How much does a husky puppy cost in rubles today?

The West Siberian Laika was bred by hunters and dog handlers based on the ancient species of dogs of the peoples living in the Northern Urals and Western Siberia. These animals are used for hunting deer, wild boar, bear, and elk. The Laika is perfectly oriented by scent, scent, and can find the animal on its own. When it catches up with an animal, the husky barks loudly until the hunter approaches.

The Laika is a hardy, strong and brave pet. She is able to move through deep snow cover for several hours without feeling tired. Meanwhile, the husky is intended for many-sided use, but it is much more effective when trained for a specific game.

In addition to the West Siberian Laika, there are other varieties:

• Russian-European;
• Karelian-Finnish;
• East Siberian;
• Yakut;
• Karelian bear;
• Norwegian gray elk;
• Finnish Spitz.

Laika can be kept in an apartment, but it is important to provide the animal with long walks in the park or forest. Walking should only be done on a leash, since this is a freedom-loving dog that strives to explore large territories. The presented breed is very clean. The coat does not need constant grooming.

History of the Russian-European Laika breed

The Russian-European Laika, as an independent breed, was created according to plan.
In 1949, Soviet breeders decided to give hunters another type of hunting dog, using the gene pool of the Karelian, Arkhangelsk, and Komi Laika as a basis. However, the most difficult thing for specialists turned out to be not to cross individuals from the listed offspring (such matings have long been practiced by amateurs), but to bring the resulting offspring to a single type. As an example: by the middle of the 20th century in the USSR there were about ten varieties of Russian-European huskies that had a very distant resemblance to each other. One of the very first and most prolific participants in the experiment is a dog named Tuzik, who belonged to the breeder Sh. A. Isaev. This native of the Komi Laika helped the birth of dozens of Russian-European Laika puppies, essentially becoming the official great-grandfather of the breed. As for the formation of a single exterior, it only happened in 1964, although work on individual lines of the breed continued until perestroika times. It is known, for example, that the most popular branches of Russian-European huskies originated from the male dogs Putik, Bublik and Sharik, and their representatives received from their ancestors excellent external characteristics and developed hunting instincts.

Since the early 70s, new breed groups of Russian-European Laikas began to appear. These are the Jack and Joy lines known to all modern breeders. Unfortunately, already in 1979, breeding hunting huskies lost its popularity, which was facilitated by the state ban on shooting squirrels. And although by that time the breed had made a good exhibition career, and a year later even received FCI registration, this fact had a negative impact on its development. Today, you can meet the Russian-European Laika hunting less often than its relatives, the Westerners. However, these versatile fishermen still have fans, which has helped them not to disappear and also maintain their performance characteristics.

Video: Russian-European Laika

Breed standard Russian-European Laika

Russian-European Laikas have a very memorable appearance, which is partly due to the meager palette of colors. The dimensions of the representatives of the breed are average, the muscles are dry, and the dogs do not look thin-boned. The height of an adult male Russian-European husky is 52-58 cm; females - 48-54 cm. In general, “girls” have a more elongated silhouette (extension index in the range of 100-105), since this constitutional feature is necessary for bearing offspring. In other respects, males look brighter and more respectable than females, although they do not show significant advantages in work.

Head

Wedge-shaped outlines are typical for the heads of all Russian-European huskies. Between the dry, sharp muzzle and the skull there is a noticeable stop, which seems very sharp due to the convex brow ridges. The muzzle itself is shorter than the skull, while its upper line is parallel to the line of the forehead. The back of the head is rounded, with an easily palpable tubercle and parietal crest.

Lips, teeth and jaws

Elastic lips, tightly pressed to the jaws, do not form saggy jaws. The teeth are massive, even, closely spaced in a row. The only appropriate type of bite is a scissors bite.

Eyes

The Russian-European Laika has dark brown small eyes, which are characterized by a slightly slanted eyelid.

Ears

The shape of the ear is triangular, while the base of the hearing organ is wide and the tip is sharp. The ear position is erect. The ear membrane is small in size and extremely mobile.

