When thinking about whether a Samoyed is a right dog for you and your household, a lot of people wonder if these big, wolf-like canines are affectionate. The answer is surprisingly straightforward, and actually quite interesting. While Samoyeds are known for their friendly smiles, the answer to the question of whether they show physical affection to their owners has to do with the history of their breeding, and the area of the world they come from. They are excellent family dogs for a number of reasons, and one of those reasons has to do with the way Samoyeds display their affection.
Are Samoyeds affectionate? Samoyeds are very affectionate. In fact, Samoyeds were basically designed to cuddle. That big fluffy coat is an excellent tool to warm up a human in a cold climate – and that’s one of the functions these Siberian dogs were bred for, so they’re naturally predisposed to a snuggle.
Turns out, Samoyeds are highly social dogs and love being part of a pack. They’re usually very physically affectionate animals. But what does this mean for you and your Samoyed? Well, for one thing, they’ll always be up for being your warm, cuddly furnace on a cold night. But that’s just part of why this topic is so important; it also has implications when it comes to how well they get on with children, and how well they work as guard dogs. So, read on if you want to know: Are Samoyeds affectionate? How do Samoyeds show their affection? Do they like to be held, and are they cuddly?
Are Samoyeds affectionate?
Samoyeds are wonderfully affectionate dogs. From the big smiles on their faces to the way they love to snuggle up with their pack at the end of a long day’s work, Samoyeds have wonderful natures and make excellent, loyal, and loving companions.
Like all dogs, Samoyeds are pack animals, and they need social and physical contact to stay happy and healthy. Most Samoyeds will actively seek physical contact with their owners and their ‘pack’, but just like people, there are different temperaments within the breed.
Samoyeds were bred in the cold Siberian region, and they have a thick, double coat that keeps them nice and toasty, no matter what the weather outside is like. You’ll often see Samoyeds pulling sleds, and they were bred as working dogs, to hunt, herd reindeer, and pull heavy loads for their owners.
However, Samoyeds were also bred with another important task in mind: to keep their owners warm at night. With those big, double coats, Samoyeds made excellent heat sources in Siberia, one of the world’s coldest inhabited regions.
What this means is that Samoyeds have always ended their long working days by cuddling up in a big pack with their owners and the other dogs in the group. They’re very much used to being part of a pack and cuddling and being physically close with whoever is in the pack – and if you’re a Samoyed‘s owner or family, that means you!
How do Samoyeds show their affection?
Samoyeds will show affection for their pack members both human and animal in a number of different ways. A big one that you’ll probably notice with your Samoyed is that they’ll follow you around, from room to room, and they’ll want to sleep in the bed beside you, or at least as close as you’ll let them get. When you’re chilling out at the end of a long day, they’ll want to be near you – on your feet, in your lap, or at least close by.
Another sign you can look out for that your Samoyed is feeling affectionate towards you is that they might nuzzle you or lick your face or hand, or they may lean on you.
A less commonly-recognized act of affection is if your Samoyed makes eye contact with you. This is an act of trust from a dog, and if they do it regularly, you can be sure they’re bonding with you.
Samoyeds will always get excited to see a new human face, and especially to see their pack members returning home – so when you get home from work, expect some happy barking and lots of cuddles.
This temperament does mean that Samoyeds are not the best guard dogs – if someone new is trying to enter your house, they’ll just get excited! However, they will do a lot of barking, so at least you’ll know when there’s somebody about.
It also means that Samoyeds are fantastic with children. They’re very gentle and patient dogs and really enjoy human contact, so you can usually trust them to be great companions for your kids, and they might show affection to your children by gently leaning on them or licking their faces. However, it is important to ensure the Samoyed knows that children are above them in the pack order – otherwise, they may become dominant with your child.
Do Samoyeds like to be held?
Many Samoyed owners report that their big, hairy Samoyeds seem to think they’re actually tiny lapdogs! Many Samoyeds love to be held and will climb on top of you on your couch, in bed, or wherever you may let them, and snuggle in. This is a natural extension of their pack mentality and instinct to keep warm through body heat.
Of course, within the breed, the temperament of the individual dog plays a large part, and some Samoyed owners report their dogs being far more interested in being held and cuddled than others. Some Samoyeds will be happy just to lie at your feet, and if they’re too hot, Samoyeds may not want to be in physical contact with their owners at all.
Even if you have the world’s cuddliest Samoyed, they still may not want to cuddle if it’s too hot outside. Because they have those huge, warm coats designed to keep them warm through the Siberian winter, they’ll need to work a bit harder to keep cool in the warm weather.
So, if it’s really hot out, don’t be surprised if your Samoyed is suddenly a lot less cuddly – they’re just trying to keep themselves (and you) cool! If this happens, respect their need for space, and make sure they have a cool, shaded area to lie in and plenty of water.
Even though physical touch can be hugely important for all kinds of dogs, if your Samoyed doesn’t want to be touched or cuddled, it’s best to respect that. Dogs are all different, and if they’re asking for personal space by moving away when you try to cuddle them, you should pay attention to those signals.
While circumstances and temperament play a large part in the dog’s desire to be held, on the whole, Samoyeds will be very happy to be held and patted, and dogs, in general, do need some kind of physical touch and affection to avoid depression and emotional stress.
Are Samoyeds cuddly?
Samoyeds are some of the cuddliest dogs there are! No matter how you measure this – by the sheer cuddly feel of their coat, or whether a Samoyed will want to cuddle up with his humans, Samoyeds are, usually, undeniably cuddly dogs.
Samoyeds are so cuddly that you may have to make sure you enforce boundaries with your dog if you feel you might like a little space in certain scenarios.
For instance, if you don’t want to sleep with a big, hairy dog on top of you, you may need to ensure you enforce your Alpha position in the pack and show your Samoyed that they can only sleep on the ground or at the foot of your bed – otherwise, you could be getting cuddles all night long.
And when it comes to downtime at the end of the day, if you’re not keen on having a couch covered in white hair, you may want to discourage your Samoyed from jumping on the couch for cuddles. Most Samoyeds will be excited to hop on your lap and enjoy a pat and some cuddles while you watch TV or wind down in the evening, and they often shed quite a bit of hair – particularly in the warmer months. So if you’re not keen on a furry couch, you’ll have to draw the line for your Samoyed early on and make sure they stay on the floor or in their own bed.