The Ultimate Guide to Owning a Samoyed

Transcription

1 The Ultimate Guide to Owning a Samoyed Emma Winters 1

2 Table of Contents Introduction 5 The Perfect Dog for You 5 Beauty in the Beast 8 It s All in the Family 8 Just Like Lassie, Only Much More Beautiful 9 Intelligence 10 What s My Job and When Can I Start? 11 Finding Your Samoyed 11 It s a Herding Thing 12 My Samoyed, the Watchdog 12 I m Samoyed I m Flexible 13 Chapter One - Where it All Began: The History of Samoyeds 14 The Samoyed Tribe 14 The Samoyed and Royalty 15 Samoyeds and Exploration 15 Introduction to the U.S. and the World 16 Chapter Two - Finding the Right Puppy: Breeders 18 So You ve Decided on a Puppy Now What? 20 What to Look for in a Breeder 20 Finding a Breeder 21 What to Ask a Breeder 22 So You ve Decided on a Rescue Dog Now What? 23 Do Your Homework 24 Know Your Limits 24 List of Reputable Rescue Groups 25 Australia 25 2

3 Canada 26 United Kingdom 26 United States 26 Chapter Three - Owning a Samoyed: Personality Plus! 27 The Family Dog 27 The Party Animal 30 The Herding Dog 31 The Working Dog 32 A Watchdog 34 Guard Duty 35 Chapter Four - Training Your Samoyed 37 House Breaking 39 Crate Training 39 House Training an Adult Dog 40 Socializing Your Puppy or Adult Dog 41 Basic Obedience Training 42 Walking on a Leash 42 Problem Behaviors 43 Excessive Barking 44 Talking 45 Jumping Fences 46 Digging Holes 47 Chapter Five - Grooming and Health Concerns 49 The Ritual of Grooming 49 The Samoyed Coat 50 Shedding 50 An Introduction to Grooming 50 How Often to Groom 52 3

4 Bathing 52 Trimming Fur 52 Trimming Nails and Cleaning Ears 53 Health Concerns 53 Chapter Six - Showing Your Samoyed: Qualities of a Show Dog 55 Tricks of the Trade 55 Registries, Clubs and Organizations 55 Samoyed AKC Standards 57 Samoyed Champions 58 4

5 Introduction Finding the right dog for you and your family can be a challenge. There are a seemingly endless variety of breeds out there, each of them with their own personality types, strengths and weaknesses. It s always best to find out as much as you can about different breeds of dogs before you make your choice. Remember it s extremely important to choose the right dog the first time around. Bringing a dog home, only to find out that he s not the right fit for your household, can be devastating to not only the dog but to you and other members of your family as well. Think of it as though you were adopting a child. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but maybe it s not that far of a stretch after all. Remember that the little puppy you choose to raise as your own or the adult dog that you adopt from a rescue agency or shelter will most likely become an integral part of your family. Choosing the right dog is what this book is all about. Our aim is to give you as full an introduction to the Samoyed as is possible within the confines of an ebook. To begin with, we have to admit that we might be slightly biased having lived with and loved Samoyeds for years has, no doubt, left us with a soft spot in our hearts for these adorable creatures. But it has also created a genuine concern for the welfare of the breed. There s nothing that would please us more than knowing that each and every Samoyed went to the right home a home where she s loved, treasured, taken care of and respected for the noble breed that she is. The Perfect Dog for You What words would you use to describe the perfect dog for your family? How about these: beautiful, intelligent, gentle, loyal, warm, cuddly, protective, athletic, lovable. All these are just a few of the words that Samoyed owners would pick to describe their favorite breed. But there are so many more! Whether you re looking for a champion show dog or just a lovable companion for your home, the magnificent Samoyed is sure to capture your heart. Many owners swear that once you own a Samoyed, no other breed of dog will do. And you re about to find out why. 5

6 One aspect of your choice is very important, and that is personality. We will mention the Samoyed personality in later chapters, but it is crucial that you choose a puppy which has a personality that suits you. Our first Samoyed was quite a sensitive soul and she struggled a bit when we spent six months away from home, living in a relatively small unit. When she was about seven years old, I was ill for months and often bed-ridden, and Sasha went out in sympathy with me, according to the vet. She developed some symptoms, including increased thirst and urination which they claimed were simply because I was sick. Curiously, when I recovered, if I lay down on my bed for a nap at any time, she would sit in the doorway of the bedroom, lift her head and howl. Once I informed her that I was fine, just taking a nap, she would be okay. While I recognize that she didn t understand the words, she clearly picked up the message from my tone of voice that I was okay. Obviously, when we ordered our next puppy, we assumed she would also be a sensitive character, and weren t we in for a shock! The breeder, who came highly recommended, had mentioned that she would be very interested in how Saminka s personality developed because the father was a lovely, quiet-natured dog, whereas the mother would always back-answer and had to have the last word, even if she was chastised. We understood that she didn t bark back, but rather, would do small growls rather like a child might mutter back at a parent. We ordered the puppy from the other side of the country a plane trip of about four hours, broken in the middle by a stopover for about an hour. The breeder went to great efforts to get her on a flight that would be minimal travel and told us that she would be hungry when she arrived because if they fed them too much prior to a flight, they could get sick. This was the end of our tropical summer, but still quite hot. With huge excitement, we waited at the airport for our new baby, only to discover that she had been off-loaded at the stopover, but not put on the next flight. In fact, the baggage staff said they had found her in her cage on the tarmac with the rest of the baggage. 6

7 We were mortified about these events, but we managed to speak to the airline staff, and by this stage, they told us not to worry because she was in their office, running around having a great time, and she would not be hungry because they had fed her sausage! We were deeply concerned as the next flight did not arrive until well into the evening, so she would be travelling all day. Naturally, we were expecting an exhausted, sad, sick little puppy. Not so! Saminka was still full of enthusiasm and energy at 9 p.m. when she eventually arrived. She marched into our home, saw a tablecloth on a small table and gave it a huge tug, pulling everything off, then when we took her outside for a comfort break, she decided to pull out potted plants. We have a beautiful photo of my husband, sitting on the doorstep with his head in his hands, late that evening, and I am sure he was wondering what we had adopted! Saminka was never short on enthusiasm and the general joy of living, but she was nowhere near as sensitive and sympathetic as Sasha had been. Years later, when I got unexpected news that my beloved Dad had a critical heart condition and may not live much longer, I sat on the lounge room floor that evening, hugged Saminka, and cried and cried. After a while, she seemed to have a look such as to say that that was enough, and it was time to get on with life again. Get over it, in other words. Our newer puppy came onto the home scene during the difficult years that followed, with my mother ill as well, and her sensitivity is such that if she thinks anyone is the least bit sad, she sits beside them and puts her paw up on their knee, clearly in a comforting gesture. Yet, when necessary, she springs into action to defend our cat against feline intruders, and she looks so fierce, they take flight immediately. She still has the other wonderful friendly, outgoing, Samoyed traits. If possible, visit the breeder when the puppies are small, and check the personality to see how it will fit with you and your family, and consider your purpose in getting a puppy from the beginning. To be really honest, though, Samoyeds are so beautiful in nature 7

8 whether they are sensitive or bossy, quiet or talkative that you will fall in love with whatever puppy you get. Beauty in the Beast Let s face it, we re all susceptible to falling for a pretty face. And if there was ever a pretty face among dogs, it would most certainly be the Samoyed s. From her perpetual smile, to her luxurious fur coat, to her bright intelligent gaze, to her compact and healthy figure there s no doubt that the Samoyed is one beautiful creature. And while there are countless other wonderful attributes that we ll describe in some detail later on, it may well be the sheer beauty of the breed that initially catches your attention. You wouldn t be the first. Recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1906, the Samoyed has become a favorite of dog show judges and attendees for over 100 years. And puppies are every bit as adorable as the adults they grow up to be. It s All in the Family There are no two ways about it: Samoyeds love people. In fact, if they had their choice, they would be with you all the time. It doesn t even really matter what you re doing or even if you re doing nothing at all. So no matter how you plan to spend an afternoon off 8

