East Siberian Laika dog breed: character, color, reviews from dog breeders, interesting facts and photos

The West Siberian Laika is considered the most versatile assistant for a hunter, and no other dog can compete with it in this regard. In Russia, huskies are very popular. The main reason for such interest in this breed is the unpretentiousness of keeping these animals. Laika becomes very attached to its owner, taking on the lion's share of hunting responsibilities. These animals demonstrate all their natural skills while hunting a wide variety of animals and birds that live in our country.

Origin of the breed

The breed is classified as aboriginal. It formed independently as a result of natural selection and has never been subjected to selection. The first information about East Siberian huskies began to appear in the 19th century during the development of the territories of the Far East and Siberia. The first standard was adopted in 1949, and then in 1980 it was adjusted and remains in effect to this day.

In the 60s of the 20th century, the first people appeared who wanted to engage in breeding work in order to improve the breed's qualities (a nursery was opened in Irkutsk). In the 90s, many nurseries closed, purebred individuals became lost, perhaps mixed with mongrels. Now East Siberian Laikas are in the process of restoring their numbers, and the breed is still very far from regaining its former popularity. But enthusiasts and simply lovers of these dogs are making every effort to bring their charges to the proper level.

The main purpose of the East Siberian Laika is hunting.

Hunting

Laika is an excellent hunter, it’s in her blood from birth. Hunting with East Siberian Laikas is a real pleasure, as they easily identify game. After the animal is found, the dog gives a signal to the owner with a loud bark.

Focused, observant, agile and intelligent - all this is the East Siberian Laika. A photo of a hunt with her will not be able to convey all the emotions from this fascinating process. In their behavior when chasing prey, these dogs are very similar to wolves. They drive the game in silence, calmly following it, and from time to time they give a signal to the owner. The main thing for a hunter is to show up on time. Otherwise, he may simply not have time, because the goal of the husky is to catch up and strangle the prey.

The peculiarity of the East Siberian Laika is that the pursuit of prey occurs at a trot, and then the dog goes into a gallop. Laikas are excellent at navigating the terrain, and therefore cannot be controlled even in the forests of the taiga. In addition, the dog itself observes the hunter and his movements. It is strongly recommended not to call your husky to you during a hunt, as this will reduce its effectiveness.

Description of the breed

According to the FCI standard, the East Siberian Laika (VSL) belongs to the 5th group (“Spitz and primitive types of dogs”), the 2nd section (“Northern hunting dogs”). The standard has No. 305 in the latest edition dated 03/02/2011.

External signs of VSL

The East Siberian Laika is a medium-sized, compact, muscular dog. Males are more powerful than females, which is noticeable visually. A purebred individual must meet the following standard requirements:

• The head is large, wedge-shaped. From above it looks like an equilateral triangle. The skull is wide, especially in males. The stop is smooth and moderately expressed. The occipital protuberance is clearly visible.
• The nose is black. A brown tint is acceptable in white or fawn dogs.
• The teeth are large and strong. Full dental formula (42 teeth), scissor bite.
• The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, slightly slanted, with a trusting and friendly expression. Color brown or dark brown.
• The ears are erect, V-shaped, with pointed or rounded tips. The inner part is well furred.
• The tail is curled into a ring or sickle and held above the back. It is allowed that it does not touch the back or is half-lowered. When extended, it almost reaches the hock joints.
• Limbs straight and parallel. The paws are rounded, the toes are in a ball.
• Movement is free, with strong drive from the hind legs.
• The outer hair is thick, straight, and hard. Short on the head and ears. It forms a collar on the shoulders, and sideburns behind the cheekbones. Males have longer hair at the withers. The undercoat is thick and soft.
• Colors: black with red tan (karamy);
• black;
• black and white;
• grey;
• ginger;
• brown;
• zonal;
• pale yellow;
• white;
• spotted of the same colors.

Working trials are required for this breed.

Character of East Siberian Laikas

East Siberian Laikas are hardy and courageous dogs. Among other huskies they have a calmer temperament. They have excellent hearing and excellent sense of smell. The East Siberian Laika has a hunting passion, which is especially expressed in baiting large animals. During work he behaves independently. He gets a lot of positive emotions from hunting, lives it and only here shows all his unique qualities.

These are loyal dogs. They are trusting towards people and kind to all family members. These dogs get along well with other canine pets and get along well with children, patiently enduring all their pranks. True, for this you need to educate and socialize your pet from a very early age (from 1–1.5 months). But no matter how a puppy is raised, other domestic animals will always be perceived as prey, so there will be no peace for either cats or rodents.

The AFL are vigilant and wary of strangers. They do not have innate aggression towards people, so they will not use their teeth. But they will certainly growl menacingly, raising the hair on the back of their heads, which makes them good watchmen.

