Page 198 - ShowSight - June 2020

encompassing the depth of the muzzle, black pigmented lips that are slightly curved up at the corners of the mouth and the tight flews. Heavy or loose flews would tend to freeze in the arctic cli- mate. The smile, in conjunction with the eyes and ears, all provide the correct “Samoyed expression” and is a hallmark of the breed.
Is there a preference for color in the breed ring? Within the range of acceptable colors of biscuit, white and biscuit, cream and pure white, there should be no preference. More critical to discern is the correct weather-resistant double coat and the silver sheen or silver tipping on the ends of healthy, untrimmed guard hairs.
Does the Samoyed have any specific exercise needs? Samoyeds are creative and intelligent and need a “job” to keep from becom- ing bored. Owners can be unhappily amazed at their creativity for mischief when left to their own devices and boredom. They do best with some exercise daily, whether it be walking, pack hiking, agility practice, bike-joring or anything else that lets them use their energy.
Is the breed generally good with other dogs? The breed is usually good with other dogs and household pets, particularly when they are raised together.
How much does the Samoyed really shed and are they enthusi- astic barkers? All Samoyeds shed small amounts of fur continuously. Males generally have a major shed annually while females generally have a major shed that cycles preceding their coming in season by a couple of months.
Samoyeds can be enthusiastic barkers and learn quickly to respond to the UPS driver pulling up to the house or doorbells ringing. While not suited to being guard dogs due to their friendly temperament, they can be excellent watchdogs. The more pleasant vocalization is their wooing. Many Samoyeds can be quite expres- sive with melodious, full-throated “woos” that seem to contain complete sentences and even paragraphs!
A funny story I’d like to share about my experiences showing Samoyeds? It’s hard to relate a specific story, but Samoyeds do have a sense of humor and are not hesitant to embarrass their handlers. Their favorite lesson to teach their people is that of humility.
MARION MCNEIL
I graduated from college with a bach- elor’s degree in Animal Science and later com- pleted a Master’s in Microbiology studying bacterial viruses. I then finished my academic education with a Ph. D.
in genetics working on autoimmune diseases.
Throughout my years in graduate school I bred Samoyeds and
competed with them in obedience and conformation. I was also active in recreational sledding while some of my dogs were used on a competitive mid-distance racing team. To date, I have bred or co-bred 36 Champions, completed a number of obedience titles, a Schutzhund endurance title, and finished over a dozen Champion- ships in other countries. Some very special achievements have been being awarded two BIS, three BISS, numerous Group One’s, many Group placements, and coveted honors at National and Regional Specialties, and all-breed shows. I am especially proud of the Top Brood Bitch award from the Samoyed Club of America.
Professionally, I was the Director of the breeding program at The Seeing Eye using a computerized data-based statistical system to select outstanding breeding stock that provided superior guide dogs to the program. I continued working with Guide Dog Schools to develop a cryogenic preservation breeding system available to Vet- erinarians at Guide Dog Schools all over the world.
I live in Plantsville, Connecticut. Presently, I own a commer- cial boarding, grooming, and training kennel and actively compete with my dogs in conformation, now from my 15th generation. I finished my first Champion in 1982 after getting my first Samoyed in 1973. I was very active in obedience, tracking, and sledding with my first Samoyeds.
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I am pretty much tied-up with many dog activities, but I do enjoy painting and drawing (but again, most of my subjects are dogs).
As a Working Dog, what are they key aspects of breed type for the Samoyed? The Samoyed is a strikingly beautiful dog, but the characteristics that make the dog a Samoyed are functionally important. The double coat is for survival in the harsh arctic weath- er, the eyes are dark and almond shaped to protect from the sun glare in the snow. The ears are moderate in size and thick with fur to endure the cold, and even the charming Sammy smile is important as the mouth holds in the saliva so no freezing occurs. The feet are shaped to run in the snow and the dog is built for endurance so it can herd reindeer over large expanses of the arctic tundra.
About 15 years ago I spoke with a government official who had visited the Arctic Circle in the 1950s. He had Samoyeds of his own and had seen the native dogs work the reindeer herds. He told me that the reindeer are grazing over great distances and when the herder wanted to bring them in for shots or medical care, he would send out five or six of his dogs to circle the herd and bring them into a fenced area. The dogs had to go out about five miles to surround the reindeer and they would cast back and forth for hours to push the animals to the fenced area. He described the dogs as having a lot of leg and broad heads and muzzles, thick coats, and ready to run! I wish I had gotten to see that, but it gives me the sense of what the Samoyed’s job was and how they should be built.
Can I speak to my breed’s ideal size? The ideal size of a female, 19 to 21 inches should not overlap the size of the male that is 21 to 23 1⁄2 inches. We do not have a disqualification for oversize or undersize, but the females should be more feminine than the males in type and size.
What about that “Sammy smile?” How important is correct expression? The Samoyed really does have that endearing smile. Their expression is an important distinction for the breed. Their eyes light up. The grin sets itself; all their attention is in that expres- sion if they are curious, excited, or developing some scheme. And if you smile at them, they smile back!
Is there a preference for color in my breed ring? The biscuit- coated Samoyed is of equal quality in color to the white. It is due to a recessive genetic characteristic, so is not as common as white. A great many “white” dogs have biscuit shading on their ears, freck- les on their noses, and subtle, shaded areas on their bodies as they age. I have finished quite a few biscuit Champions and exhibited them at Westminster many times and around the world at inter- national shows. Discrimination against a biscuit-coated Samoyed does happen. I was specialing a biscuit Champion who had finished quickly. The judge commented, “I bet it took you a long time to finish that dog!” That dog was a Champion in seven countries, went BIS in Bermuda and won the Canadian National Specialty under educated judges!
Does my breed have any specific exercise needs? Individual dogs have varied needs for exercise. They do like to have you get out and about with them. It is unwise to leave them up to their own devices, so they are happiest with a big area available for running or a good long walk daily, and will be content watching TV with you after some playtime. If you are up to it, the same dog can work up to mid-distance racing (50 miles or more), pulling thousands of pounds in competi- tive weight pull, or flying around the Agility course.
SAMOYED Q&A
196 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020