SnowAngels Samoyeds
Where Samoyeds are honored and loved
We love this stuff!
Here we'll share our choices for "Eats and Acts"- tips, products and services. In addition, on some topics there's more information on the More Resources page. Also, we invite you to go to the SnowAngels Samoyeds Forum page where you can post your thoughts, feedback and questions.
Eats Food
Raw Food
For us, the decision to go to a raw food diet was easy- the hard part was figuring out how to make it easy enough to do it every day. We are thrilled with the quality and convenience of the Healthy Pet Products food and service provided by Pet Dynamix. The food is made of outstanding quality and it is already perfectly balanced with fruits and vegetables. All we do is defrost, slice and serve! We vary what we feed - 5-6 days it's beef, but we switch up with chicken, fish, or tripe and a raw beef shin bone at least once per week. Click here for more information on the benefits of a raw food diet for dogs.
Supplements and Treats
Supplements
We augment the SnowAngels' raw food with:
- Norwegian Seaweed
- Salmon Oil
- Solid Gold Holistique dry food. We include one dry food meal once per week. We do this so that their systems can tolerate a dry food diet. A switch to dry food can be necessary if we send a Sam with a handler who doesn't handle raw foods, or if we are traveling and can't keep raw food frozen.
Treats
We give treats for training or when in the show ring. That's it....
Raw frozen beef shin bone (actually more of a meal than a treat) is a favorite- After the bones are cleaned out by a dog, we rinse them well with hot water and fill the cavity with slices of fresh fruits and vegetables, nut (no madacemia or soy) butter, and good plain greek yogurt. They get popped into the freezer. They make great "parting gifts" as we leave for work for the day.
- Just about any fresh/raw fruit or vegetable are the staple training treat. Favorites are organic:
- apple slices
- banana slices
- blueberries or strawberries
- broccoli (stem and crowns)
- carrot sticks
- celery sticks
- cranberries
- green beans
- orange or clementine sections
- pumpkin (peeled)
- sweet potato sticks
- yellow squash slices
- zucchini slices
- NO grapes, raisins
- Cheese -any organic, rennetless cheese is the ticket for the show ring. We take cheese, slice it super-thin, and dry in single-layer sheets in the refrigerator (it takes about 2 weeks) and you've got a "crispy cheese treat" that you can break apart like a jerky.
- "Consommé cubes" -homemade, fat-skimmed chicken, beef or vegetable broth poured into an ice cube tray and frozen.
- Frozen yogurt cubes - blend good plain yogurt or a good quality buttermilk, nut butter (no macadamia or soy nut) and banana (or any other fruit or vegetable). Sometimes we add whole oats if the mixture is thin. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and pop into the freezer.
- They also LOVE rabbit, bison, venison, duck, salmon and turkey jerky which we get from Pet Dynamix.
Flower Essences 
Technially, essences aren't "food" but they are nourishment, so we're listing them here. Using flower essences to balance mind, body and soul, sounded a little "out there" at first. But all we had to do was use flower essences correctly one time and we saw right away how this medicinal approach to human and animal health and happiness works like nothing else does. They are amazing. There are hundreds of recognized flower essences and each one addresses specific issues are best used in combinations. The challenge with using flower essences comes in knowing which essences you and/or your Samoyed actually need. That's where the services of a plant medicine specialist comes in. We are fortunate to have the talent of Annette Laugel-Schloss who has been working successfully with essences with people and animals for many years. There are several websites that can tell you more about the essences and some offer a list of practitioners, but if you need specific help and would like to contact Annette Laugel-Schloss, click here and we'll get your message to her. Click Here for more information on flower essences.
Acts
Early Morning Walks
SnowAngel Samoyeds favorite time to walk is right now (anytime, every day, anywhere). Samoyed eyesight is actually best in dimmer light. And (duh) Samoyeds like cool weather. Put those two things together and.... they really really love a challenging "expedition" first thing in the morning....even before the sun rises. We use booties for their paws in the winter when there is salt on the roads; in the summer when the asphalt may be hot; or if we're going "off road" where they may be broken glass or worse...When the weather is cool, we also add a backpack (weighing no more than 25% of their body weight) to each dog to make sure they get an extra good workout. We vary the walking routine by pairing dogs differently, or walking them in different order. It seems like a small thing, but it seems to reinforce humans-as-sole-pack-leader-thing which we believe contributes to how well we all get along.
