Vostotchno-Sibirskaïa Laïka

Aliases Vostochno-Sibirskaïa Laïka

The East Siberian Laika (Vostotchno-Sibirskaia Laika) is a Russian breed of dog of spitz type, a hunting dog originating in parts of Siberia east of the Yenisei River.

The Laika breeds are Russian working dogs of the Northern type. Laika is the Russian word for 'barker' or 'barking dog' and is derived from the verb 'layat', which means 'to bark'. The breed's name thus simply means 'a dog that barks' in Russian, referring to the fact that the hunting laikas are bark pointers, dogs selectively bred for their barking abilities.

Six breeds belong to this group: West Siberian Laika, East Siberian Laika, Russian European Laika and Karelo-Finnish Laika, Northeasterly Hauling Laika and Nenets Herding Laika. The first four are hunting dogs for bear, elk, forest birds, which are also occasionally used for pulling sleds; one is a herding dog (which can also pull sleds) and one, the Hauling Laika, is