Choosing the right dog breed for your lifestyle is as an important decision as bringing a dog into your life. Although every dog is individual and has a personality, each breed has particular traits. These traits can help you determine which breed will suit you and your lifestyle – ensuring a more harmonious home for you and your new pet.
The Siberian Husky and the Samoyed are both wonderful dog breeds. The Siberian Husky and the Samoyed are medium-sized Northern breeds. They both have a weather-resistant double coat, are extremely smart and energetic, and need around 2 hours of daily exercise plus mental stimulation to keep them content.
Let’s look at some breed traits to help you decide. These are general breed traits, and you should remember that breeding and life experiences will affect each dog differently.
Breed History for Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is one of 14 ancient dog breeds. The Chukchi tribe bred the Siberian Husky to pull sleds over long distances in harsh weather conditions. The Siberian Husky would work in teams to pull the sleds and sleep beside the children on cold nights to keep them warm.
Only the most social and playful Huskies would be used to breed, as cooperation and good natures were most important to the tribe. These traits are still found in today’s Siberian Husky.
Samoyed
The Samoyedic people in Siberia used the Samoyed to pull sleds over long distances in harsh weather conditions. The dogs were also used to herd and protect reindeer and would sleep with dogs in their tents to keep warm. This ensured a close bond between the dogs and their humans.
The Samoyed is a hard-working and versatile dog. It would pull heavy sleds over long distances and initially help hunt reindeer. As the tribe changed, the Samoyed went from hunting reindeer to herding and protecting reindeer. It enjoys being around people and has lots of energy.
Breed Specifications for Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky has a thick fluffy double coat, with colors ranging from white, sable and white, grey and white, agouti, black and white, and black. Upright pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes can be blue, brown, mixed brown, and blue. In addition, they have a fox brush tail which is often held high in a sickle curve but can also be held low and trailing.
The Siberian Husky is a medium size breed. The adult male Siberian Husky stands at 21-23.5 inches, with an ideal weight range of 45-60lbs (20-27kgs).
The adult female Siberian Husky stands at 20-22 inches, with an ideal weight range of 35-50lbs (16-23kgs).
The life expectancy for a healthy, well-cared-for Siberian Husky is 12-14 years.
Samoyed
The Samoyed has a dense, weather-resistant double coat, medium long-haired outer hair, and a thick wooly undercoat. The most common color for a Samoyed is white; however, they can also be cream or biscuit and white colored. In addition, the Samoyed has a wedge-shaped solid head, a broad flat-shaped head, ears that are thick and set well apart, erect and slightly rounded, a medium-length muzzle, and a long full tail sweeping up over the back. Intelligent, almond-shaped dark brown eyes.
The Samoyed is a medium size breed. The adult male Samoyed stands at 21-23.5 inches, with an ideal weight of 45-65 lbs (20-29kg).
The adult female Samoyed stands at 19-21 inches, with an ideal weight of 35-50 lbs (16-23 kg).
The life expectancy for a healthy, well-cared-for Samoyed is 12 – 14 years.
Common Breed Health Checks for Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky breed is generally pretty healthy; however, breeders should regularly have the dams and sires screened:
- Hip dysplasia (BVA/KC)
- Eye testing – PLA (gonioscopy) (BVA/KC/ISDS)
- Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)
Samoyed
The Samoyed is generally pretty healthy. Good breeders should regularly have the dams and sires screened:
- Hip Evaluation
- PRA Optigen DNA Test
- RD/OSD DNA Test
- Cardiac Exam
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Energy Levels of Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a bundle of energy with outstanding endurance! This dog is at its happiest when it’s running, exploring, and playing. It can run for hours and still have the energy to play. However, to keep a Siberian Husky content, it will need at least 2 hours of daily exercise and some mental stimulation.
Samoyed
Like the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed is a bundle of energy with outstanding endurance. They were bred to pull sleds over long distances in the harshest weather conditions. The Samoyed is happiest spending time with its family doing activities and will still have the energy to play afterward. The Samoyed will need 2 hours of daily exercise, playtime, and mental stimulation.