Neck

Optimal proportions are when the length of the animal’s neck and head are the same. To the touch, the neck is very muscular, dry in outline, set in relation to the body at an angle of 45° to 50°.

Frame

Russian-European huskies are dogs of moderately strong build with a wide chest reaching down to the elbows and a straight, but not long, back. The animal's loin is convex, with a developed muscle corset. Belly with a clearly defined transition from the sternum to the abdominal area. The cereal zone is quite short, with a slight slope.

Limbs

REL's legs are dry, with well-pumped muscles, located parallel to each other when looking at the animal from the front. The shoulders are moderately oblique, the elbows are large, directed backwards. The pasterns are medium in size and have a slight slope.

The hind legs are formed by long shins and almost vertical metatarsals. The paws have the shape of a regular oval, thanks to the fingers compressed into a ball. Dewclaws are not welcome.

Tail

The husky's tail is crescent-shaped or ring-shaped, curved towards the back and pressed to the outer side of the thigh. When unfolded, the tail reaches the tarsal (hock) joint or is located at a distance of 1-2 cm from it.

Wool

The coat of the Russian-European Laika is a hard, straight coat and a thick undercoat layer. The dense hair covering the dog's head and ears is very short. The shoulders and neck are “dressed” in a rich spine, forming an expressive “collar”, and behind the cheekbones are stylish “sideburns”. Males have longer hair on the withers. The hair on the legs is short, close-lying, slightly lengthening only on the back of the limbs. There are neat feathers on the hind legs. Between the toes, the fur grows like a thick brush, while the paws are covered with short and smooth hairs. The tail is without dewlap, but with an elongated straight spine on the lower part.

Color

Russian-European huskies are born black and piebald, completely white, and also with a solid black color.

Possible defects

Serious defects in the exterior, for which the exhibition score is reduced, are called defects. For Russian-European Laikas these include:

• deviation from the height recorded by the standard by more than 2 cm;
• specks on the body, as well as specks that do not match the main color on the legs and head;
• the coat is loose, wavy or curly;
• long head, massive muzzle without stop;
• hanging or semi-erect ears;
• discord;
• hunchback and barrel chest;
• clubfoot or with splayed legs;
• straight or saber tail.

What does a husky look like?

This animal is of medium size, strong skeleton, muscular build and majestic posture. The husky has a wedge-shaped head and erect ears with pointed tips. The tail is curled into a ring. Almond-shaped expressive eyes, depending on the color, have a different color.

The husky has a medium-length coat, coarse and thick, with a dense and soft undercoat. Longer and denser hair on the chest and neck, forming a collar. The color can be different: white, black, wolf, pinto, pepper and salt.

Character of the Russian-European Laika

The Russian-European Laika is a dog in love with its owner, and at the same time with all his associates, from family members to friends. Representatives of this family, in principle, are not prone to aggression towards humans, and when it comes to children, huskies immediately turn into the most good-natured and forgiving creatures in the Universe. The breed's territorial instinct is very moderately developed, so its representatives make mediocre watchmen. However, some breeders specifically cultivate protective qualities in their charges. Such individuals are noticeably more suspicious than their relatives and are no longer so loyal to strangers. If you need a dog that can be involved not only in hunting, but also in a simplified version of the ZKS (protective guard service), look for a seller who specializes in breeding guard huskies.

The main weapon in the fight against suspicious guests, available in the arsenal of every Russian-European husky, is a loud bark. By the way, about the “vocal abilities” of the breed: REL are happy to raise their voice with or without reason, and especially piercing concerts are staged by bored individuals. Accordingly, if you keep a Russian-European Laika in your apartment and are often away on business, get ready to ruin your relationship with your neighbors, who are forced to be unwitting listeners to your pet’s musical exercises.

