FCI-Standard N° 212
SAMOYED
ORIGIN: Northern Russia and Siberia.
PATRONAGE: Nordic Kennel Union (NKU).
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID
STANDARD: 04.09.2019.
UTILIZATION: Sledge- and companion dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 5 Spitz and primitive types.
Section 1 Nordic sledge dogs.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The name Samoyed derives
from the Samoyed Tribes in Northern Russia and Siberia. In
Southern parts of the area they used white, black and brown particoloured dogs as reindeer herders; in the northern parts the dogs
were pure white, had a mild temperament and were used as huntingand sledge dogs. The Samoyed dogs lived close to their owners, they
even slept within the shelters and were used as heaters. The British
zoologist Ernest Kilburn Scott spent three months among Samoyed
Tribes in 1889. Returning to England he brought with him a brown
male puppy called « Sabarka ». Later he imported a cream coloured
bitch called « Whitey Petchora » from the western side of the Urals
and a snow white male called « Musti » from Siberia. These few
dogs and those brought by the explorers are the base for the western
Samoyed. The first standard was written in England in 1909.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium in size, elegant, a white
Arctic Spitz. In appearance gives the impression of power,
endurance, charm, suppleness, dignity and self-confidence.
The expression, the so called « Samoyed Smile », is made up of a
combination of eye shape and position, and the slightly curved up
corners of the mouth. The sex should be clearly stamped.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The length of the body is
approximately 5% more than the height at the withers. The depth of
the body is slightly less than the half of the height at the withers.
The muzzle is approximately as long as the skull.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: Friendly, open, alert and
lively. The hunting instinct is very slight. Never shy nor aggressive.
Very social and cannot be used as guard dog.
HEAD: Powerful and wedge-shaped.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: viewed from the front and in profile only slightly convex.
Broadest between the ears. Slightly visible furrow between the eyes.
Stop: Clearly defined but not too prominent.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Well developed, preferably black. During some periods of the
year the pigment of the nose can fade to a so called « winter nose »;
there must however always be dark pigment at the edges of the nose.
Muzzle: Strong and deep, approximately as long as the skull,
gradually tapering towards the nose, neither snipey nor heavy and
square. The bridge of the nose is straight.
Lips: Close fitting, black and rather full. The corners of the mouth
are slightly curved forming the characteristic « Samoyed Smile ».
Jaws/Teeth: Regular and complete scissor bite. The teeth and the
jaws are strong. Normal dentition.
EYES: Dark brown in colour, well-set in the sockets, placed rather
apart, somewhat slanting and almond-shaped. The expression is
« smiling », kind, alert and intelligent. The eyerims are black.
EARS: Erect, rather small, thick, triangular and slightly rounded at
the tips. They should be mobile, set high; due to the broad skull well
apart.
NECK: Strong and of medium length with a proud carriage.
BODY: Slightly longer than the height at the withers, deep and
compact but supple.
Withers: Clearly defined.
Back: Of medium length, muscular and straight; in females slightly
longer than in males.
Loin: Short, very strong and defined.
Croup: Full, strong, muscular and slightly sloping.
Chest: Broad, deep and long, reaching almost to the elbows. The
ribs are well sprung.
Underline: Moderate tuck-up.
TAIL: Set rather high. When the dog is alert and in motion the tail
is carried bent from the root forward over the back or side, but may
be hanging at rest, then reaching to the hocks.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Well placed and muscular with strong bones.
Viewed from the front straight and parallel.
Shoulder: Long, firm and sloping.
Upper arm: Oblique and close to the body. Approximately as long
as the shoulder.
Elbow: Close to the body.
Carpus: Strong but supple.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Slightly oblique.
Fore Feet: Oval with long toes, flexible and pointing straight
forward. Toes arched and not too tightly knit. Elastics pads.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Viewed from behind straight and parallel with
very strong muscles.
Upper thigh: Of medium length, rather broad and muscular.
Stifle: Well angulated.
Hocks: Rather low and well angulated.
Metatarsus: Short, strong, vertical and parallel.
Hindfeet: As front feet. The dewclaws should be removed (except in
countries where it is forbidden by law).
GAIT: Powerful, free and tireless in appearance with long stride.
Good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the
hindquarters.
COAT
Hair: Profuse, thick, flexible and dense polar coat. The Samoyed is a
double coated dog with short, soft and dense undercoat and longer,
more harsh and straight outer coat. The coat should form a ruff
around the neck and shoulders framing the head, especially in males.
On head and on front of legs, hair is short and smooth; on outside of
ears short, standing off and smooth. Inside the ears should be well
furred. On back of the thighs the hair forms trousers. There should
be a protective growth of hair between the toes. The tail should be
profusely covered with hair. The coat of the female is often shorter
and softer in texture than that of the male. The correct coat texture
should always have a special glistening sheen.
Colour: Pure white, cream or white with biscuit. (The basic colour to
be white with a few biscuit markings.) Should never give the
impression of being pale brown.
SIZE:
Height at withers: Ideal height: male 57 cm with a tolerance of ± 3
cm and females 53 cm with a tolerance of ± 3 cm.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect
upon the health and welfare of the dog.
• Visible faults in structure.
• Light bone.
• Males not masculine and females not feminine.
• Pincer bite.
• Yellow eyes.
• Soft ears.
• Barrel ribcage.
• Double twisted tail.
• Low on the legs.
• Badly bow-legged or cow hocked.
• Wavy or short coated throughout, long, soft or coat hanging
down.
• Aloofness.
SERIOUS FAULTS :
• Clearly unpigmented areas on eyerims or lips.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural
abnormalities.
• Eyes blue or of different colours.
• Overshot or undershot bite.
• Ears not erect.
• Coat colour other than permitted in the standard.
N.B.:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed
typical conformation should be used for breeding.
The latest amendments are in bold characters.
Source: www.fci.be/en/
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