Yakutian Laika

FCI 365 . Nordic Sledge Dogs

The story of him “Yakutian Laika” is very extensive. For centuries, sleds pulled by dogs was something very important for the majority of peoples of the North of Russia, due to their way of life and the climate to which they were subjected. In the Neolithic, on the coast line of northeast Asia, These dogs were used for transportation and hunting.

At the beginning of the year 90, There was a finding on Zhokhov Island (Novosibirsk Islands, Yakutia), they found an archaeological site of hunters and dogs. It was investigated by an archaeologist from St. Petersburg, Vladimir Pitulko, there he found archaeological remains of sleighs, harnesses and that they still kept the bones of the dogs. Through the radiocarbon method, they demonstrated that these remains had an age of 7.800 to 8.000 years. This, It is the oldest find that has taken place in the Arctic..

Ethnographers MG Levin (1946), Smolyak AV (1978) and other authors, they share that since ancient times (up until the present day), for the aboriginal peoples of the north, the sled dogs were always universal animals: they were shooting animals, they were used also as food, and their skins were used for the manufacture of clothing and the rituals of worship. Times, the dogs were sacrificed and were used for religious ceremonies.

Many geographic discoveries in the Arctic were possible, with the sled dogs. The two poles of the Earth were discovered with the help of these dogs, in 1907, F. Cook and 1909 R. Piry reached the North Pole. In 1911, Amundsen was a Norwegian flag at the South Pole, in hostile climatic conditions, made 2.980 miles in 99 days with sled dogs.

Until 1960 sleds pulled by dogs teams were important and, sometimes the only available form of winter transport in the northern regions of Russia. They were used not only by the local population, but also by government agencies, including troops from the border, the postal service and scientific expeditions. According to data from file, at the end of the 50 years of 20th century, in Northern Uluses of Yakutia, the total number of dogs was 33 000. The decline of dog sledding in Russia began during the last thirty years of the 20th century., When appeared on the market the snowmobiles, This led to a decline of fur and the local fishing industry, that little by little led to the extinction of the use of sledge dogs…

“Give me the winter and a team of dogs, and take all” they are words of the famous traveller from North Knut Rasmussen, who made the trip longer on sledges pulled by dogs. This phrase describes the importance that have had these dogs to the length and breadth of history, and that in turn, shows that without them much of what we know today would belong to our ignorance.

The first written record of the dogs in the Yakutian territory dates of 1633. In the documents of the time, the olenek river, the Yana River and the Kolyma River were called “rivers of dogs”. In Siberia, rivers divide into “dog rivers” and “rivers of deer”. In rivers rich in fish, It was easy to capture and store enough fish (dry fish – yukola) to feed the dogs and that's why they were called dog rivers. When there are fish no, it was difficult to use dogs for transport and reindeer were used, what are reindeer rivers. The journey along the “rivers of dogs” was more difficult, due to the continued need for fishing and hunting to obtain enough food for dogs.

In 1843, published the “Handbook of Geography of the Russian Empire” from Ivan Yakovlevich Pavlovsky, in this book, described the Yakutian Laika as a special race, as “a domesticated animal used to pull sleds and hunting”.

The Yakutian Laika, is an excellent hunting companion, they are not usually very large, its height is of 50 to 60 cm., and the reason of its size due to food, given the hostile climate, Sometimes food was really poor, However in other areas in which the race has developed, its size increases significantly. The expression on the face leaves us with an air of cunning mixed with melancholy.
Vladimir Ilyich Mikhelson was the first to describe the breed Yakutian Laika and differentiated her from other dogs in Northeast Asia.

The Yakutian Laika is a robust, built proportionally, a little tall and slim, the dog of medium size and with highly developed layers of hair, which is enough to survive under the harsh conditions of the Arctic. The Yakutian Laika is an active dog, the agile, curious, with a friendly and obedient nature, very sociable and nothing aggressive.

Its main purpose is to pull the sled and hunting. It is robust, with well-developed bones and muscles.
The Yakutian Laika is bold, outgoing, Active, friendly and sociable, an excellent companion but needs freedom, space and is very happy in cold climates.

Dogs Yakutian Laika, they live outdoors all year round, in the summer cavan pits in the Earth to keep fresh, or looking for the water trying to get rid of mosquitoes. In winter, They also tend to dig, they seek shelter, hiding under the snow.

Good nutrition and training of Yakutian Laika for transport has always been a main activity of the fishing population.

They are very smart dogs, with a prodigious sense of smell and an exaggerated sense of direction, which replaces a compass, a prodigious hearing and sight.

All those added to his highly developed survival instinct, they are that they are able to travel in a snow storm, mist, on dark nights and foggy, and find the nearest shelter, If they have been once, enough to register it in your memory. And we think that we are talking about a desert snow, no landmarks...

The Yakutian Laika it is a sled dog with a well defined prey. The breed thrives on regular exercise and sufficient training. With a medium-high energy level, they love to run alongside a bicycle, do sled or tackle races, or play pickup in the yard. They play well with other dogs they are familiar with., but they distrust dogs and strange people. Usually, heat up quickly, but supervision is a good idea in new situations. The Yakutian Laika they are not suitable for people who cannot spend time with their dogs.

Train him Yakutian Laika It is quite a pleasant and easy task thanks to his docile nature and sharp intelligence. This dog has a strong penchant for independent thinking, so he will not follow the trainer's orders unless he fully trusts him. Pulling a sled is an innate talent of this breed, and does not need much training in this regard.

The Yakutian Laika seek human leadership and guidance, but does not respond well to corrective training techniques. Work more enthusiastically if the learning process is based on positive reinforcement and tasty treats. Like any other dog, the Yakutian Laika must learn certain rules and norms of decent behavior in human society, so elemental obedience training is imperative.

The Yakutian Laika experiences a seasonal shedding that can get out of control if not brushed regularly. Usually, should be brushed weekly to avoid tangles and matting. When a lot comes off, it's a good idea to brush it every day to prevent the hair from sticking to everything. Use a bristle brush and metal comb when brushing. A tousler or detangler can make your job a little easier too. Since the Yakutian Laika he's a working dog, no need to over-trim their fur. Trim between your foot pads to prevent snow, ice and other debris build up and cause irritation. Their fur naturally repels dirt and is odorless, so the bath should only be done two or three times a year. Trim your nails when necessary, usually every two to three weeks. Clean your ears every week as part of your grooming routine..

• FCI CLASSIFICATION: 365
• Group 5: Spitz and primitive types
• Section 1: Nordic Sledge Dogs. Without working trial.

Federations:

• – FCI – Group 5 – Section 1 Nordic Sledge Dogs. ⓘ
• – AKC – Nordic Sledge Dogs ⓘ

FCI - Yakutian Laika

1. Yakut Laika, Yakustkaya Laika, Kolyma-Indigirka Laika, Laïka de Iakoutie, Chien de Traîneau de Yakutie, Laika de Yakutia, Kolyma Husky (English).
2. Yakutian Laika (French).
3. Kolyma-Indigirka Laika (German).
4. Laika da Iacútia, (em russo: Якутская лайка) (Portuguese).
5. Yakut Laika (español).