How long does a Samoyed live?

The listed lifespan for a Samoyed is 12–14 years.

How tall is a Samoyed?

The listed height for a Samoyed is 21–23.5 in (male), 19–21 in (female).

Is a Samoyed good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Samoyed is 5 out of 5.

When is a Samoyed full grown?

The growth size band for a Samoyed is up to 24 months.

Working Group

Samoyed

Samoyed is a large dog in the Working Group. Adult weight is 45–65 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female), height is 21–23.5 in (male), 19–21 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Gentle, Adaptable.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Samoyed dog — Photo: Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–14 years

Weight45–65 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupWorking Group

Height

21–23.5 in (male), 19–21 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about 0.4 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 50 lb is about 9.2 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Siberia. The coat is described as double, long. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.3 points above the group average of 3.7 for the Working Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 55 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 2 (RD/OSD, OSD2) - DNA Test, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, X-Linked1 (XLPRA1) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Samoyed is 45–65 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female).

Sources

More Working Group breeds

All Working Group breeds

Boxer
66–70 lb (male), 55–60 lb (female) · 10–12 years
Open breed
Portuguese Water Dog
42–60 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female) · 11–13 years
Open breed
Siberian Husky
45–60 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female) · 12–14 years
Open breed
Standard Schnauzer
35–50 lb (male), 30–45 lb (female) · 13–16 years
Open breed