We want to know everything about dogs. Everything! But there are countless breeds of dog out there, and each one is a unique animal with its own history. That's why every week, we shine a spotlight on a different breed. This week, learn some fun facts about Samoyeds.
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"SAMOYED" IS NOT PRONOUNCED HOW YOU PROBABLY THINK IT'S PRONOUNCED
Many people pronounce this breed's name "Sa-MOY-ed." That pronunciation is incorrect. The correct way to pronounce it is "SAMMY-ed." That said, you're free to pronounce "Samoyed" however you like; no one's going to arrest you over it. Samoyed fanciers tend to nickname them "Sammies" or "Sams" anyway, so those options are open to you as well.
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SAMOYEDS ARE REINDEER HERDERS
Samoyeds come from Siberia, where they were an important part of daily life with the nomadic Samoyedic people indigenous to Siberia. The dogs worked in sleds, kept their Samoyedic owners warm, and primarily herded reindeer. Herding instincts remain intact in modern Samoyeds, and they are often seen to "herd" children in their families.
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SAMOYEDS ARE RELATIVELY NEW TO ENGLAND AND AMERICA
The ancient Samoyed breed first made its way to England in the late 19th century. The explorer Robert Scott introduced the breed to England in 1889. The breed's popularity spread quickly, and traders brought the dogs to American shores just a few years later, in 1906. The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed that same year.
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THE SAMOYED IS RENOWNED FOR ITS SMILE
Samoyed lovers appreciate their favorite breed not just for its upbeat personality, but also its famous grin. The uniquely upturned corners of the breed's happy face earned the look its own nickname: the "Sammy smile." The AKC's breed standard even mentions this, stating that a Samoyed's muzzle should be "slightly curved up at the corners of the mouth, giving the 'Samoyed smile.'"
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SAMOYEDS GROOM THEMSELVES LIKE CATS
One might think these pure-white dogs get get dirty quickly and easily, but the opposite is true. Samoyeds are nearly catlike in their self-grooming. But Samoyed owners aren't totally off the hook for grooming their dogs. All that dense Samoyed fur requires considerable upkeep, so regular brushing and combing is required.
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QUEEN ALEXANDRA WAS A GREAT FAN OF SAMOYEDS
Alexandra of Denmark, who became queen of the United Kingdom, received a Samoyed as a gift. She soon became a devoted Samoyed fan and breeder. Alexandra worked to promote awareness of the breed, and one could do worse than to have the queen herself as one's public relations representative. Many of today's Samoyeds in both England and America have ancestry that traces back to Queen Alexandra's dogs.
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