Skip to Content

Are Samoyeds Good Family Dogs? (Owners Tell All!)

When thinking about adding a new puppy to your home it’s important to know if they will get along with every member of your family. If you have children and are wanting to get a Samoyed, this article will tell you all about the pros and cons of this breed for kids and families.

Samoyeds are one of the best medium size dogs for kids and families. Their playful, friendly, docile, and affectionate attitude makes them a good fit for children of all ages. Samoyeds are able to match the energy of children, are sturdy, and can get along with your kids.

Samoyeds can be a good breed for children, but I want to share with you how you can make it a GREAT breed for your family! I’m going to tell you all the goodness you can expect with this fluffy breed as well as some of the things you should watch out for, then you will truly know if getting this breed of dog is right for you and your family.

Please understand that even though most Samoyeds have a lot of these great qualities and can be amazing for families with young children and babies, it is never a guarantee that you will get a dog with these qualities.

A lot goes into making a dog the way it is. Their personality is as much a product of the environment as well as genetics and breed characteristics.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission.

Finding a Samoyed from a reputable breeder and understanding the characteristics and qualities of the parents is the first step to finding a Samoyed that will have all the qualities that can make them great for kids.

Qualities that make Samoyeds great for kids and families are:

  • Affectionate

    They love to be cuddled and held, they freely give attention and love to multiple members of the family.
  • Outgoing

    This breed is naturally friendly and generally willing to meet new people and see new things. They also tend to get along well with other dogs.
  • Happy temperament

    As long as a Samoyed is properly cared for, they have a happy temperament and are easygoing.
  • Adaptable

    Samoyeds are generally able to handle most new situations which can be important for a family with young children.
  • Loyal

    Samoyeds will always show their allegiance for their family that cares for and loves them and can sometimes be protective of their family members.
  • Docile

    Ready to submit and accept your role as the alpha Samoyeds are gentle and submissive.
  • Sturdy

    Children still need to be careful when handling their dogs and taught how to hold them, but generally, Samoyeds are strong and can put up with minor jostling from children.
  • Playful

    Samoyeds seem to have just the right amount of playfulness without demanding too much. It’s just right for kids to get some playtime in but not requiring too much since kids can be easily distracted and get bored quickly.
  • Calm

    If you have a new baby or children who are easily frightened of dogs, a Samoyed’s calm nature can help to reassure you that they will be gentle with your children.
  • Cute
    No explanation needed, this picture says it all!
  • Soft and fuzzy

    Your kids will love to brush and pet and comb all that beautiful soft hair!
  • Gets along well with other dogs and animals

    Generally speaking, as long as they are properly socialized Samoyeds get along great with other dogs, cats, and most pets of any kind.
  • Loving

    Samoyeds can be very loving and affectionate. Although that’s not the case for all Samoyeds, the vast majority love to cuddle.

With their loving and loyal temperament, Samoyeds will easily bond with your child. Samoyeds are mostly bred to be companion dogs and so they will be happy to sit and chill with your child on the couch during family movie night.

Samoyeds will have bursts of energy and playfulness throughout the day which can be great to give kids an opportunity to run alongside them and play a fun game of fetch or hide and seek.

Because of their playful nature, Samoyeds are a great dog to help your kids burn off energy and get more exercise as they play and grow together.

Samoyeds seem to be just the perfect size! According to the AKC, they usually grow to be 19-24 inches or 35-60 pounds. This is a great size for kids to play with without being so big that they will get too rough with the kids and knock them over.

Chess Dog 300 x 600

As with any pet, it’s very important to teach children how to properly handle and care for a new puppy or dog, but when compared to some of the other more fragile small breed dogs like the Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier, Samoyeds will handle rough play a little bit better.

What are some challenges to having a Samoyed with kids & a family?

There are so many great things about having this breed of dog for your family, but there are a few challenges as well. Generally speaking, Samoyeds want to please their masters but occasionally will have a stubborn streak which can make them a little bit more difficult to train.

As a busy parent, you may not have a lot of time to train your new puppy. …….and let’s be real, as a parent of young kids you’ve probably had your feel of potty training little humans that can sometimes be stubborn as well!

