How big does a Samoyed get? Growth stages

Samoyeds are relatively medium-sized dogs that were bred to be working dogs. Like many other dog breeds, a male Samoyed is much larger than its female counterpart. An average size full-grown male Samoyed can weigh 45-60 pounds ( 27 kg) and grow up to a height of 21-23.5 inches (0.6 m). A full-grown female Samoyed can weigh 35-45 pounds (20 kg) and grow up to a shoulder height of 19-21 inches (0.53 m). There are a few cases where the female grows larger than the male. It happens only if they are overfed when they do not receive enough exercise.

Since Samoyed dogs were bred to be hunting dogs, with the ability to haul sledges and herd reindeer, they need plenty of exercises to be healthy. These dogs are very active and are always on their feet. They require vigorous exercise. Their instinct to hunt may also make them run after rodents and other small animals. These dogs are also very protective and need constant companionship from their owners.

When is a Samoyed fully grown?

It takes a newborn Samoyed puppy an average of 16 months to grow to a fully mature adult. A Samoyed is considered fully grown when they attain physical and sexual maturity. These dogs can grow quite large, and need quite a lot of space to move around to be healthy. From their puppy stage, these dogs can easily grow to their required size when given proper food and good exercise.

How much do fully grown Samoyeds weigh?

When the Samoyeds reach the age of around seven months, their growth pace slows down. At approximately 16 months, the Samoyeds usually stop growing. They will remain that size with a constant weight of 45-60 pounds (27 kg – males) and 35-45 pounds (20 kg – females). If your Samoyed weighs more than the average weight for a dog that age, then most probably it does not get enough exercise. However, every dog is different, and usually when they hit 7-8 months, their growth distinctively slows down.

The AKC standards are a good way to check if your dog is over/under the weight. Another good way to check is to contact their breeder. Inquire about the dogs’ parents’ size and compare that to your Samoyed. This is usually the best way to determine the requisite size of your Samoyed as their parents influence their size. Some people think that their Samoyed dog is smaller in size, but when compared with their parents, they are perfectly healthy and normal.

Samoyed size by age

A table showing the standard Samoyed size is given below whereby you can crosscheck according to their age in months.

Male Samoyed weight

Samoyed Age	Samoyed weight (pounds)
4 months	23.8-33.5
6 months	32.5-46.8
8 months	38.5-56.5
10 months	41.2-61.5
12 months	43.5-64.3
14 months	44.4-66.4

Female Samoyed Weight

Samoyed Age	Samoyed weight (pounds)
4 months	19-23.5
6 months	26.3-32.5
8 months	31-38.5
10 months	33.6-48.2
12 months	34.3-42.8
14 months	35-44
16 months	35-44

Growth and development of Samoyed puppies

How fast do puppies grow to their full size?

A Samoyed is usually full-grown by 16 months, but some may take till they are two years old. Like humans, every Samoyed dog will mature at different rates. Some smaller sized Samoyed will reach their full-grown size at a faster rate than bigger Samoyeds. It is important to remember hat their full-grown size is very much dependent on their parents and their genetic makeup. How quickly they mature also depends on these factors. Do not worry if your Samoyed is growing at a slower rate than the standard.

The development and growth of a newborn Samoyed puppy is summarized below.

Samoyed puppy age	Samoyed puppy weight
Newborn	10-18 ounces (0.68 kg)
3rd week	4 pounds (1.81 kg)
5th week	6 pounds (2.72 kg)
8th week	10 pounds (4.54 kg)
10th week	15 pounds (7 kg)

Development of Newborn Puppy to 3 weeks:

When Samoyed puppies are born, they usually weigh 10 to 18 ounces (0.68 kg). Puppies are born deaf, blind, and toothless. It takes around two weeks for the puppy to start seeing and opening their eyes. The puppy’s ears begin to open about 10 days to 2 weeks. The puppies grow while they sleep, so the puppy will spend 90% of their time sleeping for the first month of its life. They fully depend on their mother at this time for food and comfort and to discover essential dog characteristics. Their weight may increase by almost double by the third week of life. Also, at this time, the puppy is still unable to walk on its legs, so they will usually crawl.

