The home of this impressive and robust pedigree dog is - as its name implies- in the forested area of ​​Eastern Siberia, more precisely in the vast area between Yenisei and kamchatka peninsula.

The East Siberian Laika was first mentioned by name in 1947, when the Cynology Congress of Alliances in the former Soviet Union established four breed standards for different Laikis (plural of Laika). Besides him East Siberian Laika, these other races like the West Siberian laika and the Russo-European Laika, have been somewhat better known, as well as the Yakutian Laika and the Siberian Husky, so this breed was not yet recognized by the FCI.

Ancestors of the East Siberian Laika:

Hunting and sled dogs of the high arctic

It is assumed that the history of the ancestors of the Laika goes way back. The origin of the Laika rousso dates back to the sleds and hunting dogs of the high arctic. The East Siberian Laika, as described in the breed standard today, was created by crossing Ewenkish, Lamutsker, Amur and other races of Laika. The main focus of the breeding efforts was training their hunting skills. A natural hunting instinct, courage and a lively temperament, as well as excellent sensory perceptions, a particularly good sense of smell and orientation should characterize the offspring.

In his native Russia, the East Siberian Laika mainly used for squirrel hunting, martens and feather hunting. But it is also appreciated as a draft and sled dog. By the way, he is not related to the bitch “Laika“, who became world famous as the first dog in space. This bitch was probably a mix of Husky and Terrier.

With a height at the cross of 53 a 65 cm el East Siberian Laika belongs to the medium and large breeds. His muscular body and strong physique quickly give an impression of the sturdy build of this wolfdog.. From the harsh climate of its native Siberia, the hard hairs on its coat and the dense and soft undercoat protect. On the neck and shoulders the abundant coat forms the typical collar of the Laika. Males, where the fur at the withers is even more abundant, They also stand out for a kind of mane.

Many color variations

Regarding its fur, many different variations possible. So black shades are possible, White, grey, reddish, colored fox and colored wolf. Variations of pied or stained according to Russian standard and FCI.

Other distinctive features of the East Siberian Laika are the ears standing, placed laterally and the tail rolled.

The Russian word “lajatj” (layat), from which the racial name is derived “Laika“, means “to bark”. And in fact, loud barking is a fundamental characteristic of this Russian hunting dog. Like a so-called poking dog, finds its prey on its own and keeps it in control with its distinctive barks until the hunter arrives and can kill the prey. He is very confident and brave and proves to be an independent worker, robust and persevering while hunting. Unlike other breeds of hunting dogs, as the Gray Norwegian Elkhound, the East Siberian Laika never strays too far from its controller. Each 20 or 30 minutes seeks contact with him and ensures that he continues his search.

Independent hunter and trusted companion

In combination with your intelligence, his lively temperament and physical strength, this narrow “leader bond” allows it to be used in many different ways. Like this, the East Siberian Laika it is popular in its native Russia not only as a hunting dog, but also as a draft and sled dog, as a companion dog and guard dog. Despite its independence, the East Siberian Laika shows himself within his family as a balanced and confident companion, that enjoys the most of the caresses of its humans. In contact with children the proud Laika is playful and considerate. Due to its original behavior, However, children should only be allowed to play with the strong dog under supervision.

Not a beginner dog

Despite his balanced nature and basically friendly nature, the East Siberian Laika a dog is not for beginners. Your innate hunting instinct, its great independence as well as its pronounced need for movement would quickly overwhelm inexperienced owners. Therefore, the keeping of this breed should be reserved to specialists who have experience in dealing with similar breeds and who know how to educate and train such an original dog.

The owners of a East Siberian Laika they don't have to fear high bills for veterinary expenses. The breed is considered extremely robust and healthy. The typical diseases of the breed are hardly known. However, as with all big dogs, breeders and owners should pay attention to healthy hip development. Later diseases of hip or elbow dysplasia (HD o ED), that are often hereditary, but which are also the result of improper maintenance and feeding.

As in humans, nutrition plays a decisive role in the healthy development of the dog. Although the East Siberian Laika it is considered very robust and healthy by nature, so that this remains so, you need a balanced diet that provides you with all the essential nutrients in the right composition. As a descendant of the wolf, the Laika also needs mostly meat. But just like the wolf, that also eats all the prey including the stomach contents, hair and bones, the dog must also get vegetables, rice, fruit (and bones) additional.