Grooming
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Marge Goodenough for teaching us most of what we know about grooming a Samoyed. Grooming is part of our daily routine. That said, unless we're grooming for a show, a little each day plus an additional hour each week per dog, is really all it takes. Because they have "dry coats" (no oil glands in their skin), dirt dries and falls off of the fur pretty quickly. There are several spots where mats can form, and their double coat sheds profusely twice each year. And if they become wet, it is essential to dry their fur all the way to the skin. But if regular attention is paid, and "issues" are addressed quickly, the coat stays remarkably clean, odor free, and easy to comb.
If regular grooming is done from the time they are puppies, and it's combined with snuggling and treats, it becomes something both dog and owner look forward to.
For us, grooming takes place whenever the opportunity presents itself. It's just a matter of having the right stuff in the several places.
Click here for more detailed information about grooming a Samoyed.
Hiking, Sledding and Scootering
Once each week, we pile ourselves into the truck and go somewhere. It could be a dog show, the reservoir, a park, a friend's house, or a structured dog/community activity. The goal is to get the SnowAngels out to meet people and other dogs and get us all some exercise that is different from our regular walk/runs. The only requirements are that the dogs will be safe and allowed. Thanks to our friend Tamara and her Sam Gidget, we have learned about the fun of scootering. Okay....so it's not something you see every day on the streets of Baltimore, but the dogs love it!
To learn more about places where you can take your dog to hike in Maryland, click here.
Obedience and Handling classes
Admittedly, we have only committed to the basics in obedience. Abraham, Sarah and Flurry are all graduates of basic obedience classes, but we marvel at the folks who can get their dogs to "stay" while a rabbit hops in front of them, or walk on a loose lead all the time. We're happy to have a couple of good "stand/stays" in the show ring, or a "quiet" that lasts more than 10 seconds.
We take regular handling classes through the Maryland Dog Owner Training Club. They are a great resource for show ring practice and socializing your dog. They offer obedience training too. We'll get there.....
Massage
A close physical connection with humans is one of the essential elements in a well-balanced Samoyed. Maintenance massages requires only a basic understanding of the Samoyed's nervous, circulatory, muscular and skeletal systems (which we figure we need to know anyway). A 15-20 minute massage improves the nervous and circulatory systems in both the giver and the receiver, allows us to keep tabs on the dogs' physical and mental condition, and maintains a trusting and respectful relationship among us all. The benefits also include an improved physical and mental condition, and an stronger immune system. The proof that it's a good thing? SnowAngels Samoyeds love massages! They congregate wherever a massage is going on and aren't always subtle in anticipating their turn.
Romping
As direct descendants of wolves, Samoyeds have very strong pack-directed behavior and they seek peace and order as intensely as they seek everything else. (even if the "pack" is just one dog). They need to reconfirm pack order and positive energy every day. The most productive ways our Samoyeds achieve this is through supervised play. So....another favorite activity is a good romp in the yard. In the morning after exercise but before breakfast, and later in the evening well after dinner, they basically "go nuts" for 15-20 minutes (longer if there's snow on the ground). It's fascinating to watch the pack behavior in action. Chasing, playing, wrestling, nuzzling, teasing, leaping, teaching, herding, protecting, strategizing, teaching, apologizing, foregiving, faking, navigating, cooperating. Romp sessions generally result in some disturbed landscaping, a few terrorized rabbits and squirrels. And since it's all followed by a general happy group calm...we know we've achieved our goal.
Snuggling
The Samoyed people showed great physical and emtional affection for their dogs. Sams love to snuggle. We have snuggle sessions first thing in the morning, after meals, after romping, and before bedtime. These sessions reinforce our roles as providers of secruity, affection, and calm. The outcome is always the same - happy dogs and happy people. It's a wonderful addiction.