9 from work, your faithful, furry companion is more than happy to join you. Running some errands? Samoyeds are fine travelers and always appreciate a car ride. How about a little gardening? Samoyeds love to play in the dirt and would be honored to help you dig a few holes for those new garden plants. Settling down for a little television watching? Samoyeds are snugglers, and TV presents the perfect opportunity to do just that. Samoyeds only have eyes for you and everyone else in your family, including the kids. This breed loves children, and children love them. The vast majority of Samoyeds seem to instinctively know how to be gentle and affectionate with the smallest members of your family. Naturally, as is true with any breed of dog, you should carefully monitor your dog s interaction with children before trusting him completely. This is particularly true if you adopt an adult dog from a shelter or rescue agency. No matter how sweetnatured the dog may be, he will still act on instinct. If he s not accustomed to being around children, their size or actions may trigger an undesirable reaction. But by and large, based on accounts we ve read and reports we ve heard from other Samoyed owners, they are great with kids. And we have a wonderful story that will illustrate just how true that is. Just Like Lassie, Only Much More Beautiful With each of our dogs in turn, we taught them the words, Show me! so that whenever they come to us and bark or talk, we say Show me, and follow them to whatever it is perhaps dinner, or to go outside to play, or a visitor at the door. Our son was 11 years old when Saminka arrived, and she seemed to regard him as her own playmate. I recall one Sunday afternoon when he had hurt his foot and I told him to lie on his bed and rest it. I was in the lounge room relaxing on the couch when Saminka came in quickly, barking. We did the usual routine, but this time, instead of going outside, she took me to the far end of the house where our son s room was. She barked and looked at the bed and then at me. He wasn t on his bed any more, she seemed to be saying. I knew that wasn t really a problem because he would not have 9

10 gone far. Sure enough, we went looking, and he was in the bathroom. Saminka was very relieved to have found him and, as this was the first incident of this kind, we talked about it and realized that she didn t see him leave his room and couldn t find him in the open areas of the house so she decided to inform us. There were many other times when he would have left his room for all kinds of reasons, so all we could conclude was that she somehow knew that he was injured, albeit in a minor way, and was keeping watch over him. By far the most poignant story was when he left home to go to another city to attend the university. We tended to keep his bedroom closed so that the cat didn t take up residence in it. One morning, a few weeks after he had left, Saminka again came into the lounge, found me sitting in a chair and barked for me to follow. I did, and she took me down the hall to the door of his room, stood outside and barked for me to open it. She went straight in and stopped beside his bed, barking to show me that he wasn t in his bed. She had always gone into his room each morning when we woke him up and this time, she was showing me that he was gone. Where was he? How do you tell a dog that its master or family member is not coming back for a while? It was heartbreaking enough to have my son leave home for a distant city without having my beautiful dog remind me that he was gone. Intelligence Compared to many other breeds, Samoyeds are an intelligent lot. They respond well to training and learn relatively quickly. But, as is true with many smart dogs, they do on occasion exhibit a stubborn independent streak. Some owners have interpreted this as the ultimate sign of intelligence as though the dog is thinking, Wait a minute. It doesn t make sense for me to do that right now, so I m not going to do it. While it s anyone s guess whether that s what the dogs are really thinking, it remains obvious to owners, trainers and breeders alike that Samoyeds are, without a doubt, a smart breed of dog. 10

11 What s My Job and When Can I Start? The AKC classifies Samoyeds as part of their Working Group. Generally, this includes all breeds of dogs that were bred to do a job. In the case of Samoyeds, they were bred to herd and pull sleds (more on that later). They re athletic dogs that require a good amount of daily exercise. Better yet, if you have certain jobs for them to perform, they ll be more than happy to enthusiastically perform them time after time. We know of one dog that still, at the ripe old age of 10, excitedly retrieves the morning newspaper each and every day from the end of her owner s driveway. Mornings just wouldn t be the same for the dog or the owner without this daily ritual, carried out faithfully 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, by the old Samoyed. We ve heard of another young dog that helps his master with gardening chores. Although digging is always a favorite pastime, it s not one that the owner was willing to encourage. So, instead, Sammy was taught how to fetch the hose. Once it s unwound on the ground and the water is turned on, Sammy can t wait to firmly grab hold and drag the unwieldy critter wherever his master directs. Of course, this can turn into a wet proposition when the water pressure is turned on high, but that s all part of the fun. Sammy doesn t mind the shower and, fortunately, his master seems to enjoy it as well. It s helpful if you can find a job or multiple jobs for your Samoyed. Because the breed is athletic and intelligent, it means they can become easily bored. And a bored dog is often one that will stir up a little mischief of her own. Remember that daily exercise, combined with whatever jobs you can find for her, will help her stay in shape and out of trouble. Finding Your Samoyed If you prefer to raise your Samoyed from puppyhood, there are plenty of reputable breeders who will be glad to help you find the perfect puppy for your family (we ll discuss breeders in detail later on). But if you d prefer to try to adopt an adult dog, there are also plenty of Samoyed rescue agencies that will be more than happy to place one of their rescued dogs with the right family. 11

12 As it turns out, the same traits that make the Samoyed endearing to so many of us also make them a challenge to some people, which is why there are so many rescue agencies in place. As we mentioned before, Samoyeds are intelligent, athletic and, therefore, easily bored. A bored dog is often a destructive dog, which means that a Samoyed left alone in a yard for long periods of time without the attention of his owner or a regular exercise routine may end up engaging in some less-than-desirable habits. Those habits may include digging under fences or finding some other escape route out of the boring backyard. These habits can be easily corrected by an owner that is willing to put the time and attention into the dog that he so much needs and deserves. If you aren t able to devote that kind of time and attention to your dog, then the Samoyed may not be the breed for you. Fortunately, there are plenty of people who love nothing more than to spend time with their dogs and, for them, Samoyeds can be the perfect match. It s a Herding Thing We ll talk more about the origins of the breed later on in this book, but we will briefly mention here that part of the Samoyed s history involves herding. And once a dog has a herding instinct, anything is fair game. Your Samoyed might choose to herd other dogs, other animals (cats and squirrels are particular favorites), or even small children. While herding dogs are not, by nature, aggressive in any way and Samoyeds are known for being a very non-aggressive breed the instinct to herd can be strong and a little unnerving if you re not accustomed to dealing with it. Fortunately, you can usually deal with the herding instinct in an effective, positive manner, which we ll discuss later in the Training chapter. For now, know that the herding instinct is alive and well in Samoyeds, and they might display it from time to time. My Samoyed, the Watchdog We explained before how much Samoyeds love people, and it s true you would be hard-pressed to find a more affectionate, lovable pooch than the Samoyed. But along with that love of people comes a loyalty to their owners. And with that loyalty comes the instinct to protect. But that instinct to protect only goes so far because, when it comes right down to it, Samoyeds are still people lovers. They may see a stranger come 12

13 through your garden gate and bark (and we mean BARK!) to alert you, but the chances of your Samoyed doing anything more than WATCHING are slim. In other words, a Samoyed can be a great watchdog, but he s not a guard dog because he s simply not aggressive towards people. We consider this a wonderful trait. I m Samoyed I m Flexible At this point, you may be wondering if your home is right for the Samoyed. Is your yard large enough? Do you have enough time to devote to your new family member? These are all valid questions, but we need to take a moment here to reassure you. Trust us when we tell you that one of the most desirable traits about Samoyeds that we haven t even touched on yet is this: They re very flexible. We ve heard countless stories about happy, well-adjusted Samoyeds that live in apartments in the city, on farms in the country and every place in between. We believe that the most important quality that will determine whether you will be a good Samoyed owner is simply the amount of devotion and attention you can pay toward your new family member. Does that sound funny? Did you expect to hear that it s all about the devotion your dog can pay to you? In the case of the Samoyed, that s never a question because Samoyeds will gladly devote ALL of their time and attention to you. That s what this breed is all about. Now the only question is, are you willing to do the same? It may take a little time and effort on your part, but we can tell you with all certainty that the end result is completely worth the effort. So, if you re ready, welcome to our world the world of the Samoyed. 13

