samoyed is for someone taking on their first dog.
Sociability
5/5
Famously friendly, poor as a guard dog because it greets everyone.
Independence
3/5
Was bred to work closely with people, but has a self-sufficient streak.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Samoyed's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Colours & patterns
Recognised coats
Which coats the standard accepts — and which are simply popular.
Pure White
Standard colour
The classic, most recognisable Samoyed colour.
White and Biscuit
Standard colour
White with pale biscuit-coloured shading, especially on the ears.
Cream
Standard colour
An overall pale cream tone rather than pure white.
Outside the standard
Other colours
Dilute coats you will see advertised. They are the same breed, but no kennel club accepts them.
Biscuit
Not in the standard
Occasionally seen as a fuller biscuit shade but not favoured in the show ring.
Timeline
History & development
pre-1800s
Life with the Samoyede people
Nomadic reindeer herders in Siberia bred these dogs to herd, pull and sleep alongside their families for warmth.
1889
Fridtjof Nansen's expeditions
Polar explorers began using Samoyeds for Arctic sledge work, bringing the breed to Western attention.
1906
Royal patronage
Queen Alexandra took an interest in the breed, helping establish it in Britain.
1909
Kennel Club recognition
The Samoyed was formally recognised as a breed in the United Kingdom.
1950s onward
The breed today
Kennel club registrations settled into a steady pattern and the Samoyed moved from a working specialist to a family companion, with breed clubs in the UK and abroad now focused on health testing and keeping true type alive.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Compact, strong, deep chest.
- coat
- Thick, weather-resistant double coat, harsh guard hairs.
- ears
- Thick, erect, triangular, slightly rounded tips.
- eyes
- Dark, almond-shaped, set well apart.
- gait
- Free, agile and driving.
- head
- Powerful, wedge-shaped, broad skull.
- size
- 46–56cm at the withers.
- tail
- Long, profusely coated, carried curled over the back.
- colour
- Pure White, White and Biscuit, Cream. Colours outside this list are seen but are not accepted by the kennel clubs.
- temperament
- Typical of the breed: strongest in sociability, grooming, energy. Nervousness or aggression are serious faults in the show ring and in the home.
- general appearance
- Medium-sized, elegant, all-white working dog with a smiling expression.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
Hip dysplasia
Screen for it
Ask for hip scores on both parents before buying a puppy.
Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy
Watch closely
A serious kidney disease; request DNA test results as carriers can be identified.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Screen for it
Ask for annual eye certification from the parent dogs.
Diabetes
Screen for it
Watch weight and diet through life, as the breed has a higher-than-average incidence.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Samoyeds added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Samoyed
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Samoyed illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Samoyed Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Samoyed illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Samoyed Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Samoyed illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Samoyed Mug
Ceramic mug with the Samoyed illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
LED Reflective Lead Light
Rechargeable clip-on light for dark walks.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Samoyed video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
Watch now