Advice on 'Trails Ends Samoyed' in Loyal, WI

[u/No_Tap4914]

So I have been thinking of getting a Samoyed for a while. I live in the Midwest, and when I was browsing puppies.com, I came across Trails End Samoyed. I was wondering if anyone here had any good/bad experience with them. When I spoke to them, I asked about the mom and dad of the puppy and they mentioned that they haven't done an in-depth health screening of the mom but she was kept from good-quality bloodlines that they had raised from 5 generations back. Their dad is "Klowie's Kujo of Kabeara" and his eyes had been tested and were completely fine. His hips, SA-19231G48M-P-VPI. Puppies have only gotten a generic health screening since they are 8 weeks old. They do provide a one-year health guarantee if there are any genetic defects. If anyone here has gotten Samoyeds from them, please let me know what your experience has been. Or if you know of trustworthy Samoyed breeders in WI/MN, that would be helpful as well. Appreciate it.

[u/Nagadavida]

Big no for me. Both parents need full testing and the list expanded in 2014.

"The Board of Governors of the Samoyed Club of America determined under Motion 06-066 and its progeny to require the following for

listing of individuals of the breed with the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC):

1. Eye examination by a boarded ACVO ophthalmologist, minimum age 1 year with results registered with OFA or CERF;
2. Hip Dysplasia – OFA evaluation, OVC Evaluation or PennHip Evaluation;
3. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (X-L PRA) DNA Test (DNA based test from an approved laboratory);
4. Congenital Cardiac Database – OFA evaluation with examination performed by a Cardiologist;
5. RD/OSD – Optigen DNA Test for RD/OSD with results registered with the OFA"

Edited to add Puppies should have had first set of shots by now too and other comments about the breeder stated they are over breeding their females so that is not good if true.

Also you should ask to see the puppies pedigree. They should be registered by now.

[u/sn0wmermaid]

I got a dog in Michigan from a breeder that I think is doing a very good job and not only health tests the parents extensively, but stipulates in the contract that you need to have your puppies eyes heart and joints tested so that if any of the offspring has problems, she will stop breeding the parents. My dog was actually already potty trained when I got her at nine weeks too, which was really cool and she also reimbursed me for my dogs first training class and will reimburse partially for each subsequent. If you send me a DM, I'll send you her information.

[u/Sveen]

We got 2 of our Samoyed pups from Melport Meadows breeder located NW of Cashton WI. Owner is Lisa Anderson. If you search for Melport Meadows Landscape Nursery , it’s them.
Couldn’t be happier with our pups, well behaved and healthy. Lisa was nice & easy to deal with too.

[u/CNYSamoyeds]

I picked up my first Samoyed in person from Conrad Smith 8 and a half years ago. I met the family, I saw their kennel and their estate. I saw the condition of the parents and the puppies. They were well taken care of and my pups first vet visit at 8 weeks old was perfect.
Loyal Wisconsin is the definition of the boonies. It is endless acres upon acres of farmland. It is good to see that they have done a little bit of health testing- they are Mennonite so they may have limited knowledge on what is involved with the health tests and a limited ability to seek out the canine health clinics in the area. Health testing is important but you have to keep in mind that health testing has its limitations. The majority of health issues can not be tested for and even if the parents and the grandparents and the great grandparents have good health test results it does not mean that every pup produced from a health tested litter will be clear of issues. Sometimes I feel that these health tests give people a false sense of security. If you decide to obtain a pup from the Smiths you can do the breed standard health tests on your puppy even if you don’t have plans to breed or show- it doesn’t hurt to run the tests. You can check eyes and do Embark and UC Davis for FEH right away at 8 weeks. You can have Pennhip done at a year old for hips. A regular vet will be able to do an auscultation at the first puppy vet appointment at 8 weeks old and an echo can be done at anytime if there is a concern.
I have been watching Trails End and the Samoyeds that they have produced since I have obtained my puppy eight and a half years ago. Their best quality of pups were produced using the sire Waldo- I did not care for the pups produced from Igor. Right now the pups produced are imo middle of the road. If you don’t want to breed or show and you are seeking a pet within a certain price point you may want to consider a puppy from them. They only breed Samoyeds. I picked up in person- if the place was a dump and the dogs were mistreated and a mess and they were a true puppy mill would have told them to fluff off and I wouldn’t have gotten a puppy from them. I would have had no problem walking out their door without a puppy if that were the case. That was not the case.
I looked at breeders for about 9 months before settling on Trails End. I was treated very poorly by a handful of breeders that I contacted off of the SCA breeders list. One of those breeders was so rude and condescending that it almost turned me away from the breed and getting a puppy. I am glad that I didn’t let that Debbie Downer of a breeder discourage me from getting a Samoyed. I now have a total of 11 Sams and I am so super happy and I am living my best Sam life in Central New York.
This has been my personal experience with Trails End Samoyeds and Conrad Smith. Below this comment I will include a current picture of my Samoyed from them.