Development of Puppy at 3 weeks to 7 weeks:

During this stage, the Samoyed puppy’s milk teeth will start to appear, which is why this is the best time to start weaning the puppy. By 3 weeks, the puppy will also develop their sense of smell. Another change that will be seen is the puppy will begin to walk on its legs. The weight of the Samoyed puppy by the fifth week is usually 6 pounds (2.72 kg). The puppy is close to its mother during this time when it learns basic dog characteristics. They are becoming social and start wagging their tail.

After 5 weeks old, the mother will begin to distance herself from the puppies. They will start to become more social with other dogs and also with humans. At this stage, the puppy will grow and develop at a fast pace. Also, since the puppy is weaning off their mother’s milk, this will be a good time to vaccinate them so their immunity can develop.

Development of a Samoyed puppy at 7 weeks to 12 weeks:

The Samoyed puppy’s weight by the eight weeks should be around 10 pounds (4.54 kg). This is the time when puppies usually get separated from their mother and siblings. The puppy will begin to understand certain commands and will be able to recognize their name. However, at this time, their attention span is very short. Their instincts will begin to take control, and the puppy will be able to explore and discover new environments. It is also a great time to start training your puppy to follow the rules. By the tenth week, the puppy should weigh around 15 pounds (ca. 7 kg).

At this point, the puppy should be fed four times a day, but keep an eye on your Sammy to reduce this amount to 2 meals a day as the puppy gets older.

Development of puppy at 12 weeks to 16 weeks:

At this time, the puppy becomes more independent. They begin to play with other puppies and try to assert dominance. They also try to challenge and assert dominance over the owner, so it is important to set rules at this age.

Their permanent teeth will start setting in at this time, so it is essential to provide them with chew toys. It will help their canines and incisors grow strong enough to be able to tear through food.

Development of puppy at 8 months to 1 year:

The Samoyed puppy will have almost attained their adult height at this age but will continue to fill out to the standard shoulder height. Their growth will start to slow down. Some Samoyed puppies may reach half of their adult weight at eight months. They also become sexually mature in this phase of their life.

Food habits should be checked, and there should be a meal reduction at this age to around 2-3 times a day.

Development of puppy after one year:

When does a Samoyed puppy stop growing? The puppy will continue to grow until the age of 2. However, the growth rate is very slow. It is essential to keep track of the dog’s weight gain. Being overweight can cause some health problems.

How to check if a Samoyed is too heavy?

Since Samoyed dogs were bred to be working dogs, they require plenty of vigorous exercises. Before getting a Samoyed, this needs to be kept in mind as they need space to run around. If the Samoyed is too heavy or overweight, it may cause many health problems. Some of these include heart diseases, joint problems, and metabolic irregularities.

The best way to check if your Samoyed is at a healthy weight is to compare their weight with a Samoyed growth chart. As stated above, their genetic makeup also needs to be taken into consideration.

An easy way to check at home if your Samoyed is overweight is to touch the Samoyed’s ribs. If a thick layer of fat covers the ribs, it is not a very good sign. But keep in mind that the ribs should also not be protruding out either.

Another method you can use at home is to check their abdomen and chest. The Samoyed’s chest should be much wider than their abdomen. There should be a clear distinction between the chest and the abdomen, and the area between should have a distinct tuck. If the abdomen is bigger than their chest, it is a clear sign that the Samoyed is overweight.

What affects the size of a full-grown Samoyed?

Male vs Female: As in many other breeds, the male Samoyed is much larger than the female, both in height and weight. The average weight of a full-grown Samoyed male is 45-60 pounds (ca. 27 kg), and height is 21-23.5 inches (0.6 m). A female Samoyed average weight is 35-45 pounds (ca. 20 kg) and height is 19-21 inches (0.53 m). It is essential to verify the sex of your dog before comparing its size and weight.

