Did you know Samoyeds can sing?

I bet it is incredibly difficult to resist the charm of a Samoyed, especially when it comes running towards you with its ‘Sammie Smile’. A Samoyed being a spitz breed is closely related to wolves, and its resemblance is noticed in their fox-like face and curly tails.

Due to the genetic similarity to wolves, Samoyeds are known to howl in their high-pitched voices. As Samoyeds are known to be ‘talkative dogs’, their howls evoke their wolf ancestry. Samoyed talks to their owners by howling, which can be pretty loud sometimes, and thus, it is crucial to understand the reasons for a Samoyed’s howling.

Howling is a medium of communication for a Samoyed and not always trivial. For starters, a Samoyed howling could indicate medical concern as he may be sick or hurt or experiencing pain from an injury, bodily discomfort, sadness, etc. Howling could also be a Samoyed’s cry for help when it senses fear or witnesses uncomfortable, dangerous situations. It could merely mean letting the other animals know that the area belongs to him. A couple of external noises also evoke a howling response from a Samoyed like the siren of an ambulance, police car or a fire truck, loud music playing at a party, or songs on the television. Lastly, Samoyeds love human interaction and company and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for long periods causing them to howl to attract the owner’s attention. The howls of a Samoyed are high pitched, very melodious, and resemble a lot like singing.

A Samoyed singing could mean he wants to play, wants to go outdoors, or is simply happy to see the family members and spend time with them. A Samoyed can be taught to control its vocal cords and sing using a few techniques. It would be so fascinating to have a melodious vibe at home with your Samoyed singing. Check out how Samoyeds can sing on YouTube!

Teaching your Samoyed to sing

Let’s dive into a few easy steps on how to teach a Samoyed to sing:

1. Play a popular video or music that has good beats and can get your Samoyed’s attention. Once the music has grabbed his attention, you can give the verbal cue to ‘Sing’ or ‘Howl’.
2. As the owner of your Samoyed, you would have to first sing along a couple of times
   for your Samoyed to imitate the singing and help him understand the cue.
3. The best way to encourage your Samoyed to sing is a positive affirmation, every time he can howl or make even the slightest attempt at singing, reward him with a small treat. It will encourage him to get better at singing.
4. Lastly, repetition is the key to success. You would have to repeat this exercise several times to make sure your Samoyed gets the verbal cues.

Samoyeds being extremely vocal will melt your heart every time its high pitched voice synchronizes with your favorite song. Thus, the Samoyed is also known to be called the fluffy dog with an angelic voice.

Q: Do Samoyeds bark a lot?

Samoyeds are known to bark a lot and will voice his likes or dislikes very openly. Like any dog, a Samoyed is protective of his family and would bark to alert the owners when they see somebody new to them or an unusual trespasser. Samoyeds pay close attention to their surroundings and instantly recognize if a visitor is not a part of the family. They also bark when they sense that their family members are in danger. Due to their close bonding with humans, Samoyeds often end up barking if left alone for a longer time. Samoyeds change barking level depending on their emotional state or the message they are trying to convey.

Q: How to train a Samoyed to stop barking?

The best way to ensure your Samoyed does not turn into an annoying barker is by training him right through his young days. If your Samoyed has been active all day and exercising well, he will be tired and less likely to have any pent-up energy to bark. It is also effective when you reward your Samoyed for not barking and giving him a small treat for being quiet, which will make him think that laying low is a way to earn treats. Often, a Samoyed would also bark because he wants to get something done (like barking continuously to take him out to play). If you give in to his barking, the Samoyed might think that he can get his way done by barking always, and hence, it is best to ignore his barking. Lastly, you can teach your Samoyed to bark on cues by first,  ewarding the barking when you ask for it, and second, teaching him the cue ‘Quiet’ to stop barking.