The patience of Russian-European Laikas has become something of a legend, so a properly trained dog will always allow its owner to pull a bowl of food out from under its nose and will suppress any counter-protest. At the same time, dogs react sharply to unfair punishments, so before you slap a dog on the nose with a newspaper, think carefully about whether the pet deserves such treatment. Also consider the exercise needs of the breed. If the Russian-European Laika does not go hunting for a long time and at the same time lives in the house, destruction of the interior is inevitable. And the point here is not in the obstinate nature of the relics, but in natural instincts that do not find application in everyday life.

Hunting with Russian-European Laika

Russian-European huskies are universal hunters, in Russian realities they work excellently on both game and any animal. In addition to its sense of smell, the breed uses sight and hearing in its search, which makes hunting with reels as productive as possible. In addition, Russian-European Laikas are distinguished by the breadth and speed of their search, which helps them successfully compete with Westerners. A very important nuance: different techniques for working with game and animals, found in representatives of different breed lines. Typically, most relics work with their lower senses, following the scent directly, and only occasionally using their auditory receptors.

Some huskies belong to the high-sniffing type, that is, they are guided by the smell coming from the ground and distributed by the lower layers of air. Moreover, under different conditions, the dog can change its reconnaissance technique, moving from the upper to the lower scent and back. A separate category of REL are those who hunt by hearing. The sensitivity of such individuals is slightly less developed, therefore, in the process of pursuing prey, the animal often stops, then runs towards the sound and only barks at the prey in the end. In all respects, spirit huskies are considered ideal hunters, having equally developed sense of smell and hearing, but there are much fewer such individuals, and they are difficult to find.

Some experts recommend specially training your pet's hearing, starting from puppyhood. The Laika is taught to listen to the whisper of its owner, to pay attention to the sounds of living nature - the cries of birds, the knocking of a woodpecker on a tree. However, such exercises do not always give the desired result, since individuals with a dominant sense of smell will still prefer to rely on their nose rather than their own ears.

Education, training, grooming

The training of the Russian-European husky is based on helping the animal become a professional getter of forest and field trophies. The remaining service commands are discarded. At the same time, with a pet living in urban realities, you can take a UGS (controlled city dog) course. True, according to experienced hunters, such “education” does not have the best effect on the instincts of the breed. As a result, dogs trained in service commands perform much worse.

You can groom your future hunting husky from as early as three months, regardless of the time of year. Start with short walks in the forest and try not to make noise so that the puppy can listen to new sounds. The grooming technique also depends on what type of animal and game is to be hunted. For example, to work with waterfowl, you need to teach your puppy to overcome his fear of bodies of water. It is better to hunt the Russian-European husky hazel grouse in the fall and in those forests where young feathered animals definitely live.

Important: Russian-European huskies, who live in city apartments for years and go hunting only once a season, may lose their keen sense of smell. Usually the sense of smell is restored during work, but this does not happen immediately.

Mandatory skills for hunting huskies: walking next to the owner, willingness to sit down and give an object on command, including from the water. Breeders recommend organizing the training process with the help of additional equipment: a 20-meter leash with a carabiner, a plain whistle, a carrier (a piece of wood or a soft fabric toy). It is acceptable to use a thin rod when practicing the “No!” command. Traditional scheme: a dog caught picking up food from the ground is held at the “crime scene” and whipped sharply, but not too hard, with a vine. If you don’t have a rod at hand, it’s useful to pull the leash and voice the command. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to hit a Russian-European husky with your hand or leash.

By the age of six months, a Russian-European Laika puppy is usually socialized: he knows his name and responds to it, is accustomed to walking on a leash, and has fit into the hierarchical system of the family in which he lives. At 6 months the animal can be prepared for hunting and trained. The first command to learn is “Near!” The owner takes the Russian-European husky outside, gives an order, patting himself on the thigh and at the same time pulling the puppy towards him by the leash. The strap is then gently released and the pet receives a rewarding pat or treat. By the way, for the latter it is better to buy a belt bag. Over time, the husky will understand where the owner hides the treats and will try to earn them.

