The Samoyed, a Smart and Beautiful White Dog
Introduction
In the quest for ‘greener pastures’, a very long time ago, the tribe responsible for the Samoyed dog’s creation reached Siberia and made it its home. They were nomads, groups of families traveling together, and they were always followed by their dogs, which were used for pulling sleds, herding reindeer, and keeping humans warm during the winter. These dogs had a gentle temperament because they were raised with family members, ate alongside with them, and snuggled with them at night, especially when it was cold. They were great companions and work partners.
Samoyeds were first noticed in 1696, and between 1787 and 1789, several pictures and descriptions, poorly related to today’s Samoyed, became available. Ernest Kilburn-Scott, from England, was the first person to become involved with the white smiling dog, outside of Russia.
Arctic explorers also seemed to prefer Samoyeds for their expeditions because the dogs had such great temperament. The Samoyed breed was in fact the first among others to reach the South Pole in 1911, during an expedition led my Roald Amundsen.
At about the same time, Arctic explorers were putting together teams of dogs for polar expeditions, and Samoyeds fit the bill for their stamina and willingness to work. In 1911, a Samoyed lead dog on Roald Amundsen’s trip to the South Pole was the first animal over the pole.
