Standard FCI
nr. 212
Samoyed Dog
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internatioale
ORIGIN:
Northern Russia and Siberia
PATRONAGE: NKU (Nordic Countries)
UTILIZATION: Sledge- and
companion dog.
CLASSIFICATION: FCI Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types). Section 1.2 (Nordic
sledge dogs). Without working trial.
HISTORI: 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 parti-coloured dogs as reindeer herders ; in the northern parts
the dogs were pure white, had a mild temperament and were used as hunting- and
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 comers 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.
HEAD: Powerful and wedge-shaped.
CRANIAL REGION: Viewed from the front and in profile only slightly convex.
Broadest between the ears.
STOP: Clearly defined but not too prominent. Slightly visible furrow between the
eyes.
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/BITE: 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.
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.
HINDQUARTERS: 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.
FEET: As front feet. The
dewclaws should be removed. NB! Removel of the dewclaws are forbidden in
Denmark.
GAIT: Powerful, free and tireless in appearance with long stride.
Good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters.
SIZE:
Height at withers:
Ideal height Male
57 cm +/- 3 cm
Ideal height Females
53 cm +/- 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.
SERIOUS FAULTS:
* Clearly unpigmented areas on eyerims or lips.
ELIMINATING FAULTS:
* Eyes blue or of different colours.
* Overshot or undershot bite.
* Ears not erect.
* Coat colour other than permitted in the standard.
* Shy or aggressive disposition.
*******
The
Standard is published by FCI november, 17th 1997.