While many breeders of purebreds don’t advocate the mixing of two breeds, mixed breeds can often be found for adoption in shelters or for rescue. Sometimes, the mixing of two popular breeds can have wonderful results.

Two personalities combine for a beautiful mix of the best of both breeds. What happens when we mix the intelligence, loyalty, and protectiveness of a German Shepherd with the loveable, gorgeous, and playful nature of a Samoyed?

Most people are familiar with Shepherds as they are one of the most common breeds of dogs found in the US.

They make wonderful companions because of their intelligence, ability to be trained for specific tasks, and will offer protection for their owners due to their incredible loyalty.

According to HillsPet, Samoyeds are a less known breed that arrived in England back in the late 1800s. They sometimes came as a gift from the czar of Russia. Samoyeds were a favorite of Queen Alexandra as they are stunningly beautiful dogs.

What do you get when you mix a German Shepherd with a Samoyed? The result of mixing two breeds can vary; however, you will most likely get a large, muscular dog, that has an amazing temperament and that is super fluffy and huggable.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the traits of the parents of this mix. As with any mixed breed, it’s important to know the facts about each breed as some of the characteristics of both will be present in your dog.

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What You Need to Know About German Shepherds

We all know how intelligent the German Shepherd Breed is because of its history and ability to be trained for specialized services. From seeing-eye dogs to impressive watchdogs, the Shepherd is easily trained and loves having a job.

The caveat to this breed is that they are energetic dog that can be high-strung without the right care or level of exercise.

This is not a dog you want to keep in an apartment or if you are not an active person that enjoys spending time outdoors with your pet.

Shepherds need exercise daily. You should have a large yard or access to areas they can run and play. It is important that these dogs are trained and socialized properly to help them interact appropriately with other dogs, children, and strangers.

Since they were originally bred by crossing various herding breeds in the late 1800s, they have a strong desire to protect, and they are extremely loyal to their owners.

This is a dog that needs your attention and approval. He will be anxious and may exhibit inappropriate behavior if left alone for long periods of time.

What You Need to Know About Samoyeds

Samoyeds were bred originally to be companions for those that lived in tents. They crave human companionship. They are very easy keepers as they do best on a small amount of food.

These dogs don’t like to be left alone for long periods and may become a nuisance with barking if they feel lonely.

They get along well with other dogs, pets, and people, but they were bred for herding. They may have a tendency to chase things or nip, so while they do get along with children, they may be a bit overwhelming for smaller children.

This is also a breed that is active and needs exercise daily. They are eager to please and do very well with obedience training, herding, agility, and even pulling sleds and weights. They are slightly independent so training and socialization should be done early.

Samoyeds will usually bark when greeting strangers, but the tail will be wagging at the same time. They have an unusual trait of wagging their tongue as well which has been dubbed the “Sammie smile”. It’s sometimes mistaken as an aggressive act but is truly a positive behavior.

Breed Specifications of Shepherds and Samoyeds

Let’s compare the similarities and differences between Shepherds and Samoyeds. Both are larger-sized dogs that were bred to herd, have a strong desire to be with people, are energetic, and require a lot of exercise.

Their physical characteristics are most different when it comes to appearance and body type. The Shepherd is a lean, mean machine, while the Samoyed is strong, but appears to be a giant ball of fluff.

According to HillsPet, German Shepherds have the following physical characteristics:

They weigh between 75 and 95 pounds.
Their height, measured to the shoulder is between 23 and 25 inches.
They have naturally upright ears.
They live 10 to 12 years.
They have a low barking and digging tendency.
They need at least 40 minutes of exercise a day.
They have a medium length, double coat, and need moderate grooming.
Heavy shedders.
The colors of the Shepherd can include black, tan, grey, or white

The physical characteristics of Samoyeds include the following:

They weigh between 50 and 65 pounds.
Their height, measured to the shoulder is between 20 and 22 inches.
They have naturally upright ears.
They live 10 to 12 years.
They have a moderate barking and digging tendency.
They need at least 20 to 40 minutes of exercise a day.
They have a medium length, double coat, and need a lot of grooming.
Heavy shedders.
The color of the Samoyed is usually bright white.

What to Expect With a Samoyed German Shepherd Mix

Because these breeds are relatively uncommon and a new mix, the results can be quite different. Golden Acres Dogs has pictures of all types of breeds and mixes.

Their photo of a white German Shepherd mixed with a Samoyed looks very similar to a large, white wolf.

YouTube has an adorable video of a German Shepherd/Samoyed Mix. He is a unique blend with the fluffy white body accented with colors from the Shepherd.

He has large, intelligent, and delightful eyes, and a fun-loving personality as indicated by his excitement over opening a Christmas gift.

For a personal testimony from a Samoyed/Shepherd owner, check out Heidi. Heidi was featured on Your Rescue Dog Story.

Heidi liked to run free, tapping into her sled dog ancestors. She was prone to wandering but loved having a job like pulling her owner on her skateboard.

She was extremely intelligent and was difficult for the kids in the house to manage. She would outwit them and run between their legs to escape out the front door.

She was not a fan of bath time and would go to extremes to hide. This was necessary, however, because of her long coat that was prone to shedding. After bathing, she would zoom around the house, showing off her exuberant personality.

The owner loved her looks and felt she was even prettier than a purebred Samoyed. She was white and fluffy but had a soft brown hue.

Her body was more streamlined thanks to the Shepherd side, and she had more speed than a typical Samoyed.

Is A German Shepherd/Samoyed Mix Right for You?

Dogdell has a great comparison list of German Shepherds and Samoyeds. It outlines the traits of both breeds side-by-side.

This will give you a strong indication of the traits of both breeds, which complement each other and may be dominant, and which are opposites and may pop up as a surprise.

When considering this unusual mix, you should be prepared that you will most likely be getting a dog who is intelligent and obedient, but who will also be playful, energetic, a bit stubborn, and who will love to run.

As far as sensitivity, Shepherds don’t like noise and lots of visitors, while Samoyeds are less sensitive to irregular routines and lots of guests. Hopefully, the Samoyed will desensitize some of the Shepherd traits to produce a more tolerant dog.

As far as affection, both breeds are loyal, gentle, loving, and need a lot of attention from their owners. If you truly want a companion to take with you on outdoor adventures, this will be a great mix for you.

Both these breeds are excellent watchdogs. This mix will be a good family protector and most likely be friendlier to strangers than a pure Shepherd.

Both breeds have a high impulse to catch and chase things, so early and quality training should be a priority to keep this instinct in check.

Since neither of these breeds will do well in an apartment, it is best if this mix is considered by those with large yards or access to parks and dog playgrounds. Your activity level should match that of these adventurous and energetic breeds.

The bottom line is that your Shepherd/Samoyed mix will be a dog that adapts to many different environments but will need daily exercise.

He will be easy to train, loving, loyal, and protective. He will most likely be predominately white, very fluffy, and shed a lot.

He will be playful and energetic and unique in his looks and personality. This will not be an easy dog to find, but if you do find one, consider yourself very lucky.