14 Chapter One - Where it All Began: The History of Samoyeds The Samoyed is one of the truly ancient breeds of dogs. In fact, the Samoyed is one of the oldest breeds in the world. Thought to have originated as working dogs of the Samoyed tribe in northern Russia and Siberia thousands of years ago, the Samoyed is considered to be one of the first truly purebred dogs. Although there is a certain amount of controversy over this topic, many believe that the Samoyed breed is the closest thing we have today to the early primitive dogs due to the fact that they carry no fox or wolf DNA in their blood. The Samoyed Tribe The Samoyed people treasured their namesake breed and used them for a variety of purposes. The dogs protected the reindeer herds of the tribe, and they were taught to be gentle with the valued herds, which could account for the Samoyed s kind disposition with other animals Samoyeds are not hunters by nature. The dogs were also used to herd the reindeer, which is an instinctive trait in the breed. On occasion, the dogs were used to pull sleds, but that was a task that was primarily done by the reindeer. Much of the Samoyed s sled-pulling experiences would come later, during their excursions with the polar explorers. Even in those early times, the Samoyed s connection with humans was apparent. Although not aggressive by nature, they were fiercely loyal to their tribe, and it was common for a pack of Samoyed dogs each weighing around 60 pounds to drive away a 1,500-pound polar bear while watching over their tribe and the reindeer herds. Another job for the dogs was as companion animals. In fact, the tribe often kept the dogs inside their dwellings, or chooms, where the dogs were given free reign. Tribesmen entrusted their canine companions to watch over their young children. They even slept with their furry friends for warmth in the cold Siberian climate. Looking at the Samoyed s unbelievably thick double coat of fur, it s no wonder the dogs were brought into chooms to spend the nights with the people of the tribe. 14

15 The earliest versions of Samoyeds didn t all have the distinctive snow-white coats that the breed is known for today. In fact, many of the earliest Samoyeds probably had much darker coats. But eventually, over time, the harsh Arctic sun bleached their fur white, and over the course of generations the white, biscuit, or combination of white and biscuit became the standard colors of the breed. The Samoyed and Royalty As the Russians began to explore the Siberian wilderness in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, they encountered the Samoyed sled dogs kept by the tribe. The beauty of the breed, in addition to their obvious attributes as sled dogs, made them popular pets of the Russian people, and even Russian royalty. Eventually, the breed came to be considered royal in their own right, and the czar s family became very protective of the Samoyeds. On rare occasions, they would make a gift of a Samoyed to other European nobility, and from that time on the popularity of the breed grew quickly. In fact, Czar Alexander III of Russia was the owner of a beloved Samoyed, and it is thought that the first Samoyed to be registered by the AKC in the U.S. in 1906 came from the czar s brother, Grand Duke Nicholas. While the Samoyeds may have been considered a royal breed by Russian nobles, other Russians immediately saw their potential as working sled dogs. It wasn t long before they became known as a working breed around the world. Samoyeds and Exploration Considering the history of the breed and how it thrives in cold climates, it s probably no surprise to learn that Samoyeds played an important role in many polar expeditions. During more than a 40-year period from 1870 to 1912 the dogs were brought along on both Arctic and Antarctic expeditions by some of the world s great polar explorers, including Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen, Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevnik, Frederick Jackson and Ernest Shackleton. Ernest Kilborn-Scott, a British zoologist, visited Siberia 15

16 and brought back a Samoyed puppy with him to the U.K. in From that point on, the breed was used extensively by polar explorers. Each and every one of the heroic Samoyed sled dogs has earned a place in canine history, but a few individuals stand out. Kaifas and Suggen were Fridtjof Nansen s lead dogs on his historic expedition to the North Pole. And one of the most famous individual Samoyeds in history was Roald Amundsen s lead sled dog Etah. Due to Etah s place at the front of the sled team, that fearless Samoyed was actually the first animal (man or dog) to reach the South Pole in But it wasn t just the breed s hardiness in cold climates that made them popular choices for polar expeditions it was also their strength, superior performance and even temperament that made them legendary. Some of the descendants of these brave dogs were bred in England for years afterward. In fact, many believe that the vast majority of Samoyeds present in the world today came from 12 descendants of the polar expedition dogs, all of which were bred in England over 100 years ago. Introduction to the U.S. and the World The first Samoyed to be officially recognized by the AKC Russian Champion Moustan of Argenteau was registered in the U.S. in But it s likely that the first Samoyeds were introduced in America by fur traders. One of the most famous and beloved Samoyeds in recent U.S. history was Rex of White Way, who lived from 1946 until Rex (also known as The Blizzard King ) was the lead dog on the U.S. Mail sled team that traveled the 64-mile round trip from Idaho to West Yellowstone. He was also famous for participating in several rescue missions for people stranded in the snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Rex also gained fame as a sire, and many believe that a good number of Samoyed dogs in the U.S. today can be traced directly back to Rex of White Way. 16

17 Over the past 100 years, word of the breed has spread like wildfire across the U.S. and around the world, and there are now breeding clubs in over a dozen countries. In 2010, the Samoyed was ranked 72nd out of 167 AKC dog breeds. Perhaps it s no surprise, given the other stellar traits of the breed, that the Samoyed comes from such a rich and colorful heritage and that their popularity continues to rise year after year. Judging from its past, you can certainly understand why, to this day, the Samoyed is considered a truly noble breed. 17

18 Chapter Two - Finding the Right Samoyed: Breeders and Rescue Agencies You may have already decided that a Samoyed is the breed of dog you d like to own. But just as important as deciding upon breed is deciding upon which individual dog suits you best. Now comes the choice that every prospective dog owner faces: Do you adopt a puppy or an adult dog? There are many things to consider when making this decision. Do you have the time it takes to raise a puppy? Remember that puppies, much like babies, require a lot of time and attention. If you have a job that keeps you away from home for long periods of time, or if you have other distractions in your life that would prevent you from spending as much time as a little pup requires, maybe an older dog would be a better fit for your situation. How will the other animals and people in your household react to a new puppy or another adult dog? And the same question should be asked about an older dog. It s important that everyone in your house including, and maybe especially, other dogs are introduced to the new addition and feel comfortable with accepting the new family member. For example, if you have an elderly dog, it might be difficult for her to adjust to a new puppy in the house. Older dogs often don t have the patience to put up with the antics of a puppy. One benefit of getting a new puppy when Saminka was starting to feel the effects of aging was that it gave her a new lease on life as she interacted with the puppy, even though it was a shock to her at first A new puppy introduces an enormous amount of energy and activity into a household, and it wasn t until we sent the bythen grown-up puppy to a kennel for a couple of weeks when she first came into season that we realized the effect she had had on our older dog, Saminka. Within a couple of days, Saminka was lying down looking miserable so off to the vet she went. Imagine our surprise when the vet said that she was like an old lady who had nothing else to think about other than her ailments, so she was lying around with nothing to do. As soon as the younger dog returned, her zest for life returned as well. Having a younger dog keeps her fit and has undoubtedly prolonged her life. Considering that we got the puppy four years ago because we 18

19 thought she was on the way out, it is obvious that the youthful addition has had a positive effect. On the other hand, adding a new adult dog to the household could make other dogs in the house feel threatened, which could lead to aggressive behavior. Whether you decide on a puppy or an adult dog, always introduce the new dog to other canines in the family before you make the commitment to adopt the dog. And do the same for the people in your household. Making sure that all the people and animals you live with get along together from the start will make your life much easier as you start to incorporate the new dog into the household. Are you ready to take on the possible problems and baggage that sometimes come with a rescue dog? You never know why a dog is in a rescue facility. It s possible that the previous owner had a job that prevented her from taking adequate care of the dog. On the other hand, it s just as likely that the dog was challenging in some way to the previous owner. Many rescue dogs have been abused in one way or another. The point is, you never know what kind of a history a dog has, and sometimes there are serious challenges you ll have to overcome when it comes to rescue dogs. Be sure that you re ready and willing to take on those challenges before making the commitment to adopt a rescue dog. Regardless of the age of the dog you choose, a good piece of advice in bringing a new puppy or dog home is to let it meet your other household dogs in a neutral environment, such as a park. That way, you don t have the immediate territorial issues that apply when you introduce a new animal into an environment that the family dog regards as its own territory. We didn t know to do this at the time, and Saminka did not take kindly to the new puppy at first. If you have a cat, you might need to take particular care that the puppy doesn t annoy cat to the point of getting a severe scratch. Each of our dogs in turn has annoyed the cats we owned to the point of getting a biff from a frustrated cat. You might get told that they will not do any real damage, but it is not worth the risk in the beginning. You will never be able to keep them apart, and why do it when they will most likely become quite good friends? But watch at the outset, 19