Some owners of Samoyed breed dogs have reported that spaying and neutering can cause the dog to gain weight. Veterinarians have suggested that spaying and neutering do not cause the dog to gain weight. They also say that the surgery itself does not affect the dog’s weight. However, this is where post-surgery care is important. Since these dogs are built to be very active and mobile, the recovery after surgery causes weight gain. Most dogs need a few weeks to recover from this surgery, but they eat the usual amount of food during that time. The lack of exercise during this period may cause the weight gain that many people see after spaying or neutering.

Food: It is one of the most important factors that affect your Samoyed’s size. The diet of your dog is very important to keep them healthy. The amount of food a Samoyed should eat depends on their size, their built, their age, their activeness, and their metabolic rate. For an adult Samoyed, it is best to feed them twice daily with a 7-12 hour gap between each serving. Of course, this will significantly depend on the dog’s eating habits and hunger. For puppies, the recommended number of servings is four times daily. Their food should consist of around 24% protein and 15% fat.

The best way to feed your Samoyed is by measuring their food and feeding them twice a day instead of leaving food out. But the amount of food depends on the Samoyed’s activity. These dogs are very active and have lots of energy to play. The food they eat should supply them with energy. If your Samoyed is overweight, try to feed them in a controlled amount with the required number of calories. Also, try to stick to dog food and reduce the amount of human food you feed them.

Some Samoyed owners feed their dogs with raw meat. These dogs were bred to be predators, so feeding them with raw meat is very beneficial for them and their dental health. However, feeding a Samoyed with dry dog food is also fine as long as it provides them with the right nutrition. It is also important to remember not to underfeed your dog because of your fear of becoming obese. Continuously underfeeding your Samoyed may lead to many health problems as well. The first sign of a malnourished Samoyed is weight loss. It might cause gastrointestinal issues and a comprised immune system. If the underfeeding continues, the consequences may also lead to death.

How long do Samoyeds live?

The lifespan of a Samoyed depends on many factors like size, coat thickness, food, environment. However, the average life expectancy for Samoyeds is usually 12 to 15 years. Larger dogs age quicker than smaller sized dogs which means they die earlier. Physical features like the thickness of fur also seem to have affected the dogs’ life span. Since these dogs are bred for colder environments, their thick coat of fur greatly affects their longevity. It is mainly because they need cold temperatures for their survival. The Samoyed breed thrives more in a cold climate rather than warmer weather. Warm climates can be fatal to Samoyeds as they could suffer from heat strokes. If these heat strokes do not kill the dog, they would probably cause brain injury and other illnesses and compromise their immune system.

Q: How to take care of a Samoyed to make sure they grow to their full ability?

To care for your Samoyed in the best way, you have to make sure that they eat healthy according to the amount of exercise they get. Since Samoyeds were bred to help hunters and for herding, they require plenty of exercises. Another thing to keep in mind is that these dogs are very energetic and will always want to be active. Some Samoyed owners would get dog treadmills to help keep the dogs fit if they do not have enough space in their apartments. However, outdoor open spaces are the best. Check out our tips on how to make Sammy your best running partner.

Q: Why does it seem like my Samoyed is not growing?

If your Samoyed’s growth seems to be slowing down, it is best to check with your vet. If your Samoyed is underweight, odds are it will not grow. Most vets will advice you to feed the Samoyed more, however, if it is normal weighted, it is probably just genetics. If that is the case, then it is best to check with your breeder. Growth of a Samoyed depends a lot on genetics, so if your Samoyed’s parents are on the smaller side, your dog may be small as well. Ask the breeder about the dog’s siblings. If they are having the same issue, then the problem lies in their genes. However, Samoyeds continue to grow till the age of 1 year or one and a half years, so it may be that your dog is just a late bloomer. After your Samoyed is around 7 months, their growth will start slowing down. After your vet has checked your dog and there seems to be nothing physically wrong with them, you don’t need to worry about your dog’s size.