We breed samoyeds

Geez, I am just a puppy and my mother is here besides me with Shannon. Not been out in the sunlight much and now that my eyes are open, I can see a lot!!!!!!

Sometimes when we are born as is the case with my sister who was named "Trixy", we have to wait a bit before our ears stand up.

I am a fluffy little fellow or shall I say fellee??? I hate

when i am always picked up and grapped by these humans as if they think I have nothing else to do with my time.

Oh well, at least Vicki whispers in my ear.

Now I feel like standing tall and taking over the domain of my kingdom.

CARE AND TRAINING

When you collect your puppy, your breeder should tell you what the puppy's diet has been to date, as well as recommendation as to the best food and feeding frequency in the future, both for while the dog is still a puppy as well as when the dog is an adult. You should try and follow the puppy's diet at the time you collect him from the breeder as best you can, until the puppy is settled in to its new environment. Then you can gradually change the diet to suit your preferences. Remember that sudden changes in diet can severely disrupt the puppy's digestive system and cause gastric distress.

As for the type and "brand" of dog food, basically any reputable dog food manufacturer provides a dog food that is sufficient to keep a dog healthy. However, the premium brands of dog food have the advantage that one can feed the dog less and still get very good nourishment. In addition, stool size and amount is generally less with the premium dog foods. Keep in mind that feeding dogs is partly art, and partly science. The dog food manufactures have done the science part. The rest is up to you. Some people feed their dogs a mix of canned and dry food twice a day. Others feed only dry and allow free feeding, and so on. Be sure and pick a frequency of feeding, brand, and type of food to suit your dogs needs. For working Samoyeds,something equivalent to a Science Diet Performance or Eukanuba is in order. For Samoyeds that go for walks and hikes, a Maintenance formula is usually best. Consult your breeder and veterinarian for advice. One other thing worth mentioning here is how long to feed puppy food. Some research indicates that feeding puppy food for too long can increase the incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs that are susceptible to it. Some breeders start feeding adult food very soon. Samoyeds are often extremely fond of fish, which many people find surprising. Fish can often be used as a diet supplement or special treat for Sammys.

Housing

Samoyeds are happiest when they can share in family activities. The best arrangement is one in which the dog can come in and out of the house of its own free-will, through a dog door. If a dog door is not possible, then training the dog to go to an outside door to be let out is also very easy to do. Outside, the dog should have a large, fenced yard. The fence should be strong and at least 4 feet tall. Samoyeds are not as prone to digging or escape as Malamutes, but they rate pretty high by normal standards. They are prone to dig shallow "wallows" in hot weather; they will typically just turn over a layer of dirt to get to the cooler earth just below the surface.

Because the Samoyed is an arctic dog, it can remain outside in very cold weather. However, it should be provided with shelter from the elements in the form of a good sturdy house. A good insulated house with nice straw bedding is perfect for Samoyeds that spend most of their time outside. Heating the dog house is usually not necessary. It should be stressed that leaving a Samoyed outside all the time is definitely inferior accomodations to being inside with the family.

Training

Training Samoyeds, as any Northern breed, can be a challenge. With this breed, it is important to start young. Establish rules of the house early, and make sure that the puppy knows that you are in charge. For example, if you do not want the dog on the bed as an adult, do not allow it as a puppy. The rule of thumb is that if you train a dog to do something, expect him to do it. Therefore, if the puppy learns that certain things are allowed, it will be difficult to train them not to do them as adults. Things that are cute as puppies may not be all that cute when the dog weighs 60 lbs or more.

Since the dog is pack-oriented, it important to establish yourself as the head of the pack, or alpha, very early. Once you do this, the dog will respect you and training will be much easier. It is best to enroll in a puppy training class (or puppy kindergarten training as they are commonly known) soon after your dog is home and has all of its vaccinations. This training is good for the dog and for you as the owner, as it will help you understand your new puppy and establish you as alpha very early in the puppy's life, which is extremely important with this breed. Once you have completed the puppy class, and have been working with the dog for a few months, a basic obedience class is in order.

Obedience training this breed can be very interesting and extremely challenging. Many owners will complain that their dogs act perfectly in class, but will not obey at home. This breed is intelligent enough to differentiate situations very well, and will apply different rules of behavior for different situations. You must stay on top of the dog and maintain control, which is easier to do while the dog is of manageable size than with a stubborn adult that has been allowed to get away with undesirable behaviors for a long time.

It is very important to remember that Samoyeds are a *working breed*. They need something to do. Putting them in the backyard and tossing them a bone and expecting them to be happy us a very bad idea. They need a lot of exercise and interaction to be happy. The exercise can come in the form of mushing, which is of course best, or can easily be in the form of draft work, frequent walks, hikes, and playing. The dog makes a wonderful hiking companion, and with a dog pack, can carry food and water. Skijouring, where a dog pulls a cross-country skier, is an excellent winter activity for those who don't have the inclination (or the number of dogs) to take up mushing.