Due to their friendly disposition, Samoyed dogs make poor guard dogs, however, they are very loyal companions and remain playful into old age. They are also highly intelligent, yet they often use their intelligence for their own benefit (oftentimes they are wittier than their owners). Owners often give up on them due to their stubbornness. Since Samoyed dogs were primarily sledge dogs, it often happens that unless they are trained, they drag their owners behind them rather than walking alongside their owners.