Care for a Samoyed

Take your Samoyed for regular health checkups including eye exams and have the teeth cleaned professionally once or twice a year. Check with a vet or teeth-cleaning professional for a recommended schedule. Stay current on vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 "Sam" comfortable in hot weather; therefore a visit to a professional groomer may be a good idea.

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 should be a good schedule.