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SAMOYEDS |
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The herding-type
dogs of the North were used by many ancient peoples for their reindeer.
These dogs were chosen for demonstrating no hunting instincts,
since the practice of leaving the dogs untied, especially in the summer,
meant that dogs with hunting urges could kill the reindeer. These northern
herding dogs were the basis of several breeds later developed in Europe.
Some of them have remained pure herders while others were also adapted
for sledding.
The Samoyedes
and Nentsy, ancient nomadic tribes of northcentral Siberia, have always
relied on their dogs. Many of the inland northern nomadic peoples used
their dogs for herding reindeer, and the dog of the Samoyedes started
out in that role. Never a hunter, he was later adapted for pulling and
as a guard and companion. His close association with people, even sharing
the choom, or portable tent, made him the friendly dog he remains
today.
The first European
explorers in the area described the longhaired white or black dogs. The
adventurer Tooke wrote, in 1779, that the Samo-yede people "used
their dogs to haul sledges on
as a beautiful and charming companion dog. He happily tackles any task
or game with a carefree air and typically joyous abandon. The Sammy "smile"
is a mark of the breed and of his cheerful personality.
During the
creation of the six amalgamated laikas of the Soviet Union, the Nenets
was the only sledding/herding breed established. The Nenets Herding
Laika is probably very similar to the Samoyed the rest of the world
knows and loves. It is possible that the Russian breed represents the
dog in its native land, where color variation is still allowed. Early
imports of the same stem became the Samoyed of today.
The Nenets
dog, unlike the hunting laikas who need to be independent thinkers,
looks to his master for direction. He is a cheerful, devoted dog willing
to work long hours on the tun-dra,
rounding up strays, bringing in weak calves which have fallen behind,
or huddling the herd when necessary.
His longer
coat, like the Samoyed's, forms a face ruff and thick trousers on
the thighs. Not only is this protection in the winter when he works
all day and sleeps all night in a snowbank, but it is a barrier to
the biting mosquitos and midges of the short Arctic summer.
A variety
of colors exists, since this breed has never been selected for color,
and pure white dogs often have blue eyes.
Modern Soviet
cynologists have encouraged the continued use of these ancient herding
dogs and have recently introduced them as herders into reindeer breeding
programs in Eastern Siberia and the Kamchatka Peninsula.
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