The word Samoyed (Samoyede) was the name of the nomadic tribe inhabiting the vast tundra areas from the eastern shores of the White Sea in Russia to the river stretches of the Ob and Yenisei in Siberia. It was also the name given by the tribe to their land and to the dogs which shared their lives, their work and their homes. To them the Samoyed dog was the shepherd of the reindeer herds, the defender and guard of the household, the occasional sledge dog but, above all, the intimate domestic pet.
This close association with humans shaped the special character of the Samoyed dog, its loyalty, friendliness, sense of humour and absolute reliability, while the inaccessibility of their native land ensured the development of a pure lineage. |
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The Samoyede people who lived here made their homes of conical tents that were covered with reindeer hides, or bark, called "chooms". These people lived a nomadic life, moving with the seasons, and with the movement of their herds of reindeer. With this type of life, a single purpose dog would be inappropriate, therefore, the Samoyed had to fill a number of jobs within the family circle.
During the late nineteenth century, the Samoyed became known to the outside world due to the exploration of the North and South Poles. The teams of men who went to these bleak areas found that the companionship and the hardworking Sammie was as comforting to them as it was to the Samoyede people.
When the men returned to their homelands, many brought the dogs with them. Some of the dogs ended up in zoos, others in homes. It is speculated that there were only twelve dogs that constituted the original breeding stock outside of Russia.
These dogs were developed by the ancient Samoyede people to pull sleds, herd reindeer, and to help hunt wild animals, including the polar bear, for food and clothing. Due to the fact that this area is so remote, the Samoyed was bred true for many centuries, without interference or crossbreeding to other breeds.
In the early twentieth century there were a number of arctic explorers that discovered the usefulness of this breed of dog, including the Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, who in 1911 ran a Samoyed lead dog, to become the first man to reach the South Pole. |