This dilemma can be solved by signing your puppy up for obedience and training classes where you will get help and support in teaching your dog, or if you have older kids they can learn to help in the responsibilities of teaching your new puppy.

With a bit of patience, consistency, and persistence your Samoyed can be a very well trained dog!

Trying out a fun training program together like this widely popular program Brain Training for Dogs can help unlock your dog’s hidden potential and help them learn how to avoid problem behaviors.

Field Dogs 300 x 600

One of the biggest challenges to having a Samoyed can be grooming them and dealing with a lot of shedding.

Samoyeds are technically Hypoallergenic which means that most owners don’t have allergic reactions to this breed, but they still do shed a lot!

Tip: To learn more about what makes Samoyeds Hypoallergenic read this article!

Samoyeds shed quite a lot and for a family that isn’t used to a lot of dog hair everywhere, it can be quite difficult to get accustomed to.

There are things you can do to keep the shedding under control, but that bright white hair will get on everything and it’s very apparent on any dark-colored surface.

You can never wear black again. …… White fur all over your clothes!? We call it dog glitter!!

Anonymous Samoyed Owner

Samoyeds need to be brushed a lot as well as groomed quite heavily twice a year when they blow their coats.

Along with grooming, Samoyeds can be prone to dental disease. They will need their teeth brushed regularly to keep their gums healthy and clean. It’s also a good idea to have their teeth cleaned regularly with a vet. Your dog will need to be trained and conditioned to allow that to happen.

You will want to make sure to get your Samoyed from a reputable breeder that tests them for health and genetic diseases.

Samoyeds are generally a healthy breed, but some health Challenges that a Samoyed might have are hip or back problems, eye problems, diabetes, and hypothyroidism. Most of these can be avoided with good breeding and good care.

How to teach your kids to handle your Samoyed

It’s important that your children know how to safely handle your puppy before you even bring it home.

Establish a clear set of rules and expectations for your children and grandchildren’s behavior around your dog!

Having rules already in place will help your children know what is expected of them. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good place to start. Examples of some good rules are:

  • Don’t scream or yell around the puppy

    Even though Samoyeds are generally very amiable, loud noises and screaming could frighten your dog, especially if it’s a puppy.
  • Don’t pick up or hold the puppy without help from an adult

    Children need to be taught how to pick up and hold a dog properly. Make sure to supervise them at all times until you are sure that they can hold and carry your dog properly is important to avoid injury.
  • Play calmly around the puppy

    This can be especially important when your dog is in the early stages of it’s training (2-6 months old). Puppies will feed off the energy of those around them and extremely hyper or rowdy play around your dog can encourage high strung behaviors and excessive puppy biting!
  • Leave the puppy alone when they are eating or sleeping

    Eating and sleeping is important for your dogs developmental growth and your puppy needs to have their own space. For children who often crowd and obsessive with being around your dog at all times this can be a good rule to help build in some natural breaks and rest for your puppy.
  • Don’t feed the dog any people food without permission

    Children don’t always have a good understanding of what kind of foods are ok and not ok to give to dogs. They also may not know when is the proper time to treat them (like never feeding them scraps from the dinner table). It’s important that they get permission from and adult first.
  • Don’t allow them to treat the puppy like a toy

    Children need to be taught a clear distinction between a stuffed animal and a real live dog. Real dogs whether a sturdy Samoyed or any other dog breed can be hurt if handled improperly by a child. This has the potential to make your Samoyed nervous or skittish around your children.

Having your child practice with stuffed animals and researching or learning together about proper care can help your child feel involved and important in the process of getting a new puppy.

Giving them a chance to learn and practice with other kids who are going through the same thing is also a great way to help them realize the importance of handling your new puppy or dog very gently. In my online dog care class, I go over all the points above and more.

Even if you feel like you’ve done a great job teaching your children how to carefully handle your dog you will always want to supervise their interactions.

If you notice your dog giving cues that he’s feeling stressed out or bothered by your child it’s a good idea to step in and allow them to have a break from each other. Early intervention when problems arise can oftentimes save injury and heartache.

