Samoyed also called by the name Samoiedskaïa Sabaka are similar to American Eskimo. The Samoyed belong to the spitz group. They are large breed with thick double layer coat. They are bred by the Samoyedic tribe of Siberia for hunting, herding and pulling sledges. The height for male is 57cm±3 and female is about 53cm±3.Certain range of the heights of a Samoyed may be in the range of German Shepherd dog and this does not mean that a Samoyed is as big as a German Shepherd dog or smaller. No comparison should be made with the height of a German Shepherd according to the usual notion and the belief of most people.
Samoyed is compactly built with muscular body. The head is powerful and wedge-shaped. The muzzle is proportional to the size of the dog and tapers to the nose. In appearance, they give the impression of power, endurance, charm, suppleness, dignity and self-confidence. A male Samoyed must look masculine while a female should look feminine. Even in human being, as a man, will you like to marry a lady that is masculine and vice versa? The combination of eye shape and position, and the slightly curved up corners of the mouth give a Samoyed a smiling face, called Samoyed smile and are nicknamed Sammie Smile. You might have heard people saying, “May you smile all your life like a Samoyed”? Also, Samoyed howls in a manner that seems they want to talk to you as in the video attached.
The length of the body is about 5% more than the height at the withers. The depth of the body is slightly less than the half of the height at the withers. The Skull from the front view is slight convex and broadest between the two ears with a slight furrow between the eyes. The stop is clearly defined, but not too prominent. The skull to muzzle ratio is about 1:1
Samoyed are friendly, open, alert and lively. Do not forget that a bad ownership can change these. The hunting instinct is very slight and are neither shy nor aggressive dog. The head is powerful and wedge-shaped. The eyes are dark brown and almond in shape. They have strong jaw and teeth (scissors bite). The ears are erect, and set high owing to the wedge skull, small, thick, triangular and slightly rounded at the tips. They are very social and hence cannot be used as guard dogs.
Profuse, thick, flexible and dense polar coat which help them to warm their owners at night. The Samoyed is a double coated dog with short, soft and dense undercoat and longer, more harsh and straight outer coat. The coat should form a ‘ruff’ around the neck and shoulders framing the head, especially in males. On head and on front of legs, hair is short and smooth; on outside of ears short, standing off and smooth. Inside the ears should be well furred. On back of the thighs the hair forms trousers. There should be a protective growth of hair between the toes. The tail should be profusely covered with hair and the tail should not be double twisted. The coat of the female is often shorter and softer in texture than that of the male. The correct coat texture should always have a special glistening sheen.
The colour should be pure white, cream or white with biscuit (white with a few biscuit markings). Pale brown colour is a disqualification in the show ring. Suffice to say that it is not an acceptable colour.
The Samoyed does not pace, but trot when moving with a strong rear action drive. The hind legs should be parallel when viewed from the rear in a natural stance, strong, well developed, turning neither in nor out, but straight stifles are not welcomed. The front legs should be parallel and straight to the pasterns. The pasterns should be strong, sturdy and straight, but flexible with some spring for proper let-down of feet. Owing to the depth of chest, legs should be moderately long. The length of leg from the ground to the elbow should be slightly longer than the total height at the withers. A very short-legged dog is unacceptable.
According to the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) states this as faults to be watch out for which can be eliminating or not in the show rings;
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
· Visible faults in structure.
· Light bone.
· Males not masculine and females not feminine.
· Pincer bite.
· Yellow eyes.
· Soft ears.
· Barrel rib cage.
· Double twisted tail.
· Low on the legs.
· Badly bow-legged or cow hocked.
· Wavy or short coated throughout, long, soft or coat hanging
down.
· Aloofness.
SERIOUS FAULTS:
· Clearly unpigmented areas on eye rims or lips.
ELIMINATING FAULTS:
· Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
· Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
· Eyes blue or of different colours.
· Overshot or undershot bite.
· Ears not erect.
· Coat colours other than permitted in the standard.
N.B.:
· Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed conformation should be used for breeding.
In order to recognize a Samoyed at a glance, note the following:
1. Eyes are almond in shape
2. They have ‘smiling’ expression on the face.
This does not mean that there are no fault which could be punishable or eliminating in the show ring, but the two points above will tell you in at a glance the breed you are dealing with is a Samoyed.
Thanks to FCI for providing the breed standard,to the people who have the copyrights of the video and picture used for illustration, and to everyone that has read, and vowed not to refer to an American Eskimo as a Samoyed again.
Written by Olumide Makinde
©Euniversal Stars Kennels 2017