When the Russian-European husky learns to walk side by side, start practicing the “Sit!” command. Everything is traditional here: after the order, the pet is gently pressed on the sacrum, forcing it to sit down on its hind legs. At the same time, the puppy is taught to give diarrhea correctly. The scheme is simple: shake a cloth stuffed animal in front of the animal’s nose. When the pet begins to grab the object with its teeth, throw it forward with the command “Give!”, and after the husky picks up the stuffed animal, gently take it away, rewarding the puppy with a treat.

If you plan to go waterfowling, teach your Russian-European Laika to swim. Only without extremes: throwing a puppy into the water, as home-grown “pros” do, is a harmful and empty activity that will provoke hydrophobia in the animal and nothing else. It is better to start by crossing shallow reservoirs (the owner goes first, followed by the puppy) and only in the warm season, since dogs also need time to get used to and harden. As for baiting large animals, it can be done at stations and with animals at least 1 year old. And of course, take into account the individual characteristics of your own pet: some huskies are not vicious enough for such an activity and are often frightened by potential prey that is larger than them.

Varieties of huskies

1. Shepherd's. The ancestor is the Nenets Laika, which is common on the Scandinavian Peninsula. This medium-sized, compact dog has long hair. Such purebred pets were used as shepherd's assistants for hunting waterfowl and various game.
2. Riding, or polar. This subgroup of dogs is the largest. The main purpose of such pets is to transport people. Laikas helped out in places where there was no public transport. People keep them in teams of 8-13 individuals. Sled huskies, among other things, participate in the rutting of artiodactyls.
3. Hunting. This variety is considered by hunters to be the best hunting weapon. Laikas are excellent hunting dogs. And back in the 19th century, they were collected into one register for breeding activities in order to consolidate their unique hunting abilities.

Maintenance and care

Despite the growing popularity of apartment keeping of Russian-European huskies, the ideal housing for the breed remains a spacious enclosure, facing the south with a lattice and equipped with a warm booth. The mandatory “walking minimum” for the Russian-European Laika is from 2 to 3 hours a day, and it does not matter where your pet lives - in an apartment or in the courtyard of a country cottage.

You should not be afraid of the destructive behavior of Russian-European huskies living in houses. If the dog is walked and hunted enough, it will not cause chaos. The exception is puppies, who taste the world around them, but a compromise can be found with them. Provide your puppy with plenty of toys and frequent treats of cartilage and flat bones to give your puppy something to occupy his teeth.

Hygiene

Care for apartment and enclosure huskies will be different. The former, as a rule, are poorer dressed, since they live in a warm place, therefore, during winter hunting, such individuals freeze faster. Residential Russian-European huskies shed throughout the year, so brushing your pet several times a week will save your home from hairballs. Enclosure dogs shed their “coats” seasonally, that is, twice a year, which significantly saves the owner’s energy. Theoretically, yard huskies need to be brushed only during the molting period, but in practice this has to be done much more often, especially if the animal often goes hunting, where it can pick up burrs.

Important: Russian-European Laika puppies should not be washed. Only adult dogs are allowed to bathe, and only in cases where it is really necessary.

The ears of Russian-European huskies are cleaned as they become dirty using hygienic drops and a piece of clean cloth. If the amount of sulfur in the funnel is insignificant, do not disturb your pet in vain: the husky is not a decorative dog that needs to be washed and combed endlessly. The breed's eyes are healthy, so special care is not required for them. Just brush away dust bunnies from the corners of your eyelids and clean your eyes once a week with chamomile infusion and a tissue.

Remove accumulated plaque from your dog's teeth weekly: you can do this with a toothbrush or a silicone brush on your finger. An alternative to classic cleaning is hard treats like sinew, as well as carrots and tomato juice. During the hunting season, special attention should be paid to the legs of the Russian-European husky. If, upon examination, scratches or cuts are found on the paws, treat the wounds with an antiseptic. In winter, it is useful for urban huskies to lubricate their paw pads with protective creams that will protect their skin from toxic road reagents.

