UK KENNEL CLUB BREED STANDARD FOR THE SAMOYED

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Most striking. Medium and well balanced. Strong, active and graceful, free from coarseness but capable of great endurance.

CHARACTERISTICS: Intelligent, alert, full of action. "Smiling expression".

TEMPERAMENT: Displays affection to all mankind. Unprovoked nervousness or aggression highly undesirable.

EYES: Almond shaped, set slanted, medium to dark brown, set well apart with alert, intelligent expression. Eyerims unbroken black. Light or black eyes undeirable.

EARS: Thick, not too long, slightly rounded at tips, set well apart and well covered inside with hair. Fully erect in adults.

MOUTH: Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK: Strong, not too short, and proudly arched.

FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders well laid, legs straight and muscular with good bone and not too short.

BODY: Back medium in length, broad and very muscular with exceptionally strong loin. Chest deep but not too broad, well sprung ribs, giving plenty of heart and lung room.

HINDQUARTERS: Very muscular, stifles well angulated, veiwed from the rear, legs staight and parallel with well let down hocks. Cow hocks or straight stifle highly undesirable.

FEET: Long, flattish, slightly spread and well feathered. Soles well cushioned with hair. Round cat feet highly undesirable.

TAIL: Long, profusely coated, carried over the back and to side when alert, sometimes dropped when at rest.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Moves freely with strong, agile drive, showing power and elegance.

COAT: Body should be well covered with thick, close and soft short undercoat, with harsh but not wiry hair growing through it, forming weather resistant outer coat, which should stand away from the body and be free from curl.

COLOUR: Pure white, white and biscuit, cream, outer coat silver tipped

SIZE: Dogs 51-56cms (20-22 ins) at shoulder. Bitches 46-51cms (18-20ins) at shoulder. Weight in proportion to size.

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.