Tips for running and hiking with a Samoyed

Guide to Running and Hiking with a Samoyed

Anxious about taking your Sammy for a run? Before you give up on the idea or go too far, it is essential to know a few things. Samoyeds are not just amiable but also sharp and intelligent. They are easy-to-maintain and won’t require more than medium quantities of quality feed. But there are certain facts to be aware of concerning their running antics. Glimpse through your adorable fluffy friend important characteristics before you take it for a run or hike.

Do Samoyeds like running?

Samoyeds are highly energetic and love outdoor activities. They require an exercise of minimum 40 minutes per day. In other words, Sammies can turn out to be your best partners in jogging, running, and hiking. And not letting them exercise can be harmful to their health in the long term.

Samoyeds are smart and pick up commands quicker than most other dogs. Usually, they prefer jogging to fast running, yet they will gladly keep up for a sprint of about five miles. As for hiking, Samoyeds love long hikes of even more than ten miles. Be it a cross-country skiing or a snowshoeing trip, your Samoyed will be more than happy on all such adventures. Just remember to add some variation in your running routes as it gets easily bored. Further, you can complement running activity with a few other exercises like fetching, tug-of-war, circuit training, etc.

How fast can Samoyeds run?

Initially, Samoyeds were deployed by a group of Siberian nomads to assist them in hunting, herding, and dragging sleds to many miles. It led these dogs to develop high endurance, extreme stamina, and the ability to work in all weather conditions. Since they are meant for enduring tasks, Sammies score a little less on speed. They will do great as long-distance runners rather than as swift sprinters. Their maximum speed is around 30 miles (or 50 km) per hour. However, your Sammy can go on at a constant pace of 10 miles per hour for very long walks.

Temperature is another factor that impacts Samoyed speed. Though Samoyeds are tolerant of extreme temperatures, they get a little slower in colder seasons as compared to intermediate ones.

Tips for running with Samoyeds:

Never forget to take proper care of your Sammy while on the run. Stick to the following points to keep it healthy and happy:

Since a Samoyed has a thick furry coat, it is wiser to choose early mornings or late evenings during summer days for long walks.
Make your Sammy warm up before picking up speed. Start with regular walking and then gradually up to its tempo.
Choose different paths and keep varying the duration and pace of your walk. It will retain your pet’s curiosity as he dislikes repetitive things.
Don’t make your Samoyed run on harder surfaces until it reaches the age of two. In the growing years, its joints are more prone to injuries as they are yet to develop fully
Remember to keep your Samoyed hydrated. Feed it with water after every 2-4 miles of the journey.
Look out if your Samoyed is panting too much or appears tired. It is a horrible idea to overwork a Sammi. Letit take a break if it needs to recharge.
Assure that you do not unleash him in an area that may not be safe or legal for it to run around.
Praise your Sammy after every running milestone. Samoyeds adore it!
Do not forget to add a few days gap between your long-distance hikes with Samoyed. Rest is important when Samoyeds start to age.
Avoid leaving Samoyed alone en-route your running sessions. Sammies tend to get unhappy and turn to destructive behaviors when left on their own.

How long can Samoyeds run?

Assuming that your Sammy is healthy and not tired, it can easily run above 100 miles per day. It applies if it is running at a speed of 15-20 miles per hour. However, it also depends upon climatic conditions. In severely low temperatures, a Samoyed can easily manage around 3-4 miles in one go. At the same time,it can cover more than 5 miles at a jogging speed. In other words, Samoyeds require more frequent breaks in case of harsh weather.

Why do Samoyeds pant so much?

It is absolutely normal for dogs to pant, as they do it for several natural reasons. A Samoyed is likely to pant if it is thirsty, hungry, excited, very happy, or really scared. But if he is panting more than usual, probably he is overworked or feeling too much heat. Excessive panting is an indication that your dog is uncomfortable. Dogs with thick coats mostly pant more than the ones with a lesser fur. Although the Samoyed white coat reflects away heat, it may be getting hot due to overexercise. Your Sammy stays fine in summers as ling as you give it plenty of water, and let it walk or run on cool pavements and rest in the shade.

