Sulimov's dog. Description, features, care and maintenance of the breed

Shalaika is a breed created by crossing a Nenets dog and a jackal. It also has other names: Sulimova’s dog, quadron, jackalaika. It was recognized only in 2022; it was bred not for decorative purposes, but as a service breed with an excellent sense of smell for searching for prohibited substances. It took Sulimov 7 years for selection.

photo: Shalaika or Sulimova’s dog

The history of the appearance of the jackal dog

Klim Sulimov is a scientist and dog handler who developed the Shalaika breed

Shalaika is a new breed of dog. It was officially registered and recognized by the RKF in 2022, but its history began much earlier.

We owe the appearance of the shalayka to a Russian biologist engaged in research in the field of cynology, Klim Sulimov. He created a hybrid of a jackal and a dog. Work began in 1973. Initially, the goal of this selection was to obtain a super dog that would help fight drug trafficking and illegal trade in rare wild animals. It was necessary to create a bloodhound with a unique sense of smell, capable of working in any conditions.

For these purposes, Sulimov chose the Central Asian common jackal and the Nenets reindeer herding dog (Laika). This was explained by the following factors:

• The jackal is 60% herbivore and has an excellent sense of smell for various plants, including those from which drugs are produced. In addition, it can live in hot conditions and can easily tolerate temperatures of 40 degrees. The jackal is small in size, which was also important for selection. The animal had to quietly crawl under the seats on the plane, without attracting people's attention while working.
• The reindeer husky also has a good sense of smell, has high intelligence, and can live and work in conditions down to minus 60–70 degrees.

But it was not possible to achieve the crossing of adult jackals and huskies - wild animals did not accept dogs. It was necessary to adapt them.

To do this, it was decided to take four-day-old jackal puppies for breeding and feed them to the husky. The kids grew up and recognized the dogs as their own. Selection work was carried out for 7 years. As a result, they managed to get the first offspring, which were half dogs, half jackals. But the individuals turned out to be unsuitable for training and work - they had too many genes of a wild animal that is terribly afraid of people.

The hybrids were once again crossed with a husky and obtained offspring that were only 25% jackal. These were the first puppies of Sulimov's dog, which were quickly dubbed Shalaykas.

These dogs are also called “quaterons” - from “quart”, that is, “quarter”. Other names for the breed are Shakalaika, Shabaka. The official name is jackal-dog.

The new dogs took the best from both the jackal and the husky. They are small, nimble, very smart, easily tolerate any natural conditions, and thanks to their small size they can crawl into any crevice. Their only drawback was that the dogs did not become attached to people - they could work well, but they did not perceive humans as owners. But it turned out that this is even better for the service - jackalaikas can calmly interact with various canine specialists.

Shalaika perfectly follows the commands of any dog ​​handler working at the airport.

Sulimov's dogs are bred in the kennel of the Aeroflot security service at Sheremetyevo Airport; now about 50 dogs live and work there. All conditions for living and training have been created for the animals. There are special rooms where situations for searching for harmful substances are simulated, and even an airplane in which the skill of searching for dangerous and unauthorized items is honed.

In the 80s and early 90s, dogs were successfully used to search for narcotic substances, with success rates reaching 95%. Shakalaikas also helped to find illegally transported animals or their parts (derivatives).

Sulimov's dogs have a unique sense of smell; they can even distinguish between traces of men and women by smell, which was of great assistance to law enforcement agencies.

In 2002, Russia faced the problem of terrorist attacks. It turned out that jackalaikas can help here too - detecting explosives even in minimal concentrations. Animals were specially trained to find hexogen, and they began to work in this direction.

Sulimov's dogs identify hexogen with great accuracy: for example, false recognition accounts for 1 case out of 200.

Video: Sulimova's super dog

Nutrition

The diet of Sulimov’s dogs takes into account the natural preferences of the original species: jackal and husky. The Asian jackal is practically omnivorous and does not disdain carrion and food scraps from garbage dumps. The Nenets Laika prefers food of animal origin.

Balanced food is prepared in the kitchen that exists in the kennel for service dogs. The four-legged diet contains natural meat, fish and other protein products. Vegetables are added. Vitamins and minerals are used as additional additives.

Description of the breed according to the RKF standard

The main job of the shalaika is to detect explosive or dangerous substances

The breed standard was approved by the Decision of the Presidium of SOKO RKF on June 15, 2018. Shalaika according to the FCI classification belongs to the fifth group - “Spitz and primitive dogs”.

The purpose of breeding is detection (recognition) of odors. The dog is intended for official use and airport security work.

Shabaka in appearance resembles a medium-sized husky and is below average in height. The animal is of regular build, agile, harmonious, almost square in format. The ratio of body length to height at the withers is 10:9. The difference between males and females is not particularly pronounced outwardly.

Size and weight:

• height 38–42 cm (deviation within 3 cm is allowed);
• weight not less than 7 kg and not more than 15 kg.

