A samoyed dog on the frozen waters of Ob River, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
The Samoyed (also known as the Bjelkier) is a breed of medium-sized herding dogs with thick, white, double-layer coats. They are related to the laika, a spitz-type dog. It takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. These nomadic reindeer herders bred the fluffy white dogs to help with herding. The Samoyed has been identified as a basal breed that predates the emergence of the modern breeds in the 19th Century. It belongs to the spitz or northern dog group, specifically the laikas, a Eurasian dog type used for a variety of purposes, namely hunting, herding, guarding, and sledding. The Samoyed is descended from the Nenets herding laika, a dog that may not only be white, but also a wide variety of colors. Like many breeds, the Samoyed was bred from a small number of founders (in this case, from Siberia). Samoyeds were originally used for hunting, herding reindeer, and hauling sledges for the Samoyede people in Siberia.
Size: 3632px × 5449px
Location: Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Photo credit: © Roberto Cornacchia / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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