|
From a recent discussion on SamFans on what makes for "good temperment" in a Samoyed?
Sidney Boardman writes about what makes a sammie a sammie. One of the very best descriptions I've ever seen.
Temperament is more than not having a propensity for being dog and people
aggressive, although that's important. Our dogs have a different temperament
than other breeds have.
Temperament is heart. Its the dog's willingness to stay and distract and
stand off polar bears while the (human) members of the polar expedition team
got their guns out and loaded. Its the willingness to not start fights, but
to finish them if attacked. Our dogs are not afraid.
Temperament is mental as well as physical stamina. Its the willingness to
keep going in the middle of the night in the dark and cold, pulling a sledge
or a sled. Its the willingness to search the entire fence line for a weak
link or the one place to keep digging. Our dogs are strong, mentally as well
as physically.
Temperament is the stubbornness to use their brains. Its the dog's ability
to refuse to try to pull a sled over thin ice, even though the driver tries
to insist. Its the ability to question even the alpha's judgement. Its the
willingness to keep trying to get what they want. If you tell one of our
dogs "No" it usually means "you can't use *that* method to get what you
want" to the dog, rather than the "you can't have that even if you want it"
that we want it to mean to the dog. Our dogs are intelligent enough to see
other possibilities and stubborn enough to try them out.
Temperament is the ability to work together but separately. Its the ability
of a pack to divide up when hunting, and each dog doing his or her part,
some herding from one side, some from the other, some lying down waiting to
seize the prey as it drives past. Its also the ability to go for a walk
"with" a human by ranging all over the area, just coming back to "check in"
every now and again. They don't have to be "at heel" to be "with" you. Our
dogs are more independent than most other breeds.
Temperament is the desire to herd, to pull, to be a working dog. Its the
clear enjoyment of doing something, rather than sitting around. Its the
hunting instinct that makes them good mousers. Its the need to dig or chew
when bored. Our dogs are easily bored, and need a lot of exercise.
In many "Northern Breeds" most of the pack orients to a dog as leader, while
only the alpha dog orients to a human as pack leader. That's not true of
most Sams. The whole pack orients to a human leader, if there's a suitable
candidate. The original dogs lived inside the skin huts with the people, not
outside with only each other, like so many other breeds.
Temperament is the willingness to include humans as members of the pack. Its
to look to a human as pack leader. Our dogs accept the whole family as part
of the pack.
Sams originated where there was no need to guard dwellings and property.
They will fight to protect the pack, and the humans who are part of that pack.
Temperament is not guarding. Its welcoming a burglar enthusiastically, and
showing him or her where the biscuits are kept. Our dogs are not aggressive
in guarding our property.
Temperament can, and unfortunately sometimes is, overcome by early training,
and lack of socialization, but our dogs are different in their temperament,
not just their looks.
And from Tom and Bev Delaney.....
- I want all my dogs to be able to go anywhere and be friendly and outgoing.
- A dog that makes friends with everyone - even if they are no taller then
the dog and pull hair out by hanging off the dog.
- A dog that makes friends
with everyone at Madison Square Garden and loves the crowds, the excitement.
- A
dog that doesn't back down in any situation, but doesn't start anything.
- A dog that will always back down to the desires of a human - even if that
human is holding a roast beef sandwich and is only 3' tall.
- A dog that
enjoys being alive and doing everything - conformation, obedience, agility,
sledding, herding (be it squirrels or sheep), and sleeping on the bed.
- A
dog that gets along with all other Sammys in their home and on neutral
territory.
- If they can do that, they can dig all the holes they want in the back yard.
Back to the Miscellaneous Topics Page!
True Confessions of a Sammie Breeder
I am going to get on the soapbox, be it ever so briefly...
I just want everyone to know that I got into Samoyeds because I thought
I was going to offer my male at stud and make lots of money. Period.
The one and only bitch brought to my male was white. End of resemblance
to a Samoyed. I thought "If I'm going to do this, I'm going to breed
nice looking Samoyeds." So I purchased a Dog Fancy and found a breeder.
The first sentence of the letter went something like this..."I'm looking
for a one to two year old female to use for breeding..."
I was fortunate enough that the breeder I contacted did not freak out
and attack me for what I intended to do.
She did not tell me I couldn't have one of her dogs. She EDUCATED me.
I learned there were pet homes, breeding terms, and show homes. I
learned that there were hip problems, eye problems, skin problems, etc.,
etc., etc. I learned about co-ownerships and lease agreements. I
learned that there was a Samoyed Club of America and a Samoyed
Quarterly. I learned that you should show dogs worthy of obtaining a
title. I learned that the whole point to breeding was to improve the
breed. I learned (and continue to learn) what I can about the breed,
because I truly love Samoyeds.
In the past eleven years I have learned a lot. Southern Mist has
produced some very nice dogs, and though we don't have the money needed
to seriously special any of our guys, we do quite well owner-handled and
have beaten the big guys more than once.
The point is (get on w/it, Theresa) that we don't always have to react
defensively. My backyard breeding endeavor was due to ignorance.
Because of a breeder who took the time to educate me, answer my stupid
questions, and mentor me, I now know what's involved in breeding
Samoyeds. My first Samoyed litter produced six puppies; three are
finished (one's a Group 1 from his first BOB), another is a CD, all four
are OFA/CERF and have produced Champions (Group 1 has produced a Group
4). Since then we have bred/owned/handled other Ch's with more on the
way. This is what education can do.
I disagree w/West Coast guy's reason to breed his dog. But sometimes
just explaining things gently and allowing people to make their own
decisions is the way to go. If the person truly cares for his/her dogs,
they will make every attempt to learn more before they breed. I feel
that if I were attacked for wanting to breed my dog, it would have me
even more determined to do so.
Thanks for listening.
Theresa Dicks
Southern Mist Samoyeds
Tupelo MS
|