The peculiarity of the dog's appearance: in its muzzle and head structure it is similar to its wild relatives - jackals. This is expressed in the look, the shape of the eyes, facial expressions, and mobile, medium-sized erect ears.

The shawl has a non-massive muzzle with very well developed whiskers (vibrissae). The limbs can be described as dry, strong, but at the same time graceful. The short tail is normally carried over the back. The eyes are very expressive, the color varies from light to dark brown.

Sulimov's dogs are very active. Their movements are free and easy, well coordinated and fast. Running is characterized by trotting and ambling, easily turning into a gallop.

The medium-length coat is characterized by the so-called wild type of hair, the guard hair is coarse, the undercoat is soft. Outwardly, this makes the dog bulkier.

Jackalayas have a special structure of paws (front and rear). The middle pads can be fused, resembling a heart in shape. This structural feature, inherited from the jackal, is regarded as a morphological characteristic desirable for the breed.

White markings are allowed in any color variant of the shawl.

There are many color options for dogs of this breed. The most common:

• zonal gray;
• zone-red;
• red of varying intensity;
• sable;
• with or without a dark mask.

All colors can have white markings, perhaps a small speck.

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Disadvantages and disqualifying vices

Airport workers focus not on external data, but on the service qualities of the dog

Any deviation from the characteristics described in the Jackal Dog breed standard should be considered a fault:

• roughness or looseness of build, short legs;
• pronounced tilt of the body;
• raw lips or eyelids;
• narrow shallow chest;
• motionless hanging tail;
• straightened angles of the front or hind limbs;
• saber tail;
• lack of undercoat;
• straight, soft, silky coat.

Disqualifying faults:

• aggressiveness and excessive cowardice;
• obvious physical or behavioral abnormalities;
• long hair, tight curl or cords on any part of the body;
• bobtail, docked tail;
• semi-erect or hanging ears;
• flesh-colored nose;
• undershot, overshot, jaw misalignment;
• absence of fangs;
• fangs growing into the gums or palate;
• blue eyes, odd eyes;
• clumsiness, constrained movements;
• blue, brindle, marbled color;
• smooth coat.

Particular attention is paid to male dogs, which should have two normally developed testes, completely descended into the scrotum.

Behavioral characteristics of Sulimov's dog

Jackalayas have no sense of attachment to humans

The breed got its character from jackals. Dogs are so independent that they do not show any affection to humans and work only in exchange for treats. Close communication with a person is avoided.

Despite this, Sulimov's dogs are very friendly and easy to train. They have a high level of intelligence and a cheerful and lively temperament. From an early age, puppies demonstrate extraordinary intelligence in performing complex tasks.

Animals can communicate very well with each other, demonstrating amazing abilities that are completely unusual for dogs. This breed is not intended to be a companion and will never be on friendly terms with its owner.

A case is described when a six-month-old puppy got a bone stuck in his throat and he did not give in to either his instructor or other people, but only accepted help from an adult shalaik, freezing and allowing him to get the bone.

Calm old age

In many departments that have their own canine service, there is a set period for the work of animals at certain facilities - 8 years. The experience of dog handlers shows that this is the optimal age to end a “career”.

In adult dogs, their metabolism gradually slows down and they become less active. Because of this, it is more difficult for them to work: airport patrol involves a fairly high pace and serious workload. Older shalaikas cannot withstand intense work and end their careers in the airline dog service, and are replaced by younger and more active “colleagues”.

When a dog approaches its age limit, dog handlers begin to look for a family or shelter for their charges. Indeed, despite a slight decrease in working qualities, the animal remains active and healthy in order to spend several more full years of its life with its new owners.

All airlines strive to find a new home for every four-legged “retirement” who served on them. Many dogs are taken in by dog ​​handlers themselves: almost every specialized service worker has at least one shala. The rest are placed in reliable and proven shelters, where the animals are guaranteed to have decent living conditions.

Choosing a puppy and price

Shalaika puppies need early socialization, otherwise the dog will be overly cowardly.

It is not possible to buy a jackal dog puppy for private ownership. These animals are bred exclusively for work.

Theoretically, choosing a puppy is quite difficult - the breed does not have strict color requirements; individuals are very diverse in appearance. One litter can have puppies with different coat types. To an inexperienced dog breeder it may seem like these are just mongrels.

Since the dog is for official use, the experts have their own criteria: it must have good search data and dominant properties, and this is inherited. Therefore, to choose a good puppy, you need to look at the pedigree: more jackal genes mean that the dog has a better sense of smell.

The Aeroflot nursery employees themselves say that these puppies are priceless.

Sulimov's dog can only fall into private hands in old age or if due to some disqualifying defects it cannot be hired.

