Animal register · DogIn the app
Samoyed
Sammy, Samoyede
The Samoyed comes from northern Russia and Siberia; the FCI lists it among the Nordic sledge dogs. The FCI standard describes a white, elegant Arctic spitz of medium size with an abundant, thick, dense polar coat, dark brown eyes, small, thick, erect ears and lips slightly upturned at the corners in the characteristic "Samoyed smile"; the coat is pure white, cream or white and biscuit, and blue or odd-coloured eyes disqualify. It gives an ideal height of 57 cm for males and 53 cm for females, each with a tolerance of 3 cm.
The PDSA recommends a minimum of two hours of exercise every day and grooming on a daily basis, says Samoyeds shed very often, are usually great with children and loyal to the whole family, should never be left alone for more than four hours, need a very secure garden as accomplished escape artists and have a strong prey drive, and advises leaving a gap after eating and before exercising. PetMD adds that Samoyeds do not do well in hot temperatures.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- medium — PDSA S467
- Adult weight
- males 16–29 kg, females 16–29 kg — PDSA S467
- Daily exercise
- at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S467
- Lifespan
- more than 10 years — PDSA S467
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Keep in mind:
- needs lots of exercise every dayS467
- needs mental challengesS468
- loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS467
- escapes easily — needs a secure, high fenceS467
- may “herd” children at playS468
- shedsS467
- needs brushing several times a weekS467
- thick coat — struggles in hot weatherS469
- strong prey drive — may chase small petsS467
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S467
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: more than 10 years — PDSA S467
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Samoyed need?
According to our sources, the Samoyed needs this much exercise: at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S467.
How long does a Samoyed live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Samoyed is: more than 10 years — PDSA S467.
How big does a Samoyed get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Samoyed, according to our sources: Size: medium — PDSA S467; Adult weight: males 16–29 kg, females 16–29 kg — PDSA S467.
Who is the Samoyed a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Samoyed as a good fit for: an active family — PDSA S467; family life — PDSA, PetMD S467S469; families with children — PDSA S467. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — PDSA S467; needs mental challenges — Woodgreen Pets Charity S468; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PDSA S467; escapes easily — needs a secure, high fence — PDSA S467; may “herd” children at play — Woodgreen Pets Charity S468; sheds — PDSA S467; needs brushing several times a week — PDSA S467; thick coat — struggles in hot weather — PetMD S469; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S467.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 9,000 → 12,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 12,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 9,000 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands 1.2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing 7 times a week.
- Care: a visit to the groomer every 6 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA, Woodgreen Pets Charity S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S467S468
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PDSA S467
- Cataracts, which cloud the lens of the eye and can lead to vision loss, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S467
- Diabetes mellitus, where the body cannot control its blood sugar properly, can occur in the breed. — Woodgreen Pets Charity S468
- An inherited kidney disease (hereditary nephritis, also called Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy) occurs in the breed. — PetMD S469
- Certain cancers can occur in the breed. — PDSA S467
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Other screening schemes for this breed
- Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — PDSA S467
- Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — PDSA S467
- Heart examination of the parents (breed club recommendation) — American Kennel Club K32
- DNA test for retinal dysplasia / oculoskeletal dysplasia (RD/OSD) — American Kennel Club K32
- DNA test for X-linked progressive retinal atrophy (XLPRA1) — American Kennel Club K32
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S463FCI — Breeds nomenclature: SAMOIEDSKAÏA SABAKA / SAMOYED (212)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/SAMOYED-212.html
- S464FCI — Standard FCI N° 212: Samoyède (French PDF, official valid standard 04.09.2019)https://FCI.BE/Nomenclature/Standards/212g05-fr.pdf
- S467PDSA — Samoyed Breed Informationhttps://Pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/samoyed
- S468Woodgreen Pets Charity — Pet Explorer — Samoyedhttps://ask.woodgreen.org.uk/pet-explorer/results/samoyed
- S469PetMD — Janelle Priestas, DVM, reviewed by Jo Cornett, DVM (updated Oct. 2, 2024) — Samoyedhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/samoyed
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
- K32American Kennel Club — Working Group Health Testing Requirements (breeder programs)https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements/working-group-health-testing-requirements/
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
Ready for a pet?
Be among the first families to try PetPrep. We will email you when it is ready — nothing else.