20 until they settle down. After all, you don t want your beautiful Samoyed with a nasty scratch on its nose or eyes. With our most recent addition, we were surprised that Saminka s reaction was much worse than that of our cat. In fact, the cat just sat and stared at the new puppy in complete disbelief that such a white, furry ball of energy could possibly have invaded its home. Early in its life, our cat developed the autocratic disdain that only a cat can display and, fortunately, our new puppy learned reasonably quickly to stay just out of reach of the biff. So You ve Decided on a Puppy Now What? Finding the right puppy for your family may be as simple as finding the right breeder. Not that finding the right breeder is simple by any means in fact, deciding which breeder to go with may be the single most challenging part of your search for a Samoyed puppy. We ve put together a few helpful tips to keep in mind before deciding which breeder is right for you. What to Look for in a Breeder You may not know it, but you ve already taken the first step in being able to identify a reputable breeder you re reading this book right now and trying to find out as much about Samoyeds as possible. That should also be true of your breeder. Most upstanding breeders are experts on their chosen breed. After all, they ve spent years and years breeding the dogs and, in many cases, showing them as well. Any good breeder should know their breed inside and out. If you talk to a breeder who doesn t seem to know as much as you expect him to know about Samoyeds, trust your instincts and look for another breeder. Never underestimate the importance of your relationship and interactions with the breeder. This is, after all, a give and take situation: You re looking for the right dog to take home with you, and a reputable breeder is looking for the right home for her little pups. Your suitability as an owner should be very important to the breeder. Not only 20

21 should you be asking important questions of the breeder, but the breeder should be asking you questions about what kind of home environment the pup will have as well. If the breeder doesn t express this kind of concern, it may be an indication that the breeder doesn t have the best interest of her pups in mind. In that case, look for another breeder. Finding a Breeder However tempting it may be, resist to the temptation to use the Internet to find dog breeders. While many reputable breeders no doubt have their own websites, it s just as easy for undesirable breeders to establish a web presence. The worst possible scenario is to fall prey to a puppy mill an individual or group of individuals that care nothing for the breed or the puppies themselves, but instead are in it only for the money. It s impossible to tell what kind of people you re dealing with through the Internet, so don t use that as your only source. By all means, use it as your first point of research, look at the photos displayed, and get a feel for how the breeders treat their dogs. You should get an understanding of whether they care about them deeply from what they write or whether they might be breeding just for money. From our experience, we have found that the breeders with websites are very genuine Samoyed lovers, and the places to be wary of are the pet shops who will obviously sell puppies to anyone at all. Puppies in a pet shop can look cute, but they grow up, and it is important to know the responsibilities you will have as a Samoyed owner. Genuine Samoyed breeders will want to check you out as much as you want to check them out or more, because they want their puppies to go to good homes. I recall the first breeder I even spoke to said that he would not let their puppies go to anyone that would not include them in their household like a member of the family because that was the original role of the Samoyed, living with the Eskimo tribe. 21

22 Ask your local veterinarian if he knows of any reputable Samoyed breeders in your area. Attending a dog show and talking to breeders who are showing dogs is one of the most enjoyable ways to locate a breeder, although that may not be convenient depending on your location and the availability of a dog show nearby. Another option is to contact the AKC or another registry. They keep lists of reputable breeders for all types of dogs. You might also contact Samoyed clubs for their recommendations. There are Samoyed clubs all over the globe, including the Samoyed Club of America, and a quick Internet search will bring up clubs in all the major countries. What to Ask a Breeder 1. Do you have both parents of the pups and, if so, may I see them? Many breeders will have the mother, but not the father. Whether the breeder has one parent or both, try to see at least the mother of the pups. Make note of her temperament and overall health. If she doesn t appear to be healthy or has a poor temperament, it s entirely possible that the pups will have the same problems. You will get a good idea of how genuine the breeder is by what gets said about the puppy s parents because breeders will talk about their particular characteristics and quirks of personality. You are looking for happy, outgoing parents because that is the normal Samoyed personality, and if there is excessive timidity or aggression, you would be wary. 2. Can you tell me about the puppy s lineage? Even if you re just interested in finding a pet for your family and never intend to show your dog, it s important to know that the pup comes from a healthy family line. 3. What are some of the typical health problems that run in this breed? All breeds of dogs, including Samoyeds, have certain health risks and problems that are common in the breed. A good breeder will not only know a lot about these health concerns, but she ll also be willing to talk about those risks and what breeders are doing to minimize them. 22

23 4. Have your dogs been checked for any of those health problems? Any reputable breeder will make sure her pups are checked by veterinarians early and often in their young lives. 5. What shots and vet checks have the pups been through and have they been wormed? Again, any good breeder will make sure that her pups are up-to-date with all shots and visits to the vet. 6. How have the puppies been socialized with people and other dogs? Socialization with puppies starts from a very early age. Ideally, the breeder has raised the pups inside a house with other people (including children) and dogs. This type of an environment is the most successful way to socialize young pups. 7. When do you wean your puppies? If the answer is 6 to 7 weeks, that s much too early. Many breeders allow the mother to decide when it s best to wean her pups, and that s always healthier for the puppies. 8. Do you have references from people who have bought pups from you before? When the breeder gives you references, don t just leave it at that. Take the time to contact the references. They may have some important advice about the breeder. 9. Do you have any kind of guarantee that comes along with your puppies? Most reputable breeders will give you a grace period during which you can return the pup if there are serious problems. For example, if you re adopting a pup that is due for a three-month vet check in a couple weeks, most good breeders would allow you to return the pup if the vet detects a serious health problem during that visit. So You ve Decided on a Rescue Dog Now What? If you re a dog lover, and we suspect you are considering how far along you are in reading this text, you probably love the idea of adopting a rescue dog. What a wonderful feeling it would be to create a fine life for a dog that s been neglected or abused; to save it from a nightmare existence and bring it into a loving home; to watch it evolve from a frightened, timid creature to a healthy, happy, confident canine. That would, indeed, be wonderful. But the reality of adopting a rescue dog doesn t always live up to the 23

24 idealized notion of what it might be like. As we touched on earlier in this chapter, rescue dogs can be a real challenge, and most of the time it s nearly impossible to know what kind of situation a rescue dog has come from or what kind of abuse or neglect it s suffered. Nonetheless, adopting a rescue dog can be a rewarding experience for you and a life-changing event for your new dog IF you re prepared. You might be blessed to find one where the owners have had to move to a new location and are just not able to keep their dog, much as they might like to, but this situation is rare. Do Your Homework Since there s really no way of telling what kind of background your new rescue dog came from, it s best to prepare yourself as much as possible to help your adopted Samoyed adjust to his new home and the people and other animals that come along with it. Find as many books as you can on the topic of dog psychology and how to deal with an emotionally damaged dog. Ask your veterinarian if there are dog trainers in your area that might be able to assist you, if necessary, with your new dog in the future. Read as much as you can about training, beginning with our chapter in this ebook, and be prepared to spend however much time it takes to help turn your rescue dog into the healthy, happy, well-adjusted pet you want him to be. Know Your Limits Some dogs are beyond the capabilities of even professional dog trainers and dog behaviorists. Keep this in mind as you choose your rescue dog. If the dog is overtly aggressive not normally a trait seen in Samoyeds to either people or other dogs, you should seriously consider whether you re capable of changing that behavior. If another rescue possibility is intensely shy and fearful, you may need to come to terms with the fact that your efforts to help turn the dog around could take a very, very long time. And remember to introduce the rescue dog in a safe and protected environment to the other members of your household, both people and other dogs. You need to know 24

