Samoyed Dog Breed History, part 3
Unfortunately, these expeditions proved to be fatal to Bjelkier dogs because explorers did not know how to properly care for them and they did things to them that precipitated the dogs’ death. They sheared the dogs’ fluffy coats and cut their tails which caused the animals to develop pneumonia, freeze and die. Weaker dogs were killed and fed to the stronger ones.
A second prominent Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, lead an 1860-mile long trip to the South Pole in 1911. He used 52 Bjelkier dogs to get him there (and back) in 99 days. A different expedition to the South Pole, lead by captain Robert Scott, did not use Bjelkiers as the main means of transportation, horses were used instead. Although the captain did have 33 Bjelkier dogs with him, they all died within the first three weeks because someone cut their tails and they got sick.
Eventually all animals died and the captain along with his human crew were forced to drag all equipment themselves for the rest of the trip. He did not get to enjoy his accomplishment upon reaching the South Pole because a Norwegian flag was already flying there, left by Amundsen who beat him to the destination by one month. This exhausting and disappointing trip cost the Captain his life as he died on the way back
The person responsible for making the Bjelkier breed popular outside of Siberia was Mr. Ernest Kilburn-Scott of the Royal Zoological Society. He obtained his dogs from explorers and continued to breed and show these dogs in England. The white color was much preferred over the creamy variations and any other color combinations were unacceptable. Rich and influential individuals soon became interested in this rare breed as well. The dog was first admitted into the foreign dog class by the Kennel Club.
