There are a handful of health issues prevalent in the Samoyed breed. The SCA works with the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) to maintain a list of health tests. These tests are considered essential prior to breeding a Samoyed: 

• OFA or PennHip Evaluations for Hip Dysplasia
• A Cardiac Exam performed by a Veterinary Cardiologist
• An AVCO Eye Exam (completed yearly) by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist
• DNA Testing for Progressive Renal Atrophy and Oculoskeletal Dysplasia

• OFA Elbow Evaluations for Elbow Dysplasia
• DNA Testing for Degenerative Myopathy,
• DNA Testing for Familial Enamel Hypoplasia
• DNA Testing for Hereditary Nephropathy 
• Gonioscopy Exam of the Eyes for Glaucoma

Reputable Samoyed breeders will have and share with you documentation of these tests. You can also look up a dog’s health testing records in the OFA public database. Do not be fooled by someone who says their dogs are “vet checked,” a regular veterinarian cannot perform these tests during an annual office visit. 

Samoyeds are an American Kennel Club recognized breed and as such, all Samoyeds from reputable Samoyed breeders (in the United States) will be registered with the AKC. Canadians use the Canadian Kennel Club (beware of the other CKC, the Continental Kennel Club). International dog breeders register dogs with the FCI. Think of the AKC like ancestry.com but for dogs- they keep track of pedigrees going back to the foundation of the breed. For a puppy to have AKC papers, it needs to have two AKC registered parents. The AKC registration is your proof that the puppy is a purebred Samoyed. If you come across an unregistered puppy, it means that the puppy has unknown ancestry and may not be a purebred Samoyed. 

Not all AKC* registered Samoyeds are from reputable breeders, but all reputable Samoyed breeders have AKC* registered puppies. 

*Swap AKC for CKC (make sure that’s *Canadian*, not Continental) if you are in Canada, or for FCI if you are outside of North America.

Reputable Samoyed breeders will prove their dogs in events relevant to the goals of their breeding program. For example, a breeder who aims to produce quality sledding dogs would have their dogs titled in things like mushing, skijoring, weight pull, or canicross. A breeder aiming to produce service dogs can prove their dogs are trainable with high-level obedience public access titles.

But how do you prove that your dogs make good pets? The answer is you don’t really. What a pet breeder does need to prove though, is that their dogs make great Samoyeds that look and act and move like a well-put-together Samoyed should. That proof is gained in the AKC dog show ring. Not every breeding dog needs to have titles, but if a breeder has no titled dogs, that’s a red flag. 

The Samoyed Breed Standard outlines the general appearance and temperament of the ideal Samoyed dog. The traits in this document are what make Samoyeds distinctly identifiable from the handful of other fluffy, white, spitz dog breeds. Reputable Samoyed breeders strive to produce dogs that fit this description as much as possible. Breeders who do not adhere to the standard often produce dogs that look ambiguous or kind of off. Often, these dogs are not structurally sound or well put together either. Sure, they’re white and fluffy, but outside of that they may not look or act like a Samoyed should act. Getting a Samoyed that doesn’t look or act like a Samoyed kind of defeats the whole point of specifically getting a Samoyed, doesn’t it? 

Beware of breeders who specifically advertise breeding for traits that go against the breed standard. For Samoyeds, this includes but is not limited to: Colors outside of white, cream, and biscuit; blue eyes; and extra large or miniature dogs. Additionally, there is no such thing as a miniature or teacup Samoyed. Anyone attempting to sell you one is at best a liar and at worst a scammer.  

Puppies are capable of having puppies well before they are mentally or physically mature enough for the task. Additionally, accurate X-rays for Hip Dysplasia cannot be done before the growth plates have closed. Look for a breeder who waits until both parents are over 18 months (but preferably 2 years) before breeding them.

It is unethical (and in many places, unlawful) to sell puppies who are younger than 2 months old. Those first few months with mom are crucial for a puppy; they learn bite inhibition, how to communicate with other dogs, and how to confidently handle new situations. Some breeders will keep puppies for as long as 12 weeks. It ensures they go home with a socialization foundation that will help them grow into solid, even-tempered adult dogs. Many reputable Samoyed breeders will follow an Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) protocol and a socializing curriculum like Puppy Culture. 

Puppies removed from their mothers and littermates too early are not receiving adequate early socialization. They are more likely to exhibit behavioral issues as adults such as fearfulness, resource guarding, aggression, anxiety, or reactivity. 

Additionally, reputable Samoyed breeders work very hard to keep the dogs that they produce out of shelters. They will take back or assist in the rehoming of any of their puppies that end up not working out with their original families. This is why it is extremely rare to come across a well-bred Samoyed in a regular animal shelter.