Disadvantages, defects and disqualifying characteristics

Any deviation from the requirements of the standard is considered a defect. Its influence on the assessment of an individual is based on the severity of the defect and the dog’s ability to do the job.

The actual disadvantages include:

• insufficiently expressed sexual dimorphism;
• convex forehead, somewhat narrowed muzzle;
• partial depigmentation of the nose, lips and eyelids;
• lack of teeth - absence of no more than 4 premolars (from PM1 and PM2 in any combination);
• straight bite after 6 years;
• small, sparse teeth;
• light or amber eye color in black dogs;
• ears - large, low-set, soft, not sufficiently grown inside;
• the back is weak (soft), slightly humped;
• paws turned inward or outward (marked), clubfoot;
• flat or loose paws (not in a ball), insufficiently developed hair between the toes;
• dewclaws on the hind legs;
• slightly constrained movements;
• specks to match the main color on the body or head (on the paws are allowed).

The defects of the breed include:

• anger towards people;
• significant obesity or thinness;
• short or narrow muzzle;
• a strongly smoothed or pronounced transition from the forehead to the muzzle;
• absence of more than 4 premolars, including PM1 and PM;
• round, bulging eyes;
• the ears are excessively large with round tops and a wide base;
• square format;
• excessively extended format;
• light frame;
• heavy, unstable movements or ambling;
• wrinkled, loose skin;
• significantly elongated hair on the back of the front legs, pronounced dewlap on the hind legs and tail;
• wavy, curly, soft or too long coat;
• the specks on the body do not match the main color;
• deviation from standard height by more than 2 cm.

The reasons for disqualification of an individual are:

• aggressiveness or cowardice;
• malocclusion;
• misalignment of the jaws;
• 4 or more missing teeth, including PM1 and PM2 or M3, extra incisors;
• clouding of the cornea, eye color interspersed with a different color;
• hanging, semi-erect ears;
• short tail;
• short-haired or long-haired;
• lack of undercoat;
• color: genetic brown;
• genetic blue;
• brindle;
• albinism.

Video: born hunter - East Siberian Laika

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Peculiarities of education and training of representatives of the breed

The process of raising an East Siberian husky puppy should not be postponed, otherwise you will have to deal with the not very “convenient” character traits of this dog - stubbornness and independence. Before the age of 6 months, the pet should already have completed general obedience courses. Joint exercises with a dog help a person to quickly understand the characteristics of the pet, and the latter to get used to the leading position of the owner.

Raising a puppy should begin from the moment it arrives in the house.

Hunting dogs should have only one owner - the person who hunts with them. Therefore, there is no need to distribute responsibilities for walking, training, and feeding the dog between family members. This disorients the dog.

Laikas begin hunting training at 6 months of age, conducting classes in special areas. It’s good if training takes place with an experienced dog in pairs. Laikas are excellent imitators and can learn the necessary skills from their fellow workers.

Diseases

These dogs are incredibly resilient and have very strong immunity. They are not characterized by serious genetic diseases. However, there are several very dangerous points. The Laika needs to be properly cared for, and therefore you need to think it over carefully before making the important decision to get such a dog.

Owners of huskies need to beware of two diseases characteristic of them - distemper and rabies. Symptoms of plague are diarrhea, fever, chills and lethargy. But not everything is so scary, since this disease can be cured, and it is safe for humans.

Rabies is an acute infectious disease that cannot be cured. Symptoms are aggression and inappropriate behavior. Therefore, it is important not to forget about annual vaccinations. To avoid this disease, do not allow your pet to get into garbage, eat off the ground, or have contact with stray dogs.

Keeping East Siberian Laikas and caring for your pet

Caring for the East Siberian Laika is easy. It is enough to brush the coat twice a week. During periods of shedding, which occurs very abundantly, it is better to comb your pet with a slicker brush or furminator.

You need to regularly monitor the condition of your dog’s claws, eyes, ears, and teeth. To clean the teeth, use a special brush and paste (the puppy needs to be accustomed to the procedure, otherwise the adult dog will resist this), as well as special dental treats.

It is recommended to bathe when soiled, but it is better not to carry out this procedure more than 2-3 times a year. Local areas are wiped with a damp cloth. If kept inside a house or apartment, paws can be washed with water or wiped with napkins after each walk.

It is important to remember that the breed is very energetic and needs daily long (many hours) walks in the fresh air. Ideally, your pet should be outside all day with the ability to actively move around the area. If this condition is not met, the dog may even run away from home and not return for several days (especially if there is a forest nearby, where it can run around to its heart’s content).

Thick fur allows the husky to live outside even in cold weather.

East Siberian huskies are excellent at climbing over fences and digging tunnels, but sitting on a leash is absolutely not suitable for them. Therefore, the only prevention of escapes is to provide the pet with the physical activity it needs.

This dog is not a companion in the truest sense of the word. This is a hunter who needs will and a certain freedom of action.

