Anonymous: How do you tell if a Samoyed puppy will grow up to be pure white?
I'm looking to get a Samoyed puppy and I'd love to have a pure white one. Is there any way to tell if a Samoyed puppy around 1 month old will grow up to be pure white?
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Answers and Views:
Answer by Jayse Ö Think before you breed
Samoyeds are not really pure white., rather off-white. However, if you mean white with no coloured markings then by 8 weeks you will know. Aso, a reputable breeder will be able to guide you when choosing a puppy. You should also see the parents and assess them, or at least the puppy's mother.
ETA: Animal Artwork said: "For those claiming to be able to tell what color a Sam will be while it's a puppy I sure would like to know what brand your magic hat is.... Samoyeds can and do change or add color at any point in their life with most developing at least some biscuit as they age."
My meaning was that by 8 weeks you should (surely?) know whether or not the puppy was parti-coloured or had patches of wrong colouration, such as black spots!. I already said that Sammies were not usually pure white. But I am not a Sammie owner or breeder, so perhaps I am wrong?
Answer by Sammy
Samoyeds can come in colors other then white and they are still PURE! Read the standard. They come in white, cream and biscuit and white. In other countries they can be cream and biscuit or pure biscuit as well.
Some Samoyeds are born with color that will get darker as they age. Some are born with color that will fade and some don't get their biscuit coloring until they are older.
The best way to tell is to speak with the breeder of your dog and ask about the parents and grandparents and wait and see what happens with your dog.
Biscuit coloring should be treasured, it's beautiful and important to the breed to keep good pigment.
Answer by Bri
Samoyeds are all white….. so if it changed color its a mix.
Answer by Lyn
Not at all true – read the Breed Standard!
'Biscuit' color develops with age – one of mine had a few tiny spots on her nose at six weeks and is still becoming more colored at eight years.
It should be treasured!
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Animal Artwork & Arc says
No, there is NO way to tell if a Samoyed will develop biscuit at some point in its life.
There are breeders who TRY and who only breed for pure white Sams – but they are few and far between and generally not respected by the rest of the breeding community since some traits – like proper coat texture – fall by the wayside when all biscuit is eliminated from a line.
Extremely white coat can STILL develop biscuit as the dog ages with many dogs developing biscuit patches and freckles at 4 years of age and often older.
All that being said – even one of my Sams who IS biscuit and deep cream is considered "white" by the general public.
And frankly, you'd have to try harder to find a well-bred, heavily biscuit and white Sam available for purchase – they simply are more beautiful and more rare.
You may also want to note that a tendency towards a dudley or "snow" nose (pink) goes along with that very white gene….. and it usually doesn't show up until adulthood.
For those claiming to be able to tell what color a Sam will be while it's a puppy I sure would like to know what brand your magic hat is…. Samoyeds can and do change or add color at any point in their life with most developing at least some biscuit as they age.
Edit: Samoyeds do not come in "parti-color" – they come in white, cream, biscuit and biscuit & white…. and no, there no way to guarantee a white 8 week old pup will not become a biscuit & white dog. In fact, I'd be more likely to take a bet that a dog will have at least some biscuit than that it will stay white. As for black patches – exceedingly rare… in over 20 years of breeding, showing, rescuing I've seen 2, each with quarter sized black spot and that's out of thousands of Sams. My grandfather bred Sams – I've had them for 39 years now.
♫ La vita è says
You mean as opposed to biscuit colorations?
If you're dealing with a great breeder they will generally be able to predict (based on pedigree and genetics and everything that good breeders study before breeding) how their pups will turn out.
Erika *mom to one fa says
They aren't "pure" white, but I know what you mean. They are usually done changing colors by 8 weeks old (the earliest you should take a Pup from its mother and littermates anyways).
Check the pedigree to see what the family genetics for coat color are, to be extra sure.. Also find a reputable and honest breeder that shows or works her dogs.
sharletis1 says
If you by a samoyed puppy from a registered breeder, ask to see the parents. This will give you an diea of what the puppys colours will be.
goodluck :)
vhm1955 says
You can never be too sure – but if a dog is going to change colour, it is usually within the first 4 weeks, that's what I have noticed with all the pups I have bred. Good luck.