25 what kind of reactions they ll have to each other and what kind of challenges you ll be facing as a new owner BEFORE you make the commitment to take the dog home. With a rescue dog, the last thing you want to do is take it home, only to have to return it to the rescue agency if things don t work out. For a little dog that comes from a neglected or abused environment, one more rejection will only make her situation worse. Having said all that, it s also important to remember that many rescue situations turn out beautifully. Samoyeds are an incredibly resilient breed, and many rescue dogs quickly settle happily into their new homes. Don t let this discussion deter you from your decision to rescue a Samoyed, but do go into it with your eyes open. List of Reputable Rescue Groups Just as there are Samoyed clubs around the globe, there are also a host of wonderful Samoyed rescue agencies as well. No matter where you live, you re likely to find a rescue club within driving distance. Finding them is easy. You can contact Samoyed clubs, your veterinarian, or any of the various registries for information on Samoyed rescue agencies, but we ve compiled a brief list here to give you a bit of a head start. Just think your new Samoyed companion could be just a click or a phone call away! Australia NSW Samoyed Rescue nswsamoyedrescue@gmail.com Samoyed Rescue South Australia starwisp@chariot.net.au Australia Samoyed Rescue 25

26 Canada Canada Samoyed Rescue Western Canada Samoyed Rescue United Kingdom Samoyed Association Rescue - UK Samoyed Rescue Society - UK United States San Francisco Samoyed Rescue rescue@sfsr.com Denver Samoyed Rescue samoyedrescue@msn.com Central Florida Samoyed Rescue Samoyed Adoption Midwest, Inc. (Illinois) mup@enteract.com Minuteman Samoyed Club Rescue for Central New York flash@doghows.org 26

27 Chapter Three - Owning a Samoyed: Personality Plus! If you still haven t decided whether a Samoyed is the right dog for you, chances are this chapter will help you decide. For all of their wonderful traits, we believe the most endearing of all is the Samoyed personality. We ve known plenty of other purebred dogs that come with their own set of issues, many of which present challenges to their owners. But the Samoyed stands out in our minds as the breed with perhaps the best overall personality of any breed we ve encountered. This is not to say the Samoyed is perfect there are definitely some problems that could surface in regard to training and some physical characteristics that we discuss in more detail in the chapters on Training Your Samoyed and Grooming and Health Concerns but, in general, Samoyeds possess a wonderfully upbeat, friendly personality that is simply hard to resist. One of the top breeders in our state gave us an instant introduction to the personality and charm of the breed one evening at her home. She had three gorgeous animals that were like family to her and all she had to do was say, Family photo! and they would go and pose where she pointed as a stunning threesome. We were in awe. Then, as a joke, she had also taught them that when she said, Pussycats! they were to bark loudly and fiercely. It was very amusing. They didn t like cats, anyway, and she told us they would chase any feline intruders across the park. I don t recall the final command she used, but her male dog sat up on a chair, lifted his head and howled, almost as if he was pretending to be a wolf, sitting on a snow-capped mountain. It was a wonderful cameo of what Samoyeds could do, and while many other breeds could undoubtedly do the same, they would not have the beauty and majesty that was evident that night. The Family Dog There are no two ways about it Samoyeds like people. And we mean they REALLY like people. Once you bring a Samoyed into your life, it s sure to warm up to everyone in your family. And while they may favor one person or another dogs have a natural tendency to pick favorites just in the same way that people do it s very common for Samoyeds to enjoy the company of many different human companions. 27

28 As we touched on briefly in the Introduction, a Samoyed makes a wonderful family pet. Whether you have small children, elderly family members, other dogs, or other types of animals in your household, Samoyeds are extremely adaptable and good-natured when it comes to all of the above. With small children and elderly people, Samoyeds seem to instinctively know that an extra measure of gentleness is called for. This is particularly true if the Samoyed is raised from puppyhood in the same household. But even an adult Samoyed that is brought in as a new member of the family assuming the dog doesn t come from an abusive background generally understands that a little more patience and gentleness is called for with our more fragile family members. We heard a story recently about an older Samoyed whose family included two adults in their late thirties. The couple had no children and worked from home, so it was easy to see how their Samoyed, Eli, could become in some ways their only child. When one of Eli s owners became pregnant, it was a great shock to both people. They were worried about how Eli would react to having a tiny infant in the house. After all, Eli was a big, strapping male Samoyed who was used to having all their attention. Although Eli was very gentle, they were concerned that he might be jealous of a newborn in the household. As it turns out, there was no need to worry. Eli wasn t jealous at all. In fact, he was absolutely in love with the tiny baby. Whenever the baby was in her crib, Eli would lie down on the floor next to the crib, patiently waiting for the baby to wake up. Once the baby started to cry for attention, Eli would immediately run to the mother and dad, wherever they were in the house, to alert them to the baby s crying. Mom and Dad could never beat Eli to the punch when it came to responding to the baby s crying. Samoyeds are also usually easy-going with other dogs, although if faced with aggressive behavior on the part of another canine, the Samoyed can certainly hold its own. But chances are that if you do encounter problems between a Samoyed and other breeds of dogs, the Samoyed will not be the aggressor. Remember the history of the 28

29 breed. These are pack dogs in the truest sense, considering their history as sled dogs. Samoyeds are typically much more comfortable in a pack not only with a pack of humans, but also in their own dog pack. If you have other dogs in your household, the Samoyed will usually blend in well with his other pack members. The breed also does well with other animals, particularly if the Samoyed is exposed to them from early puppyhood on. We know of one family that owns several cats and three Samoyeds, all of which were raised together in the same house. The dogs not only get along with the cats, but they actually sleep together, eat together and play together. We can t promise that you ll experience this level of serenity among your animals, but if any breed is capable of living peacefully with other animals, it s the Samoyed. Of course, there are always exceptions, and with Samoyeds it may well be that snakes aren t high on their list of desirable companions. Here s a story that illustrates that. When our son was about four years old, a friend was visiting with her young daughter as well. The children were playing in the yard when something drew our attention. Imagine the horror to see Sasha with a large snake in her mouth, shaking it ferociously. Fortunately, the children were to one side of the yard as Sasha battled the snake, and while we raced outside as quickly as possible, she killed it swiftly and we were not about to try taking it from her! Afterwards, she seemed over-excited and ran around the yard, but with a sixth sense, I called the vet, wondering whether it was possible that she had been bitten in the process. The instructions were immediate put the dog in the car, the dead snake in a bag and come straight there. To this day, I can still see Sasha sitting up in the back of the station wagon, and within minutes, just keeling over. I experienced the most incredible sinking feeling you could imagine. My foot went down on the accelerator, and when I drove into the surgery car park, the staff ran out, picked her up and carried her inside. Her tongue was already blue and it transpired that she had been bitten by one of the most venomous snakes in Australia, the king brown. The vet put the snake in a bottle on display in the surgery as it was the biggest they had seen. 29

30 Needless to say, the vet staff did an incredible job and featured Sasha s recovery in their magazine. Never would I have thought to see a Samoyed that was usually so docile leap so swiftly into such a vicious attack, but with two small children in the yard to protect, she didn t hesitate. We saw another aspect of the Samoyed protective instinct that morning and we have always felt secure having our gorgeous dogs around us. The Party Animal You have to personally experience the sociability of the Samoyed to believe it. We noticed quite early in our Samoyed ownership that whenever we had visitors, or especially a larger gathering, Sasha would go from person to person, sitting in front of each in turn until she was acknowledged. If the person didn't say hello, she would often sit on their feet, much to the amusement of everyone else. She took this to an extreme when we lived in a large city which had a huge central park. We often went there for picnics and there were usually other families picnicking around. Sasha would go from one group to the next, not missing a single one. In one instance, a dad had tears in his eyes as he explained that his little daughter meeting Sasha was a breakthrough as she had previously been bitten on the face by a dog and from then on was understandably terrified of dogs. Sasha showed her that not all dogs are frightening. The downside of this sociability is that if your Samoyed gets out of your yard, it will not be coming back any time soon. It will go from house to house, finding the children in the yards or people on the street. Even when Sasha was so old she could barely walk, she still headed off to meet the people and in one instance, was found lying on the sidewalk as she had obviously run out of steam. We have a beautiful yard with a high gate, but delivery people and sometimes our visitors would leave it open thinking they would be quick, but Sasha could outsmart them. She had the appearance of an old lady, would look feeble and frail, and then get up and be out the gate in a flash. 30

