Care for a Samoyed
Originally hailing from Siberia, the fluffy Samoyed (a member of the Spitz family) was first bred to herd reindeer, pull sleds and keep their owners warm at night. And nowadays -- even though they're more likely to be pulling in the newspaper than pulling a sled -- "loyal, intelligent, friendly and great companion" still define this breed. And although they are relatively healthy dogs -- you will still need to know the following things about Samoyed care -- to make sure they keep that big ole "Sammy smile."
Instructions
1. Take your Samoyed for regular health checkups, including eye exams. Do a monthly home exam of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, teeth and gums.
2. Stay current on vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative.
3. Spay/neuter your Samoyed. Spaying your female before the first heat will prevent breast cancer and uterine infections. Neutering your male at a young age will prevent testicular cancer, help maintain a healthy prostate and curb aggression.
4. Have your Sammy's teeth cleaned professionally once or twice a year. Check with a vet or teeth-cleaning professional for a recommended schedule.
5. Feed your Samoyed a quality diet with the proper nutritional balance. If feeding a commercial dog food, choose a quality natural brand. If feeding a homemade diet, research what foods and food combinations are best.
6. Bathe your Samoyed about every three months. Since their white coat has a tendency to show dirt, you can blow dry and brush the dirt out in between baths. Keep the nails trimmed to a comfortable length; every few months during bath time is a good schedule.
7. Brush your Samoyed's thick double coat regularly and more frequently during heavier shedding periods. A metal pin brush works best. Grooming is important for keeping your Sammy comfortable in hot weather; therefore a visit to a professional groomer may be a good idea.
8. Provide regular exercise and activity for your Samoyed including a daily walk or jog. They are energetic indoors and will do OK in an apartment or with a small yard, provided they get sufficient exercise.
9. Use motivational rather than repetitive training with your Samoyed; due to their intelligence and a "mind of their own" they get bored with the same thing over and over and require motivation.
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