Sean Bedford and Niuniu (pictured above, left)
Psychotherapist, Downtown Brooklyn
How do you know Jin and Newland?
We live in the same building. My wife and I invite him and his wife over and we’ll cook dinner, or they invite us over and they’ll cook dinner, and Newland and NiuNiu just do their own thing. There’s one other Sammy in the building and she’s really sweet, but the connection with the owners is just not quite the same.
Jin Niu and Newland (pictured above, left)
Lawyer, Downtown Brooklyn
Newland!
I named him after Newland Archer from The Age of Innocence. The character represents somebody with a lot of intellectual conflict, and our Newland is like that. If you offer him beef or chicken, you can just see him being torn up about it.
How did you decide on a Samoyed?
When I was growing up in Texas, a lot of my neighbors had golden retrievers and I’d watch Air Bud. But I read a book when I was a kid that said the kindest dog is the Samoyed, and I remember thinking, If I ever get a dog, I want a really kind dog. So when I became an adult, it was kind of obvious I’d go with a Sammy. But there aren’t many Sammy breeders. We reached out to three in April 2021 and didn’t get Newland until the first day of 2022.
Does his hair get dirty?
I was afraid of that, but it’s totally a myth.
Jackie Hornung and Lumi
Medical assistant, Chelsea
Phillipe Santiago, Gabriela Passaline, and Nina
Music promoter and nanny, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Michelle Natiello and Porsche
Regulatory associate director, Sutton Place
Does everyone at the meetup have a Samoyed?
Not at all. We’ve got probably a good four or five people who come regularly who don’t have Samoyeds. They just wish they could, and they can’t, so they come to play with ours. These dogs attract so much attention. When we’re in Central Park, it’s like we’re at the zoo.
Ashley Sajecki and Dakota
Nanny, Upper West Side
Justin Portes and Mochi
Investment professional, Williamsburg
How did you find out about this group?
On Facebook one day. Samoyeds are one of the more difficult breeds to raise, so I was just curious to hear about other owners’ experiences raising one. Honestly, it’s become a little like a therapy session.
Zizen Pan, Eric Dong, and Theo
Risk management and account manager, Flushing
Amy Ma and Oden
Music-industry analyst, Long Island City
Samantha Mellone and Mallow
Marketing-company founder, Upper East Side
Chris Cheung, Laura Cheung, and Winter
Chef and paralegal, Windsor Terrace
What are some of the challenges of a Samoyed?
Chris: Samoyeds are distinct. They do not listen well, and they have a very big prey drive.
Laura: One of the questions that always gets asked in the Samoyeds meetup is “Is it fenced off?” And the answer is always “Yes, it’s fenced off. We know.”
Blake Rosso, Adrine Radutska, and Loki
Hotel owner and stylist, Soho
Where’s Loki from?
Adrine: Ukraine. I’m looking after him while his owner, Vitaliy, gets settled in America after fleeing the war. At first, Loki spent all his time on his blanket because it smelled like home. But now he loves us and he’s very happy.
Julie Hill and Marshmello
Nurse, Astoria
What makes him Marshmello?
His howl. I posted a video of it in August that now has 4.9 million views. A lot of people say their Sammys don’t howl, but Mello started the day we got him. We said, “Good morning,” and he just started howling back.
Allison Renée Jane and Amanita
Wellness coach, Astoria
Jackie Hornung and Lumi
Medical assistant, Chelsea
Phillipe Santiago, Gabriela Passaline, and Nina
Music promoter and nanny, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Michelle Natiello and Porsche
Regulatory associate director, Sutton Place
Does everyone at the meetup have a Samoyed?
Not at all. We’ve got probably a good four or five people who come regularly who don’t have Samoyeds. They just wish they could, and they can’t, so they come to play with ours. These dogs attract so much attention. When we’re in Central Park, it’s like we’re at the zoo.
Ashley Sajecki and Dakota
Nanny, Upper West Side
Justin Portes and Mochi
Investment professional, Williamsburg
How did you find out about this group?
On Facebook one day. Samoyeds are one of the more difficult breeds to raise, so I was just curious to hear about other owners’ experiences raising one. Honestly, it’s become a little like a therapy session.
Zizen Pan, Eric Dong, and Theo
Risk management and account manager, Flushing
Amy Ma and Oden
Music-industry analyst, Long Island City
Samantha Mellone and Mallow
Marketing-company founder, Upper East Side
Chris Cheung, Laura Cheung, and Winter
Chef and paralegal, Windsor Terrace
What are some of the challenges of a Samoyed?
Chris: Samoyeds are distinct. They do not listen well, and they have a very big prey drive.
Laura: One of the questions that always gets asked in the Samoyeds meetup is “Is it fenced off?” And the answer is always “Yes, it’s fenced off. We know.”
Blake Rosso, Adrine Radutska, and Loki
Hotel owner and stylist, Soho
Where’s Loki from?
Adrine: Ukraine. I’m looking after him while his owner, Vitaliy, gets settled in America after fleeing the war. At first, Loki spent all his time on his blanket because it smelled like home. But now he loves us and he’s very happy.
Julie Hill and Marshmello
Nurse, Astoria
What makes him Marshmello?
His howl. I posted a video of it in August that now has 4.9 million views. A lot of people say their Sammys don’t howl, but Mello started the day we got him. We said, “Good morning,” and he just started howling back.
Allison Renée Jane and Amanita
Wellness coach, Astoria
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