Hailing from one of the coldest regions in the world, Western Siberia and Northwest Russia, Samoyed is at the top of the list of tough and hard-working breeds.
This is hardly surprising considering the adverse conditions they lived in throughout most of their history.
They used to handle some of the hardest work assignments for the indigenous people of Siberia, pulling sleds and herding reindeer.
What may come as a surprise, though, is their kind and cheerful personality which is something you may not expect from the breed with such history.
They can best be described as gentle giants with a heart of gold.
However, due to their large frame and imposing presence, many people consider Samoyeds when looking for a dog that will protect their family and household.
Below, I’ll explore are Samoyeds protective and up to the task of being reliable guardians of family and property.
So, lets dive in!
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Are Samoyeds Protective?
One of the primary personality traits of Samoyeds is their pack mentality.
For hundreds of years, they used to pull sleds and share good and bad with fellow members of their pack.
Nowadays, they are rarely used for that kind of job and rarely in a situation where they belong to a larger group of dogs.
In modern times, they are mostly in the role of loving family dogs.
However, old social instincts die hard, and Samoyeds now view their family as their pack.
This means that they are extremely loyal and devoted to their humans. In addition, they’re very protective of their owners.
Even though they lack the aggressiveness of some other northern breeds, Samoyeds will recognize when there’s a potential for danger or harm to their humans.
Still, their response to that danger may differ from traditional guardian breeds as they will not aggressively pursue the impostor.
Can Samoyeds be Aggressive?
Despite their commanding stature, Samoyeds are known as one of the least aggressive dog breeds.
They were bred for working and herding and violence was never a part of their genes.
Sammies are very gentle in nature and will likely never pose a danger to people or other animals.
They were mainly developed to be useful members of a pack.
So, in case of danger, their most likely action will be to warn other of threat rather than dealing with the impostor themselves.
Other than barking, Samoyeds will almost never engage in other types of aggressive behavior.
Of course, like all dogs, in rare situations, Samoyeds can become aggressive. They will defend themselves in dead-end situations,
In addition, aggression can be triggered by pain or fear.
The lack of aggressiveness is why Sammies are so good for families. They will treat all family members, kids especially, with kindness and affection.
Will A Samoyed Protect Its Owner?
As I already explained, Samoyed sees its owner as a member of its pack.
This means that they feel the responsibility to protect the owner and warn them of potential danger.
However, they rarely go beyond just the warning.
If you’re looking for a dog that will ferociously chase and attack the impostor, Samoyed is not it.
Still, when sensing the danger, they’re very vocal and will use their voice and huge presence to try to scare off anyone they perceive as dangerous.
So, while they will provide some safety and protection for the family, you shouldn’t expect them to attack the intruder.
Still, just drawing attention to danger is usually enough to resolve the threatening situation.
More often than not, this serves protection purposes.
How to Train Your Samoyed to Protect You And Your Family
Even though protectiveness is not among their primary traits, you can do some stuff that will improve the Samoyed’s ability to protect you and your family.
To be able to protect you, Samoyeds must first go through basic obedience training. They should be able to respond to sit, lie down, and come every time you ask them to.
You should also socialize them early as this would encourage them not to fear new and strange situations.
Finally, they should be trained to defend you,
To do this, you’ll need a help of a person the dog is not familiar with. The “stranger”, wearing protective gear, should approach the dog and challenge it.
As you give the dog command to bark, the stranger should act afraid and run away.
This way, the Samoyed should gain confidence to stand up to the impostor and defend its humans.
Why Are Samoyeds Bad Guard Dogs?
To answer this question, I should first clarify the difference between watchdogs and guard dogs.
Watchdog’s main duty is to keep the eye on your home and alert you to any potential dangers.
As they’re very alert, vocal, and aware of their surroundings, Samoyeds can easily excel in this role.
However, the guard dog is required not only to alert the owner but also to engage the intruder.
This may include chasing, attacking, or even hurting them. It’s not something you can expect of your Samoyed.
This breed is regarded as one of the gentlest and kindest around and has almost no aggressiveness to them.
Furthermore, they are generally very friendly towards strangers. While they may bark when they spot an intruder, if a stranger walks into the house,
Samoyeds are more likely to greet them with joy and try to engage in some playtime than to attack them.
Conclusion
Samoyeds are a wonderful breed, affectionate, playful, smart, and devoted to their family.
They will make a great addition to any family and the home with fun and kindness.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a dog that will be the fearless protector of your family, you should probably look elsewhere.
While they’re very alert and protective, Samoyeds don’t have the aggressiveness of more famous guardian breeds.
They are physically imposing and that may be enough to deter a potential threat and will bark when they sense danger, but that’s about all they will do.
Still, for most people, this level of protection is more than enough.
Samoyed will announce the presence of danger but you won’t have to worry about it being too aggressive towards strangers and other animals.
