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LargeWorking Group

Samoyed

The Samoyed was developed by the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia as a multi-purpose reindeer herder, sled dog, and shelter warmer.

Calculate Samoyed age
Lifespan13.1 yrrange 12–14
SizeLargeWorking Group
Weight35–65 lb15.9–29.5 kg
Senior at6 yrgeriatric at 10

Gallery (3)

About

About the Samoyed

The Samoyed was developed by the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia as a multi-purpose reindeer herder, sled dog, and shelter warmer. The white double coat and curled tail are breed-defining; the distinctive 'Sammy smile' reflects an upturned mouth line rather than a trained behavior.

Aging

How Samoyeds age

RVC VetCompass gives a median 13.1 years (n=1,059). Samoyed Hereditary Glomerulopathy — an X-linked kidney disease — is the defining inherited concern, with affected males typically progressing to renal failure before age 5 without screening.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 13.1 yr · range 12–14Senior careSenior at 6 · geriatric at 10Common health issues9 tracked conditions
Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
35–65 lb(15.9–29.5 kg)
Height
19–23.5 in(48.3–59.7 cm)
Coat type
Double
Colors
WhiteBiscuitCreamWhite & Biscuit
Temperament

Temperament

How Samoyeds tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

adaptablefriendlygentlealert
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~6 yr

    Progressive Retinal Atrophy

    Description and veterinary guidance for Progressive Retinal Atrophy land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
60min
per day

About 60 minutes of activity per day keeps a Samoyed physically and mentally satisfied. Split it between a structured walk and free play.

Related

Related breeds

Breeds with a similar size and group profile, for readers comparing options.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. RVC VetCompassRoyal Veterinary College VetCompass life-table research (McMillan et al. 2024)

    UK primary-care records; source for the median-lifespan and mortality figures.