The cockapoo has been the most popular puppy in Britain for three years, overtaking the Labrador, according to the Royal Veterinary College. But a new contender is emerging for the crown, and it may be thanks to Taylor Swift.
The music star and her husband have reportedly become parents to a fluffy white Samoyed, seen trotting down the steps of her private jet. The breed is known for its striking white coat, affectionate nature, and distinctive good looks.
Samoyed Origins and Appeal
The name Samoyed comes from the Samoyede, a semi-nomadic people of Asian descent who migrated with their dogs to Siberia in the first millennium. The dogs were used to hunt reindeer, pull sledges, and herd reindeer, making them primarily a herding and guardian breed. European explorers in the 19th century brought them back, and they became sought-after gifts for tsars and European royalty.
Samoyeds are also popular on social media. Boomer and Diya have 3.3 million followers on TikTok, with one video reaching 21.4 million views. Another Samoyed, Wilco, has a video of him getting pats in public that hit 510,300 views.
Celebrity Influence on Pet Purchases
Charlotte McNamara, chief canine wellbeing and engagement officer at the Royal Kennel Club, said: “If Taylor Swift has joined the ranks of Samoyed owners, she’s certainly picked a breed that has won plenty of fans in the UK.”
Pet expert Hedda Båverud Olsson told Metro that people’s pet purchasing habits are shaped by celebrity pooches. “There’s a long history of this, sometimes referred to as the ‘Dalmatian effect’, after Disney’s 101 Dalmatians triggered a surge in demand for the breed decades ago,” she said. “We’ve seen it play out again and again since, Paris Hilton’s chihuahuas in the early 2000s, the Obama family’s Portuguese Water Dogs, and more recently the explosion of French Bulldogs. A single high-profile appearance can shift interest in a breed almost overnight.”
While Hedda expects a spike in demand for Samoyed pups, she noted it is not that simple. Royal Kennel Club figures show puppy registrations for the breed hit an all-time high in 2022, settling at around 302 puppies registered each year. The cockapoo cannot be compared directly because it is not a purebred and cannot be registered with the Royal Kennel Club, but it is thousands less than the popular Labrador breed.
“Reputable breeders can’t simply scale up overnight to meet a sudden spike in demand, so I’d expect the real effect on litters and waiting lists to become visible over the next six to twelve months,” Hedda, CEO of Lassie, added.
Posh Dog vs. Everydog
Cockapoos first emerged around 2010 and boomed during the pandemic, driven by their hypoallergenic coat and smaller size for smaller homes. This mass appeal made the cockapoo an everydog. Samoyeds have a different connotation.
“There is certainly a ‘posh dog’ perception building around the Samoyed at the moment,” Hedda explained. “That immaculate white coat photographs beautifully, the grooming costs alone can be substantial, and its new association with a private jet only reinforces the sense of exclusivity. Historically, the upkeep involved has meant the breed has skewed towards owners with greater disposable income, in contrast to the cockapoo, which became the nation’s favourite precisely because it cut across every kind of household and budget. But whether the Samoyed becomes a genuine mainstream contender or stays a status symbol for the few will really depend on whether people are choosing it for the right reasons.”
Considerations Before Buying a Samoyed
Charlotte McNamara explained that while their appearance is alluring, potential owners need to understand what life with a Samoyed involves. “As a member of the Pastoral Group, they have a working heritage in the Arctic regions of Siberia where they were used for a variety of jobs including herding and guarding reindeer and pulling loads,” she said. “They’re active, intelligent dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, so it’s important to make sure the breed is the right fit for your home.”
The thick, weather-resistant double coat requires daily grooming, and they shed everywhere. “Anyone considering one should be prepared for the time and work involved in keeping that coat in good condition,” Charlotte added. “It’s important to remember the best dog for someone isn’t necessarily the most fashionable or popular one; it’s the dog whose temperament, exercise, grooming and other needs fit the owner’s lifestyle, and who has been responsibly bred with health and welfare at the heart of those decisions.”
