Gold coloured Samoyeds at the crack of dawn (part one)
September 18, 2011:
We like to go for long walks with our dogs at the crack of dawn. Obviously the
dogs agree with us because they always are very happy when they can run just before the sun comes up.
And then, when the sun starts to rise above the horizon, suddenly the fur of the dogs turns into gold!
In this area dogs are allowed to run free without a leash. That is, at the condition that owners have their dogs in control, (which we have). Of course one can spot deer and hares at this early time but of course we don't allow the dogs to chase after them. Yes, it takes a considerable time to teach a samoyed the right behaviour (because they like to hunt) but it sure is possible. Yes, also with samoyeds! The dogs must feel like running across the tundra with sort of the same kind of vegetation. Grasses, mosses, dwarf shrubs and wet area's. When the sun climbs higher, the colours change and the fur of the dogs starts to look white again. That is... if you don't look at all the seeds of the grasses in their fur which they collected during their adventure. After arriving home again, they sleep for an hour or so (meanwhile their coat is drying). When they awake I give them a little brush and they are completely clean again (2011).

Samoyeds in the Dark
(none of the pictures are manipulated in any way)

I always wondered what kept Samoyeds busy during the dark periods in their life when they were living in ancient times. The long dark winters on the tundra... what did they do then, besides driving the reindeer? I wonder why we rarely see pictures of Samoyeds in the dark!

Well, the last two months I took my camera with me when I walked the dogs late at night. I noticed that they loved to run free in the dark woodland. They always stayed rather close to me and they never showed any sign of running away.

But what I also noticed is that they started hunting a lot! They listened whilst standing very still, the ears were moving to all sides (when you experience this, you are convinced that the Samoyed need well developed ears!) and suddenly they jumped onto a little mouse. Just like wolves and foxes do, with four feet from the ground, the body bended with the head down to the ground. I yet did not succeed to photograph this beautiful jump but I will do my utmost and perhaps one day I can also show you that picture!

It's not easy to take pictures in the dark. The biggest problem is that you almost cannot focus on the animal. But with a little patience, a right estimation of the distance and switching off the automatic functions of the camera, I'm convinced that everyone is able to take pictures of Samoyeds in the dark!