31 On one famous occasion when we had a party at our home, she wandered off onto the sidewalk with our friends but didn't come back into the yard. Instead, she took a stroll and the rest of the partygoers were all out looking for her in the wee hours of the morning. Then there was the time she left early in the evening and we searched for hours with no clues. After advertising on the radio, we learned that she had spent the night at someone's house, a couple of streets away. When she arrived, they realized that she was someone's precious dog, and they took her in. So while we walked the streets, Sasha watched TV, was well fed, and overall, had a lovely sleepover! The Herding Dog The instinct to herd is perhaps one of the strongest in dogs, and the Samoyed s ancestors were bred to herd reindeer. As a result, the herding instinct is alive and well in this breed. The urge to herd can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the breed of dog. Heelers are dogs that literally nip at the heels of the animals they want to herd, usually driving them forward from the back of the herd. Welsh Corgis and Australian Cattle Dogs fall into this category. Headers use what s called the strong-eye technique, which involves getting in front of the herd to move it in another direction and staring down individual animals in the herd to motivate them to move. Border Collies fall into this category. A third group uses what s called the loose-eyed approach, which involves a dog working more independently and using his body language and position to move animals. The Samoyed falls into this loose-eyed category. This means that if your Samoyed exhibits one of these behaviors like standing in the way of your children or pacing back and forth in front of a small group of people he may be trying to herd. While this can occasionally be a little annoying under certain circumstances, remember that your Samoyed is only engaging in his innate instinct to herd. We know of one Samoyed that particularly enjoys herding activities any time more than three or four people are gathered together, like when her master is having a party 31

32 at her home. It took her owner quite some time to understand what her Samoyed was attempting, but the party guests seemed to understand right away they dutifully followed the Samoyed s gentle nudging and were herded back together any time one of them wandered too far from the rest of the party flock. The Working Dog The AKC employs eight difference categories for purposes of showing and competing. The Samoyed falls into the Working Dog category, which includes several different breeds that were bred to do a job, such as herding or pulling carts or sleds. Included in the Working Dog group are such breeds as the Akita, the Alaskan Malamute, the Boxer, the Great Dane, the Great Pyrenees, the Saint Bernard and the Siberian Husky. You can see what impressive company the Samoyed keeps within this category of the registry! The term working dog actually suits the Samoyed to a tee. Like many of the other breeds that fall into this category, the Samoyed is most at ease and happiest when it has a job to do. And that job can be anything his owner chooses: fetching the paper, retrieving a ball, bringing his leash to his owner when it knows it s time for a daily walk, or any other task the owner can create to give his dog a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Purpose and accomplishment do you think those are terms only used to describe people? Think again! Samoyeds, like the other breeds of Working Dogs, most definitely want a job (or, better yet, multiple jobs) to do. They ll look forward to it, accomplish it with boundless enthusiasm, and happily wait for your praise after it s done. In fact, if you ask your Samoyed to do the same job at just about the same time every day fetching the morning paper, for example it s entirely possible that your canine companion will pace eagerly back and forth each morning while you re pouring your first cup of coffee or tea, and impatiently stand close by, wagging its beautiful tail and tilting its head in a Can I go now? quizzical look, until you give it the command that it s been waiting for. 32

33 We know of one retired gentleman who had owned the same pair of Samoyeds for many years. Each afternoon the three of them would go for their daily walk around the neighborhood. No matter what was going on during the day whether their owner was alone or had company both Samoyeds would grab their leashes from the hook in the hallway and take the leashes to their master. This happened at almost exactly the same time of day, each and every day of the year, year after year. And, like any good Samoyed owner dedicated to his furry companions, the owner would always respond by taking them out for their walks. Now that s what we call a well-trained Samoyed owner! The Samoyeds no doubt thought of retrieving their leashes as a job, and they were committed to performing that job each and every day. Before you shake your head in disbelief, you must remember two important traits of the Samoyed: 1) they re very intelligent, and 2) they re athletic. What this means is that the Samoyed needs both mental and physical exercise. It needs to be challenged, stimulated and kept busy. If it s not, it can mean only one thing boredom. And a bored Samoyed can be very destructive. Samoyeds, more than many other breeds, need attention. If they re not stimulated physically or mentally, they re more than capable of creating their own diversions, many of which won t be desirable. A Samoyed left alone in a backyard all day will not only be an unhappy dog, but it ll most likely digs holes, tear up the landscape, chew through irrigation lines and anything else that takes up its time and amuses it during the day. Remember our warning in the Introduction to this ebook if you don t have enough time to spend with your dog each and every day, then a Samoyed may not be the right breed for you. This is particularly true if you have to work all day and the dog is left at home alone. This is like torture to a Samoyed. If you have other dogs that can be home during the day with him, it s helpful. But there s really no substitute for being there with your dog or taking the dog with you. 33

34 A Watchdog We ve already described the Samoyed as gentle, friendly and easy-going, not to mention good-natured and sociable. So it s probably no surprise that the Samoyed does not necessarily make a good guard dog, and by a guard dog we mean a dog that can be actively aggressive toward unwanted strangers or intruders. The fact is that the breed is just not, by nature, guard dog material. But there may be, at times, some exceptions to this rule. Let us give you one example. When our son was young, he and one of his school buddies were engaging in a bit of youthful rough-housing; the kind that kids often engage in while joking around. All this was well and good, but Sasha, our old Samoyed, who clearly saw herself as our son s personal guard dog, didn t think this behavior was at all appropriate. She moved quickly in between the boys and began loudly barking at our son s friend. While I knew it wasn t aggressive barking, or likely to be dangerous, she definitely made it clear that he was to stop and stop immediately. The two of them did stop, and Sasha settled down. At the time, we were surprised because Sasha loved being with children and other than this incident, played with all children very happily. She arrived in our family when our daughter was only two years old and you can imagine the love displayed by a two-yearold on what appeared like a fluffy, agile teddy. Sasha tolerated all the hugs and tugs on her fur, as well as the dressing up! Because of her insistent barking, we did wonder whether she would actually protect the family against a genuine attacker if it was necessary. Certainly, as the years have gone on, and we have had other Samoyeds, we realized that they do provide a level of protection because of their strong bark, coupled with their apparent size because of all the fur. A lot of delivery people will not venture into the yard unless they know the dogs are safe. We have always found this somewhat amusing because if you look closely at Samoyeds, they always seem to have a smile. That story brings us to the discussion of another typical Samoyed trait: loyalty. While it can be argued that all dogs are loyal to a certain extent, the Samoyed falls into the 34

35 extreme category when it comes to this desirable characteristic. And that loyalty could most certainly turn into protective behavior if the situation calls for it. Remember the story we told you earlier about Eli, the elderly Samoyed who routinely babysat the new infant in his home? That s just one example of Samoyed loyalty. While we know there are countless famous stories about dogs and their extreme loyalty to their owners, this is a trait you ll see consistently displayed in the Samoyed breed. But while the Samoyed may not be a guard dog by nature, it most certainly is a watchdog. What s the difference? A watchdog will WATCH and will let you know what s happening. And Samoyeds don t have any problem letting you know. In fact, they re known for being extremely vocal dogs. This may be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the circumstances (we ll discuss excessive barking behavior later in the Training Your Samoyed chapter). But when it comes to being a watchdog, the Samoyed is well equipped. Guard Duty After Sasha left us finally for Dog Heaven, we welcomed Saminka, and our lives were rather different, as she didn't visit around the streets as much. Instead, we noticed that if our gates were open and another stray dog came in, she would chase the dog until it turned the corner and was out of sight. She would pause as it raced away down the street, but if it stopped before the corner, she resumed chase. So, in a sense, she was an excellent guard dog. These are just a few personality traits of the Samoyed breed. When you bring home your own pup, we have no doubt that you ll be able to add to this list. The breed is often called the Smiling Samoyed because of their distinctive, curled-up, black lips that seem to form a smile. As it turns out, this is an appropriate name for the breed. While that might not actually be a smile on that beautiful white face, it most certainly is an 35