It depends on the proper ratio

When preparing food, attention should be paid to the correct ratio of food and the respective nutrients. An excess of certain vitamins and minerals can be just as harmful as a deficiency. If you want to be sure of exactly what your dog needs, you can ask the vet for a detailed diet plan. This plan takes into account not only age, the weight and sex of the breed, but also activity levels, the accommodation conditions and the health status of each dog.

The East Siberian Laika is not very demanding not only in terms of food but also in terms of attention. Coarse and soft hair repels dirt well and only needs a brush two to three times a week. During this process, dead hair is removed and coarse dirt is brushed. The East Siberian Laika rarely need a bath – and only if the dirt cannot be combed in another way. Dog shampoo should also be used sparingly to prevent the skin's natural protective layer from stretching..

Like all races of Laika, the East Siberian Laika was bred primarily as a working and utility dog. Since its origin, it is used to working hard and independently and to moving freely in nature.. An attitude as a house and companion dog would contradict his nature and certainly would not do this demanding dog justice.. Who wants to keep him Laika in the city despite everything, you have to make sure you don't just exercise a lot, but also a suitable occupation that challenges and satisfies you not only physically but also mentally.

Is the Laika suitable for dog sport?

For dog sports, This Laika is suitable only conditionally. Like a hunting dog, he still places great importance on his independence. Although proximity to his humans is important to him, maintains its independence. Do not expect blind or pronounced obedience “will to please” of a true Laika, like the one brought by many other breeds of domestic dogs. However, with his strong body and agile movements, naturally brings good conditions for use in the dog sports field.

Closeness and trust from the beginning

Whether hunting dog, sledge dog, dog shooting, watchdog or just companion dog: the East Siberian Laika is a demanding four-legged friend, requiring a lot of exercise and activity. However, do not forget that he also likes to be close to his humans. A pure kennel attitude does not do this breed justice. A Laika must be firmly integrated into the family from the beginning and experience a lot of contact with their humans and other animals. If you build a close relationship of trust and socialize your Laika comprehensively already in the puppy stage, will experience the original pedigree dog, despite its roots, as a very balanced and loving partner, for whom extensive fondling is almost as important as independent work.

If you are interested in a purchase of a East Siberian Laika outside russia, you will probably have a hard time finding a breeder near you. However, When in doubt it is worth the long drive to Russia to meet and understand this Laika in its natural environment. After all, the East Siberian Laika It is not a dog that you should buy as a companion dog “that easy”. Plus plenty of time and space to get out, its maintenance and education requires a lot of knowledge, patience and assertiveness. Compared to other dog breeds, This Laika has a hard time asserting himself as an apartment dog. However, who is convinced that a East Siberian Laika is the right dog and whoever is looking for a purebred dog, has to accept long roads and long waiting periods for a puppy. The costs, just for the purchase of the puppy, they are with this breed some 1.300 a 1.500 EUR.

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a dog of the breed “East Siberian Laika” you know certain factors. Not all breeds of dogs are apt to live in an apartment, You must take into account their character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, your care and if you have young children, their level of tolerance towards them.

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Photos:

1 – East Siberian Laika, young dog. The picture was taken by PrzemekL during World Dog Show 2006 in Poznań. by No machine-readable author provided. PrzemekL assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
2 – East siberian laika by Myrtle / CC BY-SA
3 – East Siberian Laika, bitch. The picture was taken by PrzemekL during World Dog Show 2006 in Poznań by No machine-readable author provided. PrzemekL assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
4 – East Siberian Laika agouti by Canarian / CC BY-SA
5 – East Siberian Laika Fawn & white by Canarian / CC BY-SA
6 – East Siberian Laika Sable & white, head profile by Canarian / CC BY-SA

The East Siberian Laika

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• CLASSIFICATION FCI: 305
• Group 5: Spitz and primitive types.
• Section 2: Nordic Hunting Dogs. With working trial.

• – FCI – Group 5 – Section 2 Nordic Hunting Dogs. ⓘ

East Siberian Laika FCI