Editing Samoyed dog (section)

== Appearance and characteristics ==
[[File:Samoyed puppy.jpg|thumb|Samoyed puppy]]
The [[American Kennel Club|AKC]] Standard requires {{convert|45|–|65|lbs|kg}} and {{convert|21|–|23.5|in|cm}} at the shoulder for males, and {{convert|35|–|50|lbs|kg}} and {{convert|19|–|21|in|cm}}  for females.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/samoyed/ |title=Samoyed |publisher=AKC}}</ref> The [[UK Kennel Club]] Standard requires {{convert|51|–|56|cm|in}} for males, and {{convert|46|–|51|cm|in}} for females.

Samoyed ears are thick and covered with fur, triangular in shape, and erect. They are almost always white but have a light to dark brown tint (known as "biscuit") to a greater or lesser extent. The tint is usually on the ears but can be visible on the whole body.

[[File:Samoyed dog two year old female dllu.jpg|thumb|A two year old adult female Samoyed. The breed is characterized by an alert and happy expression.]]
The Samoyed tail is one of the breed's distinguishing features. Like the [[Alaskan Malamute]], the tail is carried curled over the back; however, unlike the Alaskan Malamute, the Samoyed tail is held actually touching the back. It is not usually held in a tight curl, or held flag-like; it is usually carried lying over the back and to one side. In cold weather, Samoyeds may sleep with their tails over their noses to provide additional warmth. Almost all Samoyeds will allow their tails to fall when they are relaxed and at ease, as when being stroked or while eating, but will return their tails to a curl when more alert.

Samoyeds have a dense, [[double coat|double layer coat]]. The [[Guard hair|topcoat]] contains long, coarse, and straight [[guard hair]]s, which appear white but have a hint of silver coloring. This top layer keeps the [[Down hair|undercoat]] relatively clean and free of debris. The under layer, or undercoat, consists of a dense, soft, and short fur that keeps the dog warm. The undercoat typically sheds heavily once or twice a year, and this seasonal process is sometimes referred to as "blowing coat". This does not mean the Samoyed will shed only during that time however; fine hairs (versus the dense clumps shed during seasonal shedding) will be shed all year round, and have a tendency to stick to cloth and float in the air. The standard Samoyed may come in a mixture of biscuit and white coloring, although pure white and all biscuit dogs are common. Males typically have larger ruffs than females. While this breed is touted as "hypoallergenic", it does shed a fair amount and needs frequent grooming. While the breed may produce fewer allergens, care should be taken for severe allergies.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bakalar|first1=Nicholas|title=The Myth of the Allergy-Free Dog|url=http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/the-myth-of-the-allergy-free-dog/|website=The New York Times|access-date=18 July 2015|date=11 July 2011}}</ref>

Shed Samoyed fur is sometimes used as an alternative to wool in [[knitting]], with a texture similar to [[Angora wool|angora]]. The fur is sometimes also used for the creation of [[artificial fly|artificial flies]] for [[fly fishing]].

Life expectancy for the breed is about 12–13 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Individual Breed Results for Purebred Dog Health Survey|url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570|publisher=TheKennelClub.org.uk|access-date=26 June 2012|archive-date=13 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813043548/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570|url-status=dead}}</ref>