Advice about the SAMOYED breed of dogs?

Can anyone who has experience with Samoyed puppies/dogs tell me if they would be a good pet for me to have.





I've wanted a Samoyed for years but due to not owning my own place, I choose to wait until I did. Problem is, now that I'm in a position to buy one, I think every comment made about the breed, is designed to put me off.





I asked 2 dog kennels for their advice. One said that the Samoyed breed is easy to train, friendly and a good family dog, where as the other said that they are difficult to train, they have a habbit of wrecking (by chewing) the house when left alone for any period of time and completely unsuitable for someone like me (I have a disability).





I intended take ';dog training'; classes after I'd had the dog... any advice anyone.





Also, where can you get a puppy from. Everyone I've asked in the past point me towards USA/Canada sites, where I live in Wales - UK.





Any advice would be great.





Cheers!Advice about the SAMOYED breed of dogs?
Samoyeds are great dogs. I've had one or a bunch since I was 7 years old (so 36 years!).





They are smart. It is somewhat like living with a 3 year old child... ';why?'; ';why?'; They are easily trained BUT you have to give them sufficient reason to do what you ask (rewarding with a bit of kibble works as most are food oriented). They can be challenging as they often have both a sense of humor and the need to see if any given rule is still in force.





A well bred one will stay surprisingly clean as the coat has a harsh outer texture. A combing or brushing once a week often is enough... and actual bathing is infrequent. The second dog from the left in my avatar hadn't had a bath in 8 mos.





They need to eat surprisingly little for a dog their size- the harsh arctic conditions where they originated make them very fuel efficient... often pet owners overfeed.. which leads to both obesity as well as a dog who you may not be able to reward by giving treats.





I crate train my dogs when they are younger as it keeps both the house and the dog safe. Some are chewers when left alone.





Training classes are an excellent idea! Be aware though that Samoyeds rebel STRIDENTLY against physical discipline. Coercion until they figure out what it is you want is a much better idea... then if you reward they will be motivated to repeat. They LIKE to make you happy.. but prefer to work as partners with you being the leader rather than simply forced into compliance.





Try spending some time with a group of Samoyeds. If you were here in the states I have a few breeders who I would send you to so you could interact with a bunch. I'm attaching my favorite Samoyed link... tons of good information- http://www.hawkwindsamoyeds.com/





Good luck!Advice about the SAMOYED breed of dogs?
A Samoyed is a loving, gentle giant. They are best suited to moderate to cold climate. They are relatleld to Huskies which are famous for pulling sleds in Alaska. Almost any dog will chew on stuff so I wouldn't be concerned with that. He is best as an outside dog (you apparently want an inside dog) though he's OK inside .... just if he has an accident, you will think a horse did it. Samoyeds are pretty big dogs. I say: if that is the breed you like GO FOR IT.
In spite of his beauty and affectionate manner, the Samoyed can be a difficult dog to own. He requires considerable grooming to prevent matting and keep his coat clean. He sheds profusely each year, leaving white hair everywhere. Grooming is important to help keep him comfortable if your area has hot, humid summers. Although highly intelligent, this breed can be difficult to train, for the dogs have a mind of their own. They tire quickly of repetitive training, so do better with motivation than with correction. However, strong correction is sometimes needed, for the dog will run the show if not notified that the handler is in charge. Some Sams resent obedience training so much that they perform their exercises with a hang-dog look, convincing spectators that the owner must frequently beat the dog into submission. One Samoyed is well-known for fleeing into any open crate when she is taken off-lead in obedience class. However, for those with a sense of humor to cope with this recalcitrance and who have the time to groom, the Samoyed is a wonderful family pet. The breed is good with children, loves to play, and has a sense of humor. Sams are good watchdogs, wonderful therapy dogs, and competitive in agility.
I was friends fo ryears with a top breeder of Sammys and their main drawback to me was THEY SHED like manics. The white fur floats all over your counters and coats your clothes and car. They need frequent grooming and tend to be more difficult to train as most sled type dogs are. They are also very active so if you can not run the dog for at least 45 mins a day off leash safely a young one would prob not be a good match. Possibly an older rescue? American Eskimos AKA Spitz come in three sizes and look quite like a Sammy, maybe they would be better? The Eskies I have known are barkers tho so that would need to be nipped in the bud from the start. I don't find an Eskies in England or Wales but there are 3 more spitz types that are smaller so you can search the spitz breed on the www.the-kennel-club.org/uk to research them if you want.
You must be a complete dog lover, and truly want one of these dogs if you are going to get one. I'm glad you're asking for advice before getting one.





I can tell you that these dogs are the worst shedders I have seen yet...not impossible to live with, but you must make a commitment to keep up with brushing the dog...it really does need to be done daily with these dogs.





The few that I have known could be a little tempermental (not aggressive, more like just bitchy), and the one I fostered was quite difficult to train (housebreak and obedience). I attribute some of the training difficulty to the previous owner's neglect...the dog was so exuberant, and really just wanted to cuddle and get petted..he'd had basically no obedience training and had been left outside. They are big dogs, and strong dogs, so depending on your disablilty, they may not be the right dog for you.





I suggest calling more breeders of the dog, and trying to spend some time with a few of them (try dog parks, rescues, breeders).





Personally, I would not choose the breed after fostering one. They require a lot more time than I am able to give, and really, the time you put into the dog is the most important thing...if you can honestly spend a few quality hours with your dog every day, and make sure that it gets a good walk/run, it could work out...but, if you're new to dog ownership, I would recommend starting with a more easy-to-train, easy-to-handle dog.