The East Siberian Laikas are one of the four pure-bred specialized in hunting and herding that originate from East Siberia, more exactly east of Yenisei River. The Laika families are versatile dogs, living with the natives from north Europe and Siberia, mainly from the polar desert and tundra zone, and although they are specialized in herding reindeer and pulling sleds, they show good hunting qualities too.
The word Laika comes from “layat” which means “to bark”, making any hunting Laika a bark pointer. The breed was standardized by the wildlife biologist K.G.Abramov in 1947 based on the breed living in the Amur River region, generally used for hunting and pulling sleds. By the late 1960s, the breed began to disappear near big cities and closer to Amur River. The Irkutsk Governments Kennel began systematically breeding the dog with pedigree registration.
The East Siberian Laika is the largest pure breed from the Laikas family, almost square in proportion, with a Spitz-type head and erected ears, the males having a height of 22-26 in (56-66 cm) at the shoulder and females 20-24 in (51-60 cm). They have a broad and muscular chest with a slightly arched loin and a sickle or ring shape tail. They are a diverse conglomerate breed, varying in color and physique, with different types: Evenki, Irkusk, Yakutia, Amur and Tofolar. Their coat is a double medium long, with a thick woolly undercoat, longer around the neck and shoulders (in males, this gives them that lion look). As per colors, they include black and white, completely black, red, gray and brown of any shade. Light patches are common and are called karamis.
Siberian Laikas are a breed devoted and obedient in nature, creating a strong and dependable relationship with their owner, who needs to show guidance and leadership to their Laika. Usually, they are not aggressive towards people but it does not mean they cannot become a good watch dog, especially since they have a strong territorial instinct. They will protect your home and will show aggression against other dogs of the same sex. Being an intelligent dog, they will fight over territory, food, potential partner, but never for the pleasure of killing other dogs.
Eager to please their owner, they respond very well with training, learning easily almost any task the trainer will try to teach them. Keep in mind that its strong character requires a strong trainer and an owner that will establish dominance along with trust and respect. They are a hunting breed, meaning they can take on anything, from rabbits to wild boar and mountain lions, but will not hunt animals from the same household, and, with proper training, they can restrain themselves from hunting other animals around their living areas.
Siberian Laikas are still rare outside their motherland, and purchasing one can be difficult and expensive; they make a great addition to any family household, whether it is a house with a yard or a city apartment, as long as their daily exercise requirements are being met.