36 indication of the personality of the breed. Now you see what we mean when we say the Samoyed really has personality plus! 36

37 Chapter Four - Training Your Samoyed The Samoyed has been, many times, unfairly labeled as a breed that is difficult to train. We don t believe that s true for an instant. In fact, we believe that Samoyeds make wonderful obedience dogs. But before you begin training your new puppy (or your newly adopted adult dog), there are a few important characteristics of the Samoyed that you need to keep in mind. They re intelligent They learn quickly They re easily bored They re independent thinkers They respond best to positive reinforcement Never underestimate how well and how quickly your pups will learn what you re trying to teach. And once they ve learned it, they ll be ready to move on. Make your training sessions short so the dog doesn t get bored. If you continue to try to teach the dog something it s already learned, chances are you ll see that smiling furry face looking up at you as if to say, Why are we still doing this? I ve already taught you everything I know. Their tendency to become bored is also obvious even when people try to play the usual doggy games. Just try playing fetch with a Samoyed you throw a ball and they will get it for you a couple of times, or a few more if you are lucky, but they will soon look at you as if the light has dawned Ah ha! You keep throwing it away so you clearly don t want it! So they quit fetching. You could no doubt train them to fetch a ball repeatedly, but for a game, they would rather do something more creative. Because of their independence, Samoyeds are not usually in the top ranks for agility training, but they can certainly do it. One Samoyed owner who achieved the highest 37

38 agility award with her Samoyed summed up the Samoyed independent spirit by saying that they have 101 ways to do what you want. We have certainly found that if you are not firm with them, they will take a detour before they carry out the command or find a slightly different, creative way of carrying it out. We taught our youngest Samoyed, Annabella, to crawl along the ground, as Mia did in the rescue scene in the beautiful film Eight Below, but after a while, she developed new ways to get into the same position and would enthusiastically leap and land in the spot when she saw the crawl gesture, rather than quietly dropping to the ground and starting to crawl. It wouldn t be fair to think she was being actively disobedient because she was so excited at carrying out the required task she was still doing what you asked, just doing it creatively. When you consider their role as sled dogs, their ability to think independently would have been greatly prized by explorers or the tribes whose lives depended on their quick thinking. Having a dog strictly obeying a command which might put the life of the person in danger, without them even being aware of it, would not have been an advantage in an environment of snow-camouflaged chasms and other dangers. Their ability to independently assess a situation and make decisions undoubtedly saved lives over the years. You will find that Samoyeds, like almost any breed, respond best to positive reinforcement. And also like any other breed they re bound to make an occasional mistake along the way. Always praise your dog when it does well, but don t scold if it makes a mistake. Just remember that it s bound to happen from time to time and move on with your training. While it s always important to praise your dog for a job well done, whether or not you reward your dog with treats is up to you. There are two schools of thought along these lines. Some people believe that dogs learn quicker and are more motivated to perform when food treats are involved, while others believe that dogs that are fed treats are 38

39 really just motivated by food and not by the desire to please their master or perform the desired action. The decision about whether to use treats is entirely up to you. But remember that praise for a job well done is always appropriate and important. House Breaking House breaking a puppy requires a lot of patience. Little pups have to relieve themselves often up to six times a day or more. It s important to watch your little pup carefully, take it out often, and encourage it to go where it s supposed to go. If you catch the pup urinating on your carpet, for example, it s important to correct it QUICKLY. If you wait even a minute after the little pup has made the mistake, the pup won t understand why you re correcting it. So only correct your dog if you catch it in the act of urinating or worse in an inappropriate place. When you do correct the pup, don t scold. Instead, just firmly say No, and immediately take the puppy outside where it should be urinating. And remember to always praise a pup when it goes in the right place. It s extremely important to understand the difference between scolding and firmly saying No. Your pup needs to learn the meaning of No without the trauma of being scolded. Don t raise your voice or yell at your dog. It only makes things worse. A firm No will do the trick, as long as you re catching your dog in the act. Let your puppy outside often throughout the day and evening, preferably after meals or a nap, and continue to praise it when it eliminates in the appropriate place. Eventually, your pup will understand where it should go and where it shouldn t. Crate Training If you choose to crate train your pup and we recommend that you do you can combine house breaking with crate training. Dogs naturally don t want to eliminate where they sleep. If you train your dog to sleep in a crate, it will understand that it needs to wait until it s outside of the crate to relieve itself. 39

40 Begin with keeping the puppy confined in its crate for SHORT periods of time and only when you re home. NEVER leave a puppy (or an adult dog, for that matter) in a crate unattended for long periods of time. The dog will end up feeling abandoned and traumatized, which will lead to lots of negative behaviors. Start by keeping the pup in the crate for just several minutes at a time when you re home. Then, as soon as you take the pup out of the crate, take it outside so it can relieve itself. Once it does, remember to heap on the praise! After you bring the pup back inside, reward it by giving it some free play time inside the house. But even then, supervise the pup as much as possible. If it urinates in one place in the house and you don t see it, it s entirely possible that the pup will repeat that behavior in the future. Continue keeping the pup confined for short periods of time in its crate when you re home, then follow up by taking the pup outside to relieve itself, dishing out praise for a job well done, and bringing the pup back inside for play time. Begin to increase the amount of time your pup stays in its crate until the dog is comfortable being there, always followed by time outside and play time. It s a good idea to put a chewing toy or a treat inside the crate, and perhaps a blanket things the puppy can get familiar with, and will come to regard as its own special things which stay in the crate. Eventually, your pup will think of its crate as its little sanctuary, and it will be happy to spend time there whenever you ask it to do so. It will also begin to learn and very quickly in the case of Samoyeds where it s appropriate to go and where it s not. House Training an Adult Dog If you adopt an older dog from a shelter or rescue agency, you may not know whether the dog has been house broken or not. For the most part, it s always safer to assume that the dog isn t house broken. Even if it is, coming into a new environment, with new people, new water, new food, and often times other new animals, can be extremely stressful to the new family member. This could lead to digestive disturbances and behavior that isn t appropriate like relieving itself inside. 40

41 Begin with your new adult dog in much the same way as you would a puppy. Before the dog even steps a paw inside the house, show it where to relieve itself. And when it does, praise it to let it know it s done the right thing. Then, day after day, continue to let the dog outside to relieve itself, praising it each time. And remember to supervise the dog while it s inside to make sure it doesn t urinate (or worse) inside the house. If it does happen, just firmly say No and lead it outside. Generally speaking with adult dogs, over the course of just a few weeks, they will come to understand what is appropriate and what is not. Socializing Your Puppy or Adult Dog It s important for your dog to be comfortable around people and other dogs as well. For a puppy, the first six months of its life are crucial as far as socialization is concerned. After your young dog has all of its puppy shots (at a time when it s safe to expose it to other dogs), begin to take your puppy with you as much as possible wherever you go. This will help to get the pup accustomed to car rides, different environments, and different people and other animals. When your puppy is exposed to new people, and especially to new dogs or other animals, always make sure it s in a safe environment. Remember, it s very important that your pup thinks of new places, people and animals in a positive way, so praise it when it acts appropriately. If it doesn t act appropriately, just firmly say No, but don t scold or overreact. While it s a lot more challenging to socialize an older dog, particularly a rescue dog that may have had some traumatic life experiences, you can still use these same techniques to help it adjust to new situations. But if your adopted adult dog has been abused or neglected in some way, remember that it may only be able to become socialized to a certain extent. Just remember to always create a safe environment for your dog, and watch it closely to make sure you re not overexposing it. Eventually, with your patient encouragement, your rescue dog will become more comfortable with its surroundings and new situations. 41

