The Samoyed Border Collie mix is a very unusual dog that isn’t easy to find, neither through proper dog breeders nor at shelters. If you have seen photos of this pooch and you are convinced that it is the right dog for you, then you will have to just continue to look for one and be patient.
A Samoyed Border Collie mix is usually the result of “accidental breeding”. A fluffy Samoyed and a cute Border Collie have the chance to meet and fall in love. About two months later, the most adorable puppies will be born. You can expect these pooches to be very energetic and sociable, just like both Samoyeds and Border Collies are.
In this article, we will see all the characteristics of these two breeds. While it is difficult to know how a puppy will turn out as an adult, you can get a general idea of the traits it will have. By the end of this post, you should be able to make up your mind if a Samoyed Border Collie mix dog is really what you want.
Samoyed
The Samoyed is a spitz-type dog that originated in Syberia and used to live there together with the Samoyed peoples. These dogs were mostly used for pulling sleds and herding raindeers. The Samoyed is considered a “basal breed“, which means it has preserved its genetic signature from its origin, over 2000 years ago, to this day.
Samoyeds are medium-sized dogs that can weigh anything between 35 to 66 pounds. Their height is usually between 18 and 22 inches. Their life expectancy can be of 14 years or more. They are usually good-natured and very friendly dogs, unlike other Northern breeds that are usually wary towards strangers.
Breed Characteristics
Samoyeds are working dogs that were originally used to pull sleds through the snow of Syberia. This should make you understand, more than any other example, just how much energy they have. If you want to bring a fluffy Samoyed into your life, you need to be a very active person.
A Samoyed needs to be able to run and interact with other dogs every day for a good amount of time. They love to be out of the house and explore new places and new smells. They are independent and strong-minded, so they won’t blindly obey your commands just to make you happy. They have to be convinced that what you are asking them to do is worthy of their time and attention.
Taking a Samoyed to an obedience class is a must, even though you cannot expect outstanding results. This is not because they aren’t smart dogs, since they are one of the most intelligent breeds. It is just that they are less domesticated than other dogs that have been cross-bred to become more assertive. Samoyeds have a will of their own and you have to be ready to put up with their quirky ideas sometimes.
Grooming
One of the most challenging aspects of owning a Samoyed is taking care of his double layer coat. These dogs, in fact, have an undercoat that is similar to wool, and a topcoat made of straight guard hairs that are a few inches long. Samoyeds are considered heavy shedders. They will lose all of their undercoat twice a year, in spring and in autumn. This way they will suffer less the summer heat and will be prepared for the winter.
All of the other months they will still continue to shed, but just a little bit less. Samoyeds need to be brushed on a daily basis during the shedding seasons, and at least twice a week the rest of the year. A slicker brush is indispensable if you want to live with this pooch. Get one that has tips on the top of the bristles so that your Sammy won’t get scratched. A stainless steel comb is also very useful to get rid of the undercoat.
Now you know that if you are thinking of getting an adorable Samoyed, you will have to be ready to live with a lot of hairs flying around the house. Even though these pooches are hypoallergenic, you’ll still need to do some tests if you are an allergic person. A good vacuum cleaner is something you cannot go without unless you want to have your clothes constantly covered in hairs.
Health
Samoyeds are usually healthy dogs, especially if they were bred by certified breeders. There can be, though, certain health conditions that can affect these dogs. The most common are:
- Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Pulmonary Stenosys
- Dysplasya
Border Collie
Border Collies are among the smartest dogs of all. They are easy to train and seem to catch on to what their owner wants from them better than other pooches. These dogs have very high energy levels and always need to have something to do. They never seem to get tired and can run around for hours.
All of this stamina they have comes from their origins. They were, in fact, used as work dogs to herd sheep along the border between England and Scotland. Border Collies are not a very large breed and usually don’t weigh more than 45 pounds. Their heigh is between 18 and 22 inches.
Breed Characteristics
The distinctive feature of a Border Collie is that he is a hyper dog that needs to exercise a lot. If you decide to get a Border Collie you will have to be ready to take him to run at least twice a day in an open space. A fairly-sized dog park or better still someplace in the countryside would do.
Since they need a good amount of space, living in an apartment would not be ideal for this dog breed. Border Collies get bored very easily and if they are left with nothing to do they can become destructive. Leaving them home while you go to work is also not a good idea. These pooches usually suffer from separation anxiety. This means that they could bark incessantly if left alone or they could relieve their stress by taking a bite at your sofa.
Grooming
Border Collies are considered medium shedders and have a double-layer coat. This means that they have an undercoat that is similar to wool, and a topcoat that is a few inches long. Some Border Collies have extra hairs on the chest and the legs, while others have a short coat all over the body.
These dogs are usually black and white, but they can be black and grey, red and white, all black, or three-colored. Border Collie will shed completely twice a year, in spring and in autumn. This way they won’t suffer the heat during the summer, and they will have a brand new coat for the winter.
The coat of a Border Collie is quite easy to maintain but needs to be brushed at least twice a week with a good slicker brush. During the shedding seasons, these dogs should be brushed on a daily basis. They won’t need to go to the groomer to have a bath very often. Usually once every three months is enough to keep their coat looking good. In addition, they should not be bathed more than once a month, because otherwise, they could develop dermatitis.
Health
Border Collies are usually healthy, especially if they are taken to the vet for regular check-ups and given premium food. The most recurrent health conditions for these dogs are:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Deafness
- Collie Eye Anomaly
Conclusion
A Samoyed Border Collie mix would certainly be a very smart dog and a great companion. It would also be a highly energetic dog that needs constant physical and mental stimulation. If you decide to adopt this pooch you need to be ready to spend most of your day outside of the house. You also should be ready to have a lot of hair flying around and on your clothes. Both these pooches shed quite a bit so you have to take some time to brush them at least a few times a week. For sure a Samoyed Border Collie mix will have a friendly and outgoing personality that will love to interact with humans and other animals.
