Official Standard of the SamoyedGeneral Conformation: (a) General Appearance-The Samoyed, being essentially a workingdog, should present a picture of beauty, alertness and strength, with agility, dignity and grace. Ashis work lies in cold climates, his coat should be heavy and weather-resistant, well groomed, andof good quality rather than quantity. The male carries more of a "ruff" than the female. He shouldnot be long in the back as a weak back would make him practically useless for his legitimatework, but at the same time, a close-coupled body would also place him at a great disadvantage asa draft dog. Breeders should aim for the happy medium, a body not long but muscular, allowingliberty, with a deep chest and well-sprung ribs, strong neck, straight front and especially strongloins. Males should be masculine in appearance and deportment without unwarrantedaggressiveness; bitches feminine without weakness of structure or apparent softness oftemperament. Bitches may be slightly longer in back than males. They should both give theappearance of being capable of great endurance but be free from coarseness. Because of thedepth of chest required, the legs should be moderately long. A very short-legged dog is to bedeprecated. Hindquarters should be particularly well developed, stifles well bent and anysuggestion of unsound stifles or cowhocks severely penalized. General appearance shouldinclude movement and general conformation, indicating balance and good substance.(b) Substance-Substance is that sufficiency of bone and muscle which rounds out a balance withthe frame. The bone is heavier than would be expected in a dog of this size but not so massive asto prevent the speed and agility most desirable in a Samoyed. In all builds, bone should be inproportion to body size. The Samoyed should never be so heavy as to appear clumsy nor so lightas to appear racy. The weight should be in proportion to the height.(c) Height - Males: 21 to 23½ inches; females: 19 to 21 inches at the withers. An oversized orundersized Samoyed is to be penalized according to the extent of the deviation.(d) Coat (Texture and Condition) - The Samoyed is a doublecoated dog. The body should bewell covered with an undercoat of soft, short, thick, close wool with longer and harsh hairgrowing through it to form the outer coat, which stands straight out from the body and should befree from curl. The coat should form a ruff around the neck and shoulders, framing the head(more on males than on females). Quality of coat should be weather resistant and consideredmore than quantity. A droopy coat is undesirable. The coat should glisten with a silver sheen.The female does not usually carry as long a coat as most males and it is softer in texture.(e) Color - Samoyeds should be pure white, white and biscuit, cream, or all biscuit. Any othercolors disqualify.Movement: (a) Gait - The Samoyed should trot, not pace. He should move with a quick agilestride that is well timed. The gait should be free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach in theforequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. When trotting, there should be a strongrear action drive. Moving at a slow walk or trot, they will not single-track, but as speed increasesthe legs gradually angle inward until the pads are finally falling on a line directly under thelongitudinal center of the body. As the pad marks converge the forelegs and hind legs are carriedPage 2 of 3straight forward in traveling, the stifles not turned in nor out. The back should remain strong,firm and level. A choppy or stilted gait should be penalized.(b) Rear End - Upper thighs should be well developed. Stifles well bent-approximately 45degrees to the ground. Hocks should be well developed, sharply defined and set at approximately30 percent of hip height. The hind legs should be parallel when viewed from the rear in a naturalstance, strong, well developed, turning neither in nor out. Straight stifles are objectionable.Double-joi