The Samoyed dog is an ancient working dog breed. The dog breed got its name from the Samoyed hunters and fishermen of Siberia. The Samoyed people use these dogs to guard their property, for herding reindeers and also pulling their sleds. An explorer by the name of Robert Scott brought the Samoyed dogs to England in 1889 and from there they spread to the rest of the world. This dog breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1906.

The Samoyed dog has a compact and muscular body. Its wedge-shaped head is notably broad and slightly crowned. Its muzzle is in proportion to its size and is tapering near the nose. The stop is very well defined but is not abrupt. Its nose color can be brown, black, or liver. Its lips are black and its teeth meet in some kind of a scissors bite. Its eyes are dark almond in color and are deep-set. The eyes are somewhat wide apart and have a slanting lower lid with dark rims. The ears are erect and triangular in shape, but are slightly rounded at its tips. The tail is quite long and well covered with hair. Its legs are solid and muscular, while its feet are flat and are covered with hair. Its double coat is profuse and thick. Its undercoat is short, soft and thick. Its outer coat stands straight out and is harsh. A ruff can be observed around the neck and shoulders, which frames its head. It has several coat colors which include yellow, pure white, biscuit and cream.

The gentle Samoyed dog is easy-going, friendly, very devoted, and quite playful. They can be friendly to all which include intruders. Yes they are too friendly, but it can bark well to alert you on the presence of strangers. It can adapt well with family life and gets along very well with children. They are very intelligent, and will positively respond to patient and firm training, which should start at an early age. It is recommended that the owner be a confident, firm and consistent pack leader in order to avoid some potential behavior issues like obsessive barking.

The Samoyed dog requires extensive grooming and they are seasonally heavy shedders. Its fluffy double coat needs regular brushing. The coat tends to stay white even without bathing. This dog breed is very prone to diabetes, hip dysplasia and skin allergies. The Samoyed dog will do fine as an apartment pet for as long as it is sufficiently exercised. It can be very active indoors and needs a small yard to play around. Its heavy coat makes this dog breed unsuitable to life in hotter climates. This dog breed needs a good amount of exercise which includes a daily walk or jog. The life expectancy of this dog breed is about 12-15 years.