The Fur:
Obviously Sammys have beautiful, long, white coats which is one of the most attractive attributes of the breed, but with this coat comes commitment. The Sammy's fur comes in two layers. They have a long shiny layer and a shorter undercoat. The thick undercoat provides the Sammys with warmth in the cold weather which they love so much. When Samoyeds are exposed to warmer climates they will lose this thick undercoat. When they shed, it comes out in clumps which resemble lamb's wool. In fact, it is possible to spin their undercoat and use it just like any wool!
When the shedding season comes it is a good idea to get them professionally groomed. Throughout the year you want to make sure you brush them regularly, if only a quick brush, to ensure that their coat does not get tangled. You especially want to concentrate on the area around their ears and armpits. If their fur becomes too tangled you will have to resort to cutting the fur, which is not desirable.
Some people think that shaving their Sammy in the summer is doing them a service, but in fact it can do them more harm than good. Every time you shave a Samoyed their fur will come back thinner than before. My family learned this the hard way. They shaved our Samoyed every year and by the time he reached old age his fur was extremely thin and in some places did not grow back at all. Their fur will actually act as an insulator for them in the summer and keep them cooler than if you shaved them.
Also, by shaving them you run the risk of your Sammy getting sunburn. Their skin is not accustomed to sunlight and will very easily burn. Ouch!
Disposition:
The Samoyed has many nicknames which include Sam, Sammy, Smiley and Smiling Sammy. Once you meet a Sammy you will at once understand how they got their Smiley nickname. They seem to have a permanent smile on their faces which makes them irresistible!
Along with their smile comes a great personality. They love kids! I mean really love kids. Actually there aren't many if any people they don't like. This is one of the traits they are best known for. They are very pack oriented and you as their master are their pack. They will follow you from room to room, never wanting you to be out of their sight. They will do just about anything to ensure they are around people.
I have never met a Sammy that didn't love car rides. A reason for this is because they always want to be with you. They also love walks, and watch out if you have a good snow storm, because they will be the first one outside! The snow is where they are the happiest. We have had Samoyeds that seem to become puppies again as soon as their paws hit the snow!
There is one slight downside to the Samoyed's loving personality, they don't always make the best guard dogs. Because they love people they may think a stranger is someone to play with. However, if they see their pack, especially their kids, are in real danger they will protect. This is from personal experience. Sometimes their size is intimidating which is a help.
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| Keith as a Puppy |
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| Keith (adult) and Lilly (puppy) their first winter together. |
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| Keith doing tricks in his new t-shirt. |