Feeding

Russian-European huskies are often fed animals they have hunted. The only caveat of this menu: a dog that eats hunting trophies will have to be treated for helminths more often. If work in the forest does not work out, the pet’s diet is based on any lean meat (from beef to poultry), raw tripe and offal. Once a week, meat can be replaced with fish fillet. To make dog dinners a little cheaper, they also add cereals – buckwheat and rice.

It is useful to dilute the meat component with seasonal fruits, young herbs, and vegetables. Russian-European huskies will not refuse fermented milk products, so get ready to periodically buy low-fat kefir, cottage cheese and fermented baked milk for your pet. To improve the appearance and thickness of the coat, it is recommended to treat your dog with a teaspoon of unrefined vegetable oil - it can be sunflower, olive or flaxseed oil.

Education and training

All service dog breeds need a leader, that is, a leader. Do not forget that the dog is a pack animal that should be socialized in a group and led.

A husky prone to dominance can snap, steal food from the table, bite other animals in the house, sleep anywhere, that is, be a problem for the family. Unfortunately, representatives of this breed are often abandoned. But, with proper upbringing, they become quite adequate and well-managed.

We advocate that anyone can learn to raise a service dog correctly, without professional help. Laikas are by nature inquisitive, trusting, but a little wild.

From this it follows that for successful training they should be interested. The best option is to give the animal a treat. Give the animal the opportunity to gain confidence in you, let it associate your voice and hands with “yummy.” Then it will definitely listen to you.

The first thing you should teach such a dog is to remember his name, that is, his nickname. Let each family member call him by name, call him to him, and then good-naturedly pat him on the withers or head. Giving a treat in this case also won’t hurt.

When the dog remembers its name, start training basic commands: give paw, lie down, no, sit, etc. There will be no specific recommendations here, the main thing is to hone the dog’s skills to the point of automaticity, and this requires a lot of practice.

Training with a leash and collar is equally important. This is the standard home equipment needed to train the West Siberian Laika. A leash is a visible connection between a man and his dog. The first determines how durable and long-lasting it will be.

In order for your dog to approach you with pleasure, you should not shout at him; let him associate the collar and leash with an interesting walk. But before she goes outside the house, she must get rid of her excitement.

A common mistake made by inexperienced dog owners is going out with an excited dog. Most four-legged pets get very happy at the sight of a leash and do not calm down for a long time. Going out into the yard with them means encouraging an unstable mental state. First, you need to give the animal the opportunity to calm down and only after that, walk it.

Other equally important rules for raising huskies:

1. Scold and shame her for damaging interior items. Poke the dog’s muzzle into the thing that has been damaged, and then isolate it from yourself.
2. Do not allow people to relieve themselves indoors. It is important to teach a West Siberian husky puppy to look for a latrine only outside, and in any weather.
3. You should not allow your animal to jump on your home furniture.
4. Control the process of his acquaintance with cats, mice and other animals in the house.
5. Do not allow him to develop food aggression (roaring during meals). If your dog gets angry while eating, gently toss something tastier into his bowl, such as cheese. This will stop her from associating you with a threat. Your hands will become a pleasant symbol for her.

Health and diseases of Russian-European huskies

In purebred huskies, there are practically no hereditary diseases, with the exception of hip dysplasia, the mechanism of which is not yet fully understood. At the same time, you will still have to monitor your pet’s health, given its active lifestyle. For example, REL are often injured while hunting and can contract various infections there. Treatment of representatives of the breed against ectoparasites, as well as with anthelmintic drugs during the hunting season, is mandatory. Sometimes Russian-European Laikas are diagnosed with epilepsy and urolithiasis. In addition, some individuals may develop food allergies, which can be easily combated through a properly formulated diet.