42 Basic Obedience Training There are many different ways to train your dog and many different levels of training. For example, if you want your dog to be in the show ring, it will need to know a different set of commands than a dog that will just be a companion at home. As we mentioned earlier, some people like to use treats to train while others don t. Clicker training is becoming more popular with many dog owners. Whichever method you choose to train your dog, it s important to be consistent and use positive reinforcement when the dog performs correctly. We could write an entire separate ebook about training and the different levels and methods used. For our purposes here, we re going to list the five basic commands your dog should know, then let you make the decision which training method to use. Here are the five basic obedience commands: sit, stay, down, heel and come. Each one of these is important for your dog to know and obey. Whatever method you choose for your training, make sure you re consistent in your commands. If you ask the dog to Come, don t expect it to understand what you mean when you say, Here, boy. Use the same commands repeatedly. Walking on a Leash Let s take a moment now to remember the origins of Samoyeds they re sled dogs with an instinct to pull. Some of the strongest dogs in the world have been Samoyeds. Unless you re an incredibly large, strong person yourself, chances are your full-grown Samoyed is going to win if there s a pulling contest between the two of you. So, of course, it s extremely important to teach your dog how to walk on a leash without pulling. You can use this technique either with or without treats, and with either a puppy or an adult dog. Begin with a six-foot leash clipped to your dog s collar. It s easiest if you train your dog in an environment it s familiar with like your backyard, for example. That way, the dog won t be as distracted by new sights and smells, and it will be easier to focus on you. 42

43 Begin walking with whatever command you d like to use: Walk, or Let s go, for example. Remember to be consistent with this command, whatever it is. Always use the same word or phrase when you want to start your walk. As you and the dog begin to walk, come to a complete stop any time the dog pulls on the leash. Don t yank at the leash or try to pull your dog backward. Simply come to a complete stop. Once your dog is stopped and relaxed, begin walking again, using the same command. Your goal is to always have slack in the leash. Continue to repeat this until your dog starts to relax. Remember to praise him at each small step along the way. If you choose to give your dog treats during training, give him a small treat when he behaves correctly. Keep the training in familiar territory until your dog becomes better at not pulling. When you think the dog is ready, take a walk in your neighborhood or in a local park, but don t expect your dog to do as well as in the backyard. There will be a lot of distractions that will make it harder for your dog to obey. But over time, with your patience and after many walks, your dog will come to understand how pleasant it is to take a walk with you without the urge to pull. Problem Behaviors As we ve said repeatedly throughout this ebook, Samoyeds are bright and athletic dogs. Those traits have advantages and disadvantages. If your Samoyed becomes bored, it may dig or jump fences to entertain itself. Samoyeds are, by nature, very vocal dogs. This means that they like to bark, and sometimes that can become excessive. The first thing to remember is that if your Samoyed develops an undesirable behavior, chances are it s a reaction to some other problem that needs to be addressed. For example, if your dog barks excessively when you re not home, it could be a sign of separation anxiety (remember that Samoyeds don t like to be left alone). A dog that isn t challenged enough mentally or physically may end up digging holes in your garden. A dog left alone in the backyard for long periods of time may end up jumping over the 43

44 fence. When you stop to think about it, you may able to resolve many of these problem behaviors by changing your own behaviors and how you treat your dog. Having said all that, there are a few ways to address these issues if they arise. While we can t possibly discuss every problem that might occur with your dog, we have chosen a few behaviors that Samoyeds seem a bit more likely to engage in, along with a few tips to help you resolve these issues if they occur. Excessive Barking While some barking is natural for a dog, too much of it isn t good for anybody people or dogs. The first step in resolving the issue is to determine WHY your dog is barking. Is it trapped in too small of an enclosure or yard? Is it barking at other animals? Is it barking because it s alone and separated from its pack? Is the dog bored and looking for attention? The most important thing to remember in resolving excessive barking is to know and understand what NOT TO DO. You must quit rewarding your dog for barking. This will often resolve the problem. Many owners don t understand that they re actually reinforcing negative behaviors by how they react to their dog s actions. If your dog barks excessively DO NOT: Let them inside if they re out, or let them outside if they re in. This just encourages your dog to continue to bark. This also applies to a dog that barks to be let out of its crate. Yell at your dog. While yelling at your dog is never appropriate, it s particularly bad when the dog barks a lot. It s entirely possible that your dog will think you re just joining in the fun, which will make the problem even worse. Give your dog a treat or affectionate attention. Trying to comfort a barking dog by feeding it or petting it is definitely reinforcing bad behavior. 44

45 With Samoyeds in particular, always make sure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise (mental and physical) and that the area he s staying in is comfortable. Give your dog a chew toy to amuse itself. And we know this will be particularly difficult don t always respond to your dog barking. Many times, if the dog is relaxed from physical activity and understands that barking isn t going to get it what it wants, the barking will stop or at least diminish. Strange as it may seem, we were able to train our first Samoyed not to bark because we were aware before she arrived that our neighbors would not tolerate a barking dog. By the time we got our second dog, however, we deliberately didn t do the same as we wanted more watch dog behavior. Talking This is not to be confused with the excessive barking mentioned previously as Samoyeds will have their own unique noises to communicate with their owners and also with the people they meet. You, as an owner, will need to determine which is which, and you will be able to train them to make some sounds that are very entertaining and clever. The ability to communicate vocally will certainly enhance their role as a companion. Our children had a lot of fun when they were young asking Saminka questions which she would answer with different numbers of short barks, sounding like yes and no. And the beautiful Annabella makes small, soft growls with a rising inflection when she talks, just as if she is asking the questions. Needless to say, we reply to her! Each Samoyed will have a different personality and will express itself in its own way, so don t curb their communication skills unless it is likely to be annoying. Whenever we arrived home, or a visitor came, Saminka had to talk to us for a short time, even after being patted. My mother would often say, But I ve said hello to you, Saminka! and I would remind her that Saminka wanted to hear about her day, etc., not just hello. If you had a small conversation with her, she felt included and would be happy. This form of behavior is not to be confused with repeated, loud, annoying barking. 45

46 Jumping Fences The vast majority of the time, a dog that jumps a fence is either left alone and bored or isn t getting enough exercise, both of which can easily happen with Samoyeds. Jumping fences is sort of a self-perpetuating act for a dog. What we mean is this: Every time your dog successfully jumps the fence, that successful jump is reward enough for the dog, and the behavior will most likely repeat itself. The first step in resolving this problem is to make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise and is left alone as little as possible. Are we beginning to sound like a broken record? We can t emphasize how important this is for Samoyeds. The second step may seem entirely obvious, but it s true you have to make sure your dog can t jump the fence. This means adding onto or rebuilding your fence. Make it higher if you have to. Make sure there s no way your dog can CLIMB the fence (we ve heard many stories of Samoyeds that climb six-foot tall chain-link fences!). Make sure there are no holes in the fence. Block the fence somehow so that the dog can t get to it. 46

47 There are many possibilities, so choose the one that makes most sense for you and your dog. And remember once it happens, it will likely continue to happen, so you need to make sure that your fence can t be climbed or jumped. Digging Holes There are many reasons that dogs dig holes. Sometimes it s to bury a bone. Other times it s out of boredom or to escape under a fence (both of which may be the result of the dog being left alone too long or not getting enough exercise). Or the dog may just like to dig (many dogs do). Whatever the reason, it s important to stop this behavior whenever you see it happening. Here are a just a few ideas along those lines. When your dog starts to dig, reprimand him with a squirt of water from either the hose or a spray bottle. Blow up a couple of balloons and bury them in places where your dog likes to dig. Once the dog hits a balloon or two, the popping noise can very easily convince it to quit digging altogether. Bury some chicken wire in places where your dog likes to dig. This is especially effective under fences, where it s possible for the dog to climb under the fence. Use chicken wire weighed down with bricks or logs around the edge if your dog has favorite digging areas. This will enable the lawn to recover and prevent any more damage. One very good piece of advice we received when Annabella went to puppy training was to buy at least ten different toys and recycle them, giving her five to play with at any one time. We only wish we d had this advice when Saminka was young because her chewing of (antique) furniture and the edges of built-in cupboards when we were out cost us thousands of dollars in repairs. The use of numerous toys has definitely been worth the cost of them, even if we have still been the recipient of some free landscaping courtesy of Annabella. Samoyeds love to drag and shake things, so we let Annabella have large palm fronds or ropes things 47

48 she could, drag, tug or shake. She had a great time with them, possibly seeing herself killing venomous snakes or long-tailed predators in her canine imagination. Whatever problems you might encounter with your Samoyed, remember to always think about what behaviors of your own that you might change to resolve the issue. And always use positive reinforcement when training. It will make for a much more pleasing experience for both you and your dog. 48