Shows have familiarised the present generation of dog-lovers with many varieties that a few decades ago were known scarcely by name to the average Britisher. To-day, in fact, we have in our midst canine representatives of countries that, to even the most ardent globe-trotter, were a terra incognita. The Arctic dogs themselves form a most interesting group. Though the Esquimaux was the first to become at all common, it looks as if the Samoyede (pronounced Samo-yad) Sledge-dog will outstrip him in the race for popularity. This latter variety, associated with those hardy dwellers in North-East Russia and Western Siberia, has evidently come to stay, and those enthusiasts in this country who first espoused the cause of this sturdy denizen of the far North have just reason to be proud of the headway the variety has made. At the head of the list of those who have interested themselves stand His Majesty the King and his esteemed Consort, the latter of whom has accepted from Mrs. Kilburn Scott a typical white puppy. Her Majesty's Samoyede dog Jacko has been shown with much success. Then, too, we have the Hon. Mrs. Maclaren Morrison (a lady who probably has done more for the introduction of little-known breeds in this country than any one living), Lady Sitwell, Mrs. Everitt Everitt, Mrs. White (Guernsey), and Mrs. Kilburn Scott (Farningham).

In this country the Samoyede dog is of course kept purely as a companion, and a delightful companion he is too, and one as full of intelligence as his most expressive eyes denote. In its native land the dog is employed as a draught-animal, harnessed to a sledge, or it may be as a tower of boats, or yet again as a protector of the tents (chooms) from wolves and bears, or to "round up" the herds of reindeer in much the same way as a Sheepdog works a flock of sheep in this country. In the sledges from six to a dozen are harnessed, the driver relying upon the leaders, his voice, and a long pole, to safely guide them in their rapid progress over the limitless tundras. Their strength is remarkable, and their powers of endurance and pluck are no less surprising. This is abundantly testified by those who have lived in the countries, as well as by those famous explorers who have utilised the Samoyede dogs on their expeditions to the far North. In Russian literature the Samoyede dog is often referred to; while the praise accorded the dogs by Nansen, Jackson, and others, who used them for the arduous duties incidental to their expeditions, is unstinted. In Nansen's great work, "Farthest North," the Samoyede dog figures largely, and that famous explorer recounts with a vividness and a realism many incidents that tend to show of what material the Samoyede dog is composed.

In one passage in his book Nansen thus describes the dogs used in his expedition: "Many of them appeared to be well-bred animals, long-haired, snow-white, with up-standing ears and pointed muzzles. With their gentle, good-natured, good-looking faces they at once ingratiated themselves in our affections. Some of them more resembled a fox, and had shorter coats; while others were black or spotted." Mr. Trevor-Battye, in "Icebound on Kolguev," gives much interesting information about the breed and the Samoyede people.

It has been said that many of these Northern dogs do not boast the most amiable of tempers. Whatever may be said in this respect of their allies from Greenland and the New World, it cannot be said of the Samoyede dog, as known in this country, where he has been proved as docile and tractable as any of the varieties of dogs known as domesticated. Mr. Ernest Kilburn Scott, who brought his brown Samoyede Sabarka from Archangel so long ago as 1889, gives the variety a first-rate character on the score of amiability, when fed and treated after the manner of domestic dogs generally. He, however, admits that when in their own very trying climate, and being fed upon a constant flesh and a fish diet, the dogs are inclined to be quarrelsome amongst themselves.

Fig. 79. - Samoyede Dog.

White is the colour most admired in this country, as also in their native home, and many fine specimens have from time to time been bred or imported. Judges are unanimous in their praise of the snow-white Baldo, the property of Mr. Pearce Couch, of Penzance, as the most typical yet introduced. In a breed renowned for intelligence, he was particularly clever at tricks. Other famous whites are Queen Alexandra's dogs (already alluded to), Mrs. E. Kilburn Scott's Perlene, the same lady's Nansen (Fig. 79), Lady Sitwell's Must, the Hon. Mrs. Maclaren Morrison's Snowdrop, and Mrs. Koetlitz's Kvik.