West Siberian Laika: content

It is believed that these huskies retained more wolf-like features. A number of studies confirm this fact. These animals, in comparison with their wild counterparts, have undergone minor changes in the shape of the head, skeleton, teeth, while completely retaining the hunter's instinct. By becoming the owner of a husky, you acquire a real forest dweller. However, there is no need to be afraid. Laika is aggressive only in work, but she shows amazing affection and tenderness towards people. The West Siberian Laika is an excellent watchman and bodyguard.

For this breed, freedom and the ability to be in constant motion are very important. Laika feels uncomfortable in a city apartment. It is better to keep your four-legged friend outside, where he will have his own enclosure and a large territory. The thick, dense undercoat of the wolf variety allows the husky to easily tolerate different weather and climatic conditions.

Its main qualities depend on the correct upbringing of an animal. The pet does not need special care. The fur does not tangle, but will need to be combed out when shedding. The active molting phase occurs twice a year. By the way, there will always be wool in the apartment. Frequent bathing is not necessary for the husky, as the fur has a self-cleaning property. For this reason, there is no specific dog smell. The West Siberian Laika does not exhibit hereditary diseases. Meanwhile, the pet’s natural health does not negate comprehensive vaccination.

How to choose a puppy

• Collect as much information as possible about the sires of the litter: presence of exhibition diplomas, pedigrees, exterior, tests for genetic dysplasia.
• Do not look for show puppies from breeders who breed purely working lines and vice versa. Hunting huskies will never have such a glamorous exterior as their show relatives, and show dogs are not as productive when hunting.
• Choose a female Russian-European husky if you are going to “work the fur” - when hunting squirrel and sable, “girls” are always more collected and prudent.
• For wild boar hunting, it is better to choose males - they are more passionate, angrier and an order of magnitude bolder than females.
• If the seller has not provided a litter inspection certificate, there is a high probability that there are mixed breeds in it, because of which the breeding commission refused to issue the documents to the breeder.
• Try to visit the kennel in advance so as not to pick up the last remaining puppy. Assess the entire litter: it is ideal if all the babies are approximately the same size.
• Maximum attention should be paid to the shape of the puppy’s head and bite, since it is these exterior indicators that determine the breed of Russian-European Laikas.
• It is not recommended to take the most dominant puppy in the litter: as he matures, such a puppy will try to lead in hunting and in everyday life.
• Test the hearing acuity and sensitivity of Russian-European Laika puppies before purchasing. Click your fingers above the kids' heads and see which one reacts first to the noise. The sense of smell is tested with a bowl of food placed at a distance from the animals. The puppy that smells the treat first will be the most instinctive in the litter.
• When buying an adult dog with a show diploma, pay attention to how it behaves in the ring. If the pet does not walk next to the owner and barks angrily at everyone, hunting with such a dominant will not be successful.

Price of Russian-European Laika

It is easy to buy a Russian-European Laika within the Russian Federation, and for quite modest money. It is already more difficult to purchase a purebred REL with club documents. The fact is that most hunters do not see anything wrong with mating their charges with representatives of other breeds or even mestizos. Accordingly, it will no longer be possible to go to an exhibition with such a dog.

The most expensive offer on the market are adult Russian-European huskies with working or exhibition diplomas and a decent pedigree. The cost of such dogs can range from 30,000 to 100,000 rubles. Club puppy from good ones for 10,000 - 15,000 rubles. As for mixed-breed babies, they can often be obtained for free or for a symbolic price. True, no one will guarantee the safety of hunting instincts in such animals.

Price

Where is the best place for a dog owner to buy a pet? Of course, in the nursery. In this place he will definitely not be deceived; he will be provided with all the documents, from a passport to a pedigree, and will be taught how to raise, care for and treat a dog. This purchase is also good for long-term cooperation.

Most kennels of purebred dogs provide a guarantee on them. This means that in the first year after purchasing an animal there, you receive long-term assistance in caring for it.

No, an employee of this institution will not come to your home to comb your dog, but he will certainly advise you over the phone on this issue and many others. The average price of the West Siberian Laika in Russia for 2022 is 15 thousand rubles.