If all the care doesn’t do any good and your Samoyed is still continuously panting, it may be time to see a vet.

How to train Samoyeds jogging?

Just like humans, your Sammy needs to be trained before you take it on a marathon. Generally, you can commence training a Samoyed once it is older than a year. But if it is bigger than most Samoyeds, i.e. above 21 inches, it’s better to wait until it is 1.5 years old. The best idea would be to ensure that your Sammy is fit and grown-up to gear up for training from a local veterinarian.

Initially, begin with slow walks of a few miles once per week and then proceed to frequent long walks. Once it becomes accustomed to long distances at an average walking pace, accelerate it to a jogging pace. Further on, you can advance it to running speed and increase the distance as well. But make sure that you let Samoyed rest for a few days in between the training and even after.

Also, pay heed if your Sammy display signs of fatigue or struggle while training. Too much or too fast training can spoil Samoyed’s bones. Apart from the exercise, do feed it with a nutritious and balanced diet that would aid its growth.

In addition to running or jogging, you can put your Samoyed on an agility course. You may either buy some agility kits or utilize household stuff like cardboard boxes, soup cans, etc. It will strengthen Samoyed’s bones and joints and hence, make it better prepared for long-running schedules.

In case you have little time to train your Sammy, take help from a dog training service.

Will Samoyeds run away?

Well, all dogs would want to run away when you take them out for the first time. While for most of them, the trigger is food, Samoyeds have other reasons. Samoyeds enjoy freedom, and once it gets this opportunity, it will definitely run away. If you have a leash on it, Samoyed will probably try to walk you around rather than you walking it. And it is eager to explore the surroundings more than other dogs.

It makes training even more critical. It is alright to unleash a Samoyed if you have trained it well. Here comes the role of off-leash training.

Off-Leash Training a Samoyed

Never off-leash your Sammy straight away! Training a Samoyed for off-leash running is quite challenging due to their freedom-loving nature. The earlier you initiate Samoyed off-leash training, the better it is. Go through to following steps on how to go about the off-leash training:

Start by unleashing Samoyed at your house – in your garden or backyard. Remember to lock the main gate while doing this. Repeat the same a couple of times for a few weeks.
Now, test it. Does Samoyed come back when you call it? Do you observe any hesitation or delay in its response? If your Samoyed takes time to hear you, it isn’t ready for an off-leash stroll outside.
Once your off-leashed Sammy learns to listen to you, you can take it to an off-leash dog park or a similar area. You may want to use a longer leash first, then gradually drop the leash and, finally, unleash Samoyed. But keep a good eye on it while it roams around.
After your Sammy earns your trust, you can take it on road trips. Begin by letting go of the leash or unleashing it for a little time and cautiously keep increasing the off-leash time on every trip. Your Sammy is going to love it!

One of the biggest troubles that come with off-leashing is that dogs become vulnerable to accidents. So, ascertain that your Sammy retains good manners irrespective of all kinds of provocations. In the first few times, you may want to leash it near unsafe spaces. With time, it will pick up the cue itself. Samoyeds have great chasing instincts, so if you train it well, it will follow you well!

What to prevent while running with a Samoyed?

Whether you take your Samoyed leashed or unleashed on a run, it is crucial to take care of a few things. Most dogs have a bad habit of eating something wrong, pounce on people or other animals, and so on. These troubles are more likely to arise if your Sammy is not much used to listening to you. Here are a few things you should avoid or prevent while running with a Samoyed:

When it tries to eat what it shouldn’t. Every dog is lured by a lot of outside stimuli and jumps on the first chance. Be it poop, weeds, stale food, or anything else, it can make a Samoyed feel really sick. Without a leash, it is even more challenging to thwart it from consuming inedible stuff. The best way to overcome this problem is proper training and commands that tell it not to eat. If it still doesn’t work, if your Sammy is way too much attracted to some delicious-looking thing, try tempting it back with its favorite toy or food.
When Samoyed attacks or is attacked by another pet or a loose animal. While Samoyeds are usually affectionate and gentle, they may be attacked by another aggressive pet or animal. In another case, Sammy may also be incited to charge at the other animal. If you have a leash on your Samoyed, you can steer it in a different direction. But if it is off-leash, it may be tough to control the dog. To avoid such circumstances, just stay wary of its closeness to other animals. But despite all precautions, if your Sammy gets in a fight with another animal, try to stop it using physical objects like hoses, brooms, etc. If it happens frequently, look out for the causes and triggers behind it. Are they fighting over food? Is your Sammy kick-starting it? Or is it new to the outdoor walks? Whatever the reason may be, modify your training accordingly.
When Samoyed attempts to jump on passers-by. Any dog reacts when it sees strangers. Dogs typically feel excited or threatened; in either case, they can jump on the person. Samoyed, being a friendly breed, would start jumping around in excitement and scare the passers-by. In case it literally jumps on people, it could land you in legal trouble. If your Sammy is wearing a leash, you can hold it in time. But an unleashed Samoyed behaves well only if it’s well-taught. In the early stages of the outdoor training, you may want to keep Samoyed leashed in populated areas and unleash it in isolated places.

Always maintain a hawk-eye on your Sammy while on the run. Whichever may be the impending danger, you can avert it by distracting it with any feasible means.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can a Samoyed develop health issues due to long-distance running?

In general, Samoyeds are healthier than most other breeds. But they can develop health problems if overexercised, be it running, jogging or hiking. They are prone to have elbow and hip dysplasia, resulting in the inadequate growth of joints that causes arthritis. Some other health issues that may arise due to running: overheating, cracked or injured paws, dehydration, respiratory and gastric complications. All these issues can be prevented if you give sufficient breaks to your Sammy in-between the running sessions and feed it with appropriate food.

Further, if you plan to take your Samoyed on frequent long-distance runs or hikes, go for their health check-ups on a regular basis.

How do I know that my Sammy is overworked?

All dogs show signs of being worn out when they are overworked. Similarly, a Samoyed will slow down his movements while walking, running, or climbing stairs. It may not appear enthusiastic or even refuse to do the tasks which usually excite him. Moreover, you may notice its paws have reddened or swollen when it has worked beyond the limit. In more extreme conditions, a Samoyed may also have blisters on the paws or tear marks on the skin.

You need to visit a vet urgently if your Sammy exhibits serious symptoms like recurrent excessive panting, bright red gums, temperature of 103° F or above, abnormally fast heart rate, etc.

How do I know if my Sammy is dehydrated or needs a water break?

There are various indicators of a Samoyed’s dehydration. Firstly, its eyes, nose, gums, and skin go dry. It will pant much more than it normally does. Also, you can check its skin for elasticity; if it seems less elastic and doesn’t regain its natural state within minutes,it is in immediate need of water. Usually, a Sammi feels dehydrated and overheated simultaneously. No doubt, overheating is the reason behind the dehydration.

If it continues for long, a Samoyed will lose appetite as well as its high energy levels. Neglecting dehydration can be fatal for the dog. As soon as your Samoyed displays signs of dehydration, take it to shade and supply enough fluids. If it doesn’t recover in time, get help from a vet.

What maximum temperatures can a Samoyed stand and what do I do when it is overheated?

A Samoyed can comfortably withstand a temperature of 86° F. If the outside temperature is higher than this, you should take it indoors. If your Sammy feels overheated, take it to a cooler place and feed with a good amount of water. You can also shower it if it doesn’t cool down. The warmer season should never be an excuse to skip the outdoor routine; rather take it out around sunrise or sunset. Just avoid walking a Samoyed on hot surfaces and groom it well. It is not recommended to shave a Samoyed but you can trim its coat a little. Be it any season, your Sammy always needs exercise!