Brown, or rather red-brown, is another much admired colour; while blacks and other colours are not unknown. The Hon. Mrs. Maclaren Morrison has some beautiful browns. In their native country these coloured dogs for work are perhaps more highly esteemed than the whites.

The shoulder height of the male Samoyede dog is some 2oin. or 21in , the female being a little smaller. The head is of the usual foxy type peculiar to the group, the ears being wide apart and carried erect. The back is short, with the brush curled well over. The coat is dense and weather-resisting, being prolonged in the neck vicinity into a beautiful frill of fine texture. The fore legs are straight and powerful, the feet are large, and slightly turned out.

The variety has bred freely enough in this country, and the puppies are most interesting and beautiful little creatures. As is the case with other erect-eared varieties, the puppies when born have the ears down, and it is not until some months have elapsed that the correct ear-carriage is assumed. Those on the look-out for a breed that, while possessing all those characteristics that go to endear them to the dog-loving section of the community, yet possesses characteristics somewhat out of the common, could hardly do better than give a trial to the Samoyede dog. They are particularly charming and safe as ladies' and children's pets, and, besides, are exceedingly healthy and make reliable house guards.

Mr. Kilburn Scott furnishes the following additional interesting particulars : -

"It is not generally known that it is the Samoyede dog, and not the Esquimaux, that has been exclusively used on the recent Polar expeditions, and it is the faithful, untiring work of this plucky breed which has been so largely responsible for enabling explorers to map out the frozen North and South Polar regions.

The temperament of the Samoyede dog is very even, and he makes a perfect house dog, whilst at the same time exercising a most remarkable instinct in nosing out and showing his disapproval of undesirable people, tramps, etc.

People often ask about the white colour, apparently thinking that the dogs are difficult to keep clean. This is entirely a mistake, as the hair stands out straight from the body, and does not lay down as with a Collie, and it has therefore not anything like the same tendency to get dirty. We, at any rate, never wash our dogs, and they are always clean. An occasional brushing is all they require.

A frequent question is whether the dogs are safe with little children. I can assure you they are. I have always found our dogs the best of friends with our children, and they enjoy romping together. One of their favourite games is "hunt the slipper," and it is most amusing to watch the dog seek the slipper and run off with it.

A very great point in their favour is the freedom from disease. They do not appear to be subject to distemper as are other dogs. I think possibly this is partly due to the healthy, free, open-air life they live on the limitless tundras of Northern Russia. During my visit to Archangel I did not hear of a single case of distemper.

Fig. 80. - Lapland Dog.

I may mention that the native Samoyede takes a deep personal interest in his dogs, and makes great pets of them. I saw the dogs running in and out of their chooms, or tents, playing with the children, and I did not find it at all easy to buy them. A trained sledge dog, in particular, is worth a great deal to his master.

Her Majesty the Queen has been a great admirer of the Samoyede dog for many years, and her dog Jacko is one of the finest ever imported. I may mention that the beautiful white Samoyede Perlene, owned by Mrs. Scott, is descended on both sides from dogs used on the Jackson-Harmsworth expedition.

Having been practically the first to bring these dogs over to this country, I naturally take a very great interest in the breed, and it is especially pleasing to see them becoming such a favourite breed. They are certainly unique in beauty and intelligence."

The dogs of Lapland and of Iceland (Figs. 80 and 81) are somewhat smaller than the Esquimaux, especially the latter. In other respects they resemble the other dogs of the Northern parts. In Finland there appears to be a breed resembling the Australian Dingo, but much more domesticated. Some of these dogs are remarkable ratters. Speaking generally of the various breeds of Arctic dogs, they are very attractive in appearance, and would well repay more attention being given to them. It is of course a question whether the extraordinary dense coat required to protect these dogs during the severe winters they have to encounter in their native parts can be preserved in the warmer climate of this country. The writer's experience in breeding Esquimaux, which extends over a period of more than twenty years, is that with judicious breeding the coat does not deteriorate, many of the dogs bred here comparing very favourably in this respect with imported specimens.

Fig. 81. - Iceland Dogs.