Where the Samoyed came from
The Samoyed descends from the Nenets herding laika, a reindeer-herding dog used across the Arctic. The breed takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples, a term once used for the Nenets. These dogs herded reindeer and pulled sleds.
In 1889 a man named Ernest Kilburn-Scott brought a puppy from near Arkhangelsk, Russia, to England, and he is widely seen as the breed's founder. Explorers also took Samoyeds on polar expeditions. Fridtjof Nansen bought 33 dogs from the Nenets for his Fram expedition of 1893 to 1896. Carsten Borchgrevink took about 90 south in 1898 to 1900, and Ernest Shackleton bought nine of the survivors.
The AKC recognized the Samoyed in 1906, and the first official breed standard was written in England in 1909. Today they are friendly family dogs and sled dogs.
- 1889 Ernest Kilburn-Scott brings a puppy from northern Russia to England
- 1893 to 1896 Nansen's Fram expedition uses dogs bought from the Nenets
- 1898 to 1900 Borchgrevink's Southern Cross Expedition takes about 90 Samoyeds south
- 1906 AKC recognizes the Samoyed
The job a Samoyed was bred for
The job was herding, hauling and keeping people warm. That shaped a friendly, social dog who wants to be with their people. At home they can be talkative and independent.
Sports that fit a Samoyed
- Sledding and skijoring. Original work
- Canicross and bikejoring. Great for cool weather pulling
- Weight pull. Strong and willing
- Herding. Retain herding instinct
- Scent work. A calm mental job
Training tips for a Samoyed
- Use positive rewards. They think for themselves, so make it worth their while.
- Teach loose leash walking before they pull.
- Practice recall in safe areas.
- Give daily exercise in cool weather.
Body and health
The thick coat makes heat a danger. Exercise in cool hours.
Fun fact. Ernest Shackleton bought nine Samoyeds that survived Carsten Borchgrevink's Antarctic expedition.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Samoyed is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.