The Samoyed dog (Russian: Самоедская собака) takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. An alternate name for the breed, especially in Europe, is Bjelkier. These nomadic reindeer herders bred the fluffy, white dogs to help with the herding, to pull sleds when they moved.
The Samoyed has a compact muscular body. The wedge-shaped head is broad and slightly crowned. The muzzle is in proportion to the size of the dog, tapering to the nose. The stop is well defined but not abrupt. The nose color can be black, brown, or liver. The lips are black. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The dark almond shaped eyes are deep-set, somewhat wide apart, with a slanting lower lid and dark rims. The erect, triangular ears are slightly rounded at the tips. The tail is moderately long well covered with hair, carried rolled on the back. The legs are solid and muscular and the feet are flat and covered with hair. The thick, double coat is profuse. The undercoat is soft, short, thick with longer hairs growing out to the outer coat. The outer coat is harsh, and stands straight out, not wavy. Males are more profuse than females. There is a ruff around the neck and shoulders, framing the head. Coat colors include, pure white, biscuit, yellow and cream. Sometimes white with silver-tips. Pure white is preferred in the show ring.