If you have young kids this article has great tips about teaching your toddler to handle your dog with care! My Toddler Won’t Leave the Dog Alone. (What to Do!)

How to train your Samoyed to be good with your kids

Just as your children need to understand and learn how to interact with your new puppy, your new puppy will need some training to teach them how to behave properly around your kids.

This is not only true for a Samoyed, but for any dog or puppy that you get.

Start with obedience training and establish yourself as the alpha. You can also get your children involved in training and teaching your puppy so that the dog will understand that children are not just playmates. Work with your dog and your children to make their interactions with each other a positive experience. You will want to reward both your Samoyed and your children when they are successful with this.

It will be very important to socialize your Samoyed from a young age. When your Samoyed is a puppy they will be more accepting and curious about new experiences.

Socializing your puppy means letting them experience and get used to new sights, sounds, smells, people, animals, and environments while making it a positive and fun experience for them. Socializing them in a safe and positive way to be around your children as well as other children will help them learn how to be great with kids.

You will want to practice handling your puppy as your kids might handle him. You may have a rule that they are not allowed to pull the puppy’s tail or ears, but that doesn’t mean they will never try it.

If your puppy gets slowly used to you handling him a little rough and receives positive reinforcement for it, it’s more likely he will tolerate it well coming from a child. Just remember that we never want to be so rough with our dogs as to make them yelp or want to nip at us.

Should I get a puppy, or an adult Samoyed for my kids?

You may wonder if getting an adult Samoyed for your family could be a good idea. After all, it would be nice to skip the house training and puppy biting phases.

You may be surprised, but It’s actually more likely that you will get a dog that handles being around kids better if you get a puppy and train them up and socialize them properly as they grow.

Not knowing the history of an adult Samoyed could be problematic. If that dog has had bad experiences being around kids or no experience at all it will be a long road and a lot of work to properly train him to handle being around kids. It’s feasible as well that because of the dog’s personality it may not be possible to teach him to like children.

If you do decide to get an adult Samoyed for your family, you will want to make sure he’s been properly trained and socialized to be around children.

Either way, you decide getting a puppy or dog for your child can be a lot of work, but has countless benefits and can be a wonderful addition to your family.

These articles are super helpful for you in the process of getting a new puppy!
17 Reasons to Get Your Kid(s) a Dog!
Is Having a Puppy a lot of work? (The Dog Tired Truth Revealed!

What Samoyed owners say about Samoyeds for families?

They are very smart and can figure out your habits and schedule quickly. If they want something they will make sure you know! The cons, i would say the amount of work grooming them is…and the digging in the garden.

Francesca K.
Thank you Francesca K. for use of your photo!

I keep saying Sammies are like tattooes. Once you get one, you want more. We currently have three – 8yo, 6yo, and 5mo old. The puppy keeps the older ones so active.

1. They have larger than life personalities.

2. They sing beautiful songs 🙂

3. They love kids

4. They don’t smell and stay clean very easily. Only bathe 2x per year and try to brush weekly (though it’s really bi-weekly)

5. They love to snuggle

6. Their smiles

7. Everywhere we go, they get tons of attention

8. They look like polar bears

9. They love other dogs

10. They are perfect❣️

Amy L.
Thank you Amy L. for use of your photos!

Best thing is they are absolutely the sweetest dog! I’ve never seen dogs that are more friendly with children right from the get go. Perfect for kids especially if getting from puppy. The fur and grooming can be a bit of an upkeep but worth it and they are stinky when not groomed or maybe just my boy lol. They can be picky eaters love human food and raw but not the biggest fan or dry food and won’t go back.

Zyrah M.
Thank you Zyrah M. for use of your photos!

More articles about Samoyeds

Samoyed Sleep Guide (Can They Sleep Outside?) – Paws and Learn

Samoyed Ears (Your Complete Guide) – Paws and Learn

Basset Hound Excessive Barking & Howling (With Tips from Owners)
← Read Last Post
Why do Cocker Spaniels Smell? (Bad Breath, Farts, and More!)
Read Next Post →