Our days

Jackalayas began to be used as search dogs only in 2002. Before this, quadroons were used by the KGB in the laboratory of the ECC of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, after which exactly twenty-five individuals were sent to Sheremetyevo, where most often they had to look for dangerous explosives, something that the equipment would not see. In 2022, the jackalaika was added to the list of official breeds of the Russian Federation by the Russian Canine Organization. In fact, breeding of this breed is still ongoing. Unfortunately, you will not be able to buy such a pet dog for yourself, but it is difficult to call him a pet, the jackal genes do not sleep.

Care

The general principles of caring for a shawl do not differ from the requirements for keeping any breed of dog.

Shabaka does not require special care. This unique breed can live in any conditions: both cold and hot. Like huskies, these animals sometimes shed; during this period, it is advisable to comb out the hair that falls out.

Representatives of the breed treat water well, but they need to be bathed only when necessary. They eat little; these animals do not need to trim their claws.

At the Sheremetyevo kennel, dogs are kept in special enclosures. To maintain their performance, they require a balanced diet: meat, cereals, vegetables, vitamins, as well as active walks and fresh air.

Kinds

To date, only the breed group has been registered, which includes Sulimova’s unique dog. This means that the breeding process is still ongoing. But a positive result of hybridization between a dog and a jackal has been achieved.

People have been producing such hybrids for a long time. Efforts are being made by individual breeders and groups of scientists from specialized scientific institutes. In addition to the domestic dog, jackals, wolves, and other canines may be possible accomplices in obtaining a hybrid. The domestic dog is often selected from the Spitz group.

When breeding unusual breeds of dogs, the union of a German shepherd and a wolf turned out to be in demand. The offspring of this union became the basis for the creation of at least three hybrids. All three were created as service dogs.

The Saarloos wolf dog was bred in Holland. The selection process began in the 30s of the twentieth century and ended with the recognition of the breed in the 80s of the twentieth century. The breed was bred as a service breed. But the predominance of wolf traits in the character makes its use very limited.

In the mid-twentieth century, a similar experiment began in Czechoslovakia. High-breed German shepherds and wolves captured in the Carpathians became the founders of a new breed: the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. The result is a universal, strong, courageous dog that gets along well with humans. It was recognized as an independent breed in 1999.

In Italy in 1966, a hybrid of an Apennine wolf and a German shepherd of pure blood was bred. The Italian Lupo was bred as a working dog. Now in the city of Kumyan (province of Piedmont) there is a state breeding nursery. Dogs have shown their best ability in finding people in rubble after avalanches and earthquakes.

Sulimova’s domestic breed, a mixture of jackal and husky, is superior in many qualities to hybrids of a German shepherd and a wolf, and in solving search problems it has no equal.

Attempts to create hybrids of canines not domesticated by humans and domestic dogs are ongoing. Sometimes this happens against a person’s will, in natural conditions. But such natural experiments do not give stable results.

Training

One of the types of training is special bookmarks, among which the shalaika must detect a dangerous or prohibited substance

Sulimov's dogs are very trainable. Training begins at 10 months. This age is considered optimal for starting training to search for explosives and narcotic substances. For training, specially equipped rooms and bookmarks at the airport are used. Dogs need exercise every day - only then will they be able to work efficiently.

Diet of huskies

The nutrition of the husky must be approached with the utmost seriousness, since the life expectancy of the tailed pet completely depends on it.

Natural nutrition

A properly balanced natural diet for a husky should include the following components:

• Boiled beef should make up 30–50% of the nutritional diet. It is not recommended to feed raw meat to prevent worms from appearing.
• Sometimes it is useful to include fish in your diet. This component will help strengthen the skeleton. The fish should also be boiled.
• Cottage cheese, nuts and dried fruits are necessary to prevent the occurrence of diseases associated with teeth and skeleton. All these products contain a lot of calcium.
• Cereals - buckwheat, egg, pearl barley, rice, oatmeal - should make up approximately 20-30% of the total diet.
• Vegetables and fruits - in particular, carrots or cabbage. They must be given raw. Sometimes garlic is added to food to prevent worms. Vegetables and fruits contain vitamins that your dog needs.

All large components must be crushed and mixed with the rest of the food.

It is necessary to make sure that the dog always has fresh water. It is recommended to change it twice a day.

It is prohibited to use sweets, flour and smoked foods, and spices in the dog’s diet.

Milk, kefir and fermented baked milk can cause obesity and diseases of the dairy tract, impair vision and lead to loss of smell. They can only be given to puppies under 4 months of age.

Dry food

It is not customary to give dry food to dogs - they can negatively affect the dog’s liver and kidneys. This type of food is convenient to use in minimal quantities for reward during the training process. It is not allowed to use dry and natural food at the same time.

Vitamins and supplements

It is recommended that huskies be given raw bones to chew on. In this case, in addition to teeth training, the dog receives some nutrients and vitamins.

It is considered mandatory to add vitamins to food. It would be right if they were prescribed by a veterinarian.