Early Morning Walks
SnowAngel Samoyeds favorite time to walk is right now (anytime, every day, anywhere). Samoyed eyesight is actually best in dimmer light. And (duh) Samoyeds like cool weather. Put those two things together and.... they really really love a challenging "expedition" first thing in the morning....even before the sun rises. We use booties for their paws in the winter when there is salt on the roads; in the summer when the asphalt may be hot; or if we're going "off road" where they may be broken glass or worse...When the weather is cool, we also add a backpack (weighing no more than 25% of their body weight) to each dog to make sure they get an extra good workout. We vary the walking routine by pairing dogs differently, or walking them in different order. It seems like a small thing, but it seems to reinforce humans-as-sole-pack-leader-thing which we believe contributes to how well we all get along. Grooming
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Marge Goodenough for teaching us most of what we know about grooming a Samoyed. Grooming is part of our daily routine. That said, unless we're grooming for a show, a little each day plus an additional hour each week per dog, is really all it takes. Because they have "dry coats" (no oil glands in their skin), dirt dries and falls off of the fur pretty quickly. There are several spots where mats can form, and their double coat sheds profusely twice each year. And if they become wet, it is essential to dry their fur all the way to the skin. But if regular attention is paid, and "issues" are addressed quickly, the coat stays remarkably clean, odor free, and easy to comb.
If regular grooming is done from the time they are puppies, and it's combined with snuggling and treats, it becomes something both dog and owner look forward to.
For us, grooming takes place whenever the opportunity presents itself. It's just a matter of having the right stuff in the several places.
Click here for more detailed information about grooming a Samoyed.
Hiking, Sledding and Scootering
Once each week, we pile ourselves into the truck and go somewhere. It could be a dog show, the reservoir, a park, a friend's house, or a structured dog/community activity. The goal is to get the SnowAngels out to meet people and other dogs and get us all some exercise that is different from our regular walk/runs. The only requirements are that the dogs will be safe and allowed. Thanks to our friend Tamara and her Sam Gidget, we have learned about the fun of scootering. Okay....so it's not something you see every day on the streets of Baltimore, but the dogs love it!
To learn more about places where you can take your dog to hike in Maryland, click here.
Obedience and Handling classes
Admittedly, we have only committed to the basics in obedience. Abraham, Sarah and Flurry are all graduates of basic obedience classes, but we marvel at the folks who can get their dogs to "stay" while a rabbit hops in front of them, or walk on a loose lead all the time. We're happy to have a couple of good "stand/stays" in the show ring, or a "quiet" that lasts more than 10 seconds.
We take regular handling classes through the Maryland Dog Owner Training Club. They are a great resource for show ring practice and socializing your dog. They offer obedience training too. We'll get there.....
Massage
A close physical connection with humans is one of the essential elements in a well-balanced Samoyed. Maintenance massages requires only a basic understanding of the Samoyed's nervous, circulatory, muscular and skeletal systems (which we figure we need to know anyway). A 15-20 minute massage improves the nervous and circulatory systems in both the giver and the receiver, allows us to keep tabs on the dogs' physical and mental condition, and maintains a trusting and respectful relationship among us all. The benefits also include an improved physical and mental condition, and an stronger immune system. The proof that it's a good thing? SnowAngels Samoyeds love massages! They congregate wherever a massage is going on and aren't always subtle in anticipating their turn.
Romping
As direct descendants of wolves, Samoyeds have very strong pack-directed behavior and they seek peace and order as intensely as they seek everything else. (even if the "pack" is just one dog). They need to reconfirm pack order and positive energy every day. The most productive ways our Samoyeds achieve this is through supervised play. So....another favorite activity is a good romp in the yard. In the morning after exercise but before breakfast, and later in the evening well after dinner, they basically "go nuts" for 15-20 minutes (longer if there's snow on the ground). It's fascinating to watch the pack behavior in action. Chasing, playing, wrestling, nuzzling, teasing, leaping, teaching, herding, protecting, strategizing, teaching, apologizing, foregiving, faking, navigating, cooperating. Romp sessions generally result in some disturbed landscaping, a few terrorized rabbits and squirrels. And since it's all followed by a general happy group calm...we know we've achieved our goal.Snuggling
The Samoyed people showed great physical and emtional affection for their dogs. Sams love to snuggle. We have snuggle sessions first thing in the morning, after meals, after romping, and before bedtime. These sessions reinforce our roles as providers of secruity, affection, and calm. The outcome is always the same - happy dogs and happy people. It's a wonderful addiction.