The Trainability of Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a highly intelligent dog. It was bred to decide whether to follow instructions or not for the musher and team’s safety. This intelligence is still present in the Siberian Husky. Once you know what motivates your Siberian Husky, training and cooperation are easier. Most Siberian Huskies are not food motivated, and you must get creative.
The Siberian Husky learns quickly and easily; motivating them to follow instructions consistently can be tricky. Furthermore, the Siberian Husky is not a biddable animal; they are not interested in pleasing their human. High prey drive also means that recall isn’t 100% for most Siberian Huskies.
Samoyed
Like the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed is a highly intelligent and independent dog. Bred to decide whether to follow instructions or not for the musher and team’s safety, this intelligence is still present in the Samoyed. The Samoyed is sensitive and responds best to positive reinforcement training methods.
The Samoyed is a loyal, hard-working companion and thrives on continued training and challenges. In addition, the Samoyed suits someone with experience or the time to put into continued training and exercise to keep it happy and healthy. But, unfortunately, the Samoyed has a high prey drive, and recall can be tricky.
Friendliness of Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is friendly and cooperative with people and other dogs. They have never met strangers or dogs they didn’t want to play with. These were the main traits that the Chukchi looked for in their sled dogs.
The Siberian Husky loves children and being around children – they are pretty gentle. However, the Husky can get boisterous and accidentally knock down little children.
Samoyed
The Samoyed is a friendly dog with people and other dogs. It can be around other animals if careful introductions are made; however, the Samoyed has a high prey drive and must be closely supervised with smaller animals.
A loyal and loving companion, the Samoyed has a lot of energy, can be boisterous, and may knock over smaller children. However, they are energetic and intelligent dogs, well suited to families with older children who enjoy going outside and have the time to put into training and exercise.
The Samoyed is a socialable dog and doesn’t do well on its own. It thrives in an active family environment where it has an outlet for all of its energy.
Grooming and Shedding of Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky has a fluffy, luxurious double coat to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The fur has a protective layer that repels dirt and protects the skin, reducing the doggy odor that most other breeds have. In addition, the Siberian Husky is cat-like in its grooming, keeping its coat clean. As a result, they only need to be bathed a few times a year.
The Siberian Husky needs brushing regularly to keep the coat healthy. In addition, twice a year, the undercoat blows and requires daily brushing – there will be fur everywhere!
Samoyed
The Samoyed is a high-maintenance grooming dog with a thick, fluffy, weather-resistant double coat. However, it will require brushing daily to keep the shedding hair under control and the coat free from mats and clean. In addition, the Samoyed will only need a few baths throughout the year to keep them clean.
The Samoyed sheds a lot and will blow the undercoat once or twice a year. During this blowout, the Samoyed will require extra daily brushing–fur will always be everywhere!
Barking for Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky doesn’t bark, as such. It does, however, huff, chuff, chatter, and howl – also known as singing. In addition, the Siberian Husky is known to chat and sing to their humans. Sometimes for no apparent reason and other times to communicate their point in the conversation.
Samoyed
The Samoyed is a vocal dog. It is known to bark and howl to its humans, sometimes for no apparent reason or to communicate its wants. This may not suit your neighbors. The barking and howling will be extreme if the Samoyed is left alone too long or is bored or stressed.
Overall Thoughts on Siberian Husky and Samoyed
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky suits active outdoor people with lots of time for training and exercise. They enjoy running, hiking, and biking – independent dogs who like to think and work things out for themselves. However, the Siberian Husky isn’t for everyone, as the extensive training and lifestyle can be intense.
Samoyed
The Samoyed suits active outdoor people with plenty of training, exercise, and grooming time. Like the Siberian Husky, they enjoy running, hiking, and biking – independent dogs who like to think and work things out for themselves. However, the Samoyed isn’t for everyone, as the extensive training and lifestyle can be intense.
However, once you have earned the Samoyed’s trust and loyalty, they are a fantastic companion and will give you hours of fun and laughter. So, if you are up for a challenge, and looking for a dog with a big personality and lots of fluff, then the Samoyed might be for you
For further breed-specific information, the Kennel Club UK and the American Kennel Club are excellent sources of information.
I hope you have found this article helpful.
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