Feeding the husky

East Siberian huskies are omnivores and are not too picky about food. Therefore, the owner will have to monitor the diet and amount of food in the bowl. For this breed, a feeding schedule and standardized portion sizes are very important. A veterinarian will help you calculate it. For intense physical activity, it is permissible to increase it by a third.

Of course, what the dog is fed is of great importance, so it is impossible to give general recommendations. If you choose ready-made food, you should follow the instructions on the packaging. Choose products designed for active pets:

• Royal Canin HE Club;
• Chicopee Pro Nature Line Active;
• Belcando Adult Active;
• Acana Heritage Sport & Agility.

  Acana Heritage Sport & Agility is made from 75% natural meat ingredients, providing active dogs with high quality proteins.

If a natural feeding plan is chosen, then meat is taken as the basis of the diet. It should be low-fat, it is allowed to serve it raw. But it is better to boil offal and fish and give them no more than 2 times a week. Vegetables are also added to the diet in boiled form, chopped into pieces or pureed. Laikas can be given porridge with meat and vegetables, but grains should not be the basis of the dish.

It is not recommended to give liquid food to huskies - it stretches the walls of the stomach and deprives the dog of a sense of proportion in food, which they practically do not have anyway.

If the pet does not eat its portion, the leftovers are removed. Hunting dogs are never pampered with food from the master's table. In addition to the fact that this is harmful to the health of any breed, hunting animals’ sense of smell is also weakened, which immediately affects their working qualities.

Nutrition

A ready-made diet (dry food) is perfect for the West Siberian Laika. She should eat at least 800 grams of this product per day. Don't skimp on it! Buy only premium food. How to distinguish good dry food from bad? Answer: by composition. In a quality product, the main ingredient should be meat.

If your pet is fed dry food, periodically feed it with offal, fortified foods, for example, berries or vegetables, bone cartilage, fermented milk, etc. What definitely should not be included in its menu:

• Fatty foods cooked in oil.
• Pastries, cream cakes.
• Expired products.
• Fat cottage cheese.
• Stewed lamb or pork.
• Fatty fish with bones.
• Chocolate and marmalade.

Remember, your husky should eat plenty of vitamins at any time of the year, so never deprive her of the pleasure of eating a banana in winter or a fresh tomato in summer.

Choosing a puppy and price

If you want to buy a puppy to use in hunting in the future, then you need to choose from working parents. The number of exhibition awards does not matter here, but the puppies receive the necessary skills almost with their mother’s milk. Any experienced hunter can tell you which puppy is most promising in this regard. Usually babies are taken from their mother at 2–3 months.

Working parents and puppies are hunters from birth

But if you are not interested in hunting, but in a show career, take an older puppy, about 6 months old. At this age you can already tell how much his features correspond to the standard. But in any case, it is better to take a dog with a pedigree if you want it to become a real husky.

In addition, when choosing an East Siberian husky, keep in mind that you can hunt with males all year round, and with females only when they are not in heat.

The cost of puppies in nurseries is in the range of 15–25 thousand rubles. Private breeders are cheaper - from 5 thousand rubles. In addition, if the parents are trained in small and medium-sized animals, their puppies are cheaper, and if they are trained in large animals, then they can charge 50 thousand rubles for the offspring.

Interesting Facts

The East Siberian Laika breed developed in isolation, so very little is known about it.

However, there are still several interesting points associated with these animals:

• Scientists believe that all northern huskies descended from one ancestor - the fossil dog Inostrantsev. The remains of the animal were discovered in 1882 on the shores of Lake Ladoga.
• Polar explorer Nansen Fridtjof from Norway purchased dogs from Russia for the expedition of 1893–1896. It is believed that these were East Siberian huskies.
• After the collapse of the USSR, many nurseries of East Siberian huskies ceased to exist, which is why the animals were on the verge of extinction. Work is currently underway to restore the population.

Health of East Siberian Laikas

The life expectancy of VSL is 12–15 years. Since the breed is primitive, formed in natural conditions, the representatives have naturally good health. These dogs have not noticed any hereditary pathologies. But, of course, a lot depends on care. If the owner follows a diet, gives the pet high-quality food, and monitors the condition of its teeth, eyes, and coat, such a dog has every chance of living a long, active life.

Overeating can lead to health problems. But this is dangerous if the dog leads a sofa lifestyle. A working dog is usually not overweight.

Socialization

Early socialization will allow you to raise a friendly and obedient dog. From an early age, it is necessary to take the puppy in your arms and pet it so that it quickly gets used to people. In a family circle, the dog is capable of becoming a loyal friend and companion; he is wary of strangers.

Pets are perceived as prey. Therefore, it is undesirable to keep cats and birds in the same area. Laika is aggressive towards other dogs. She has a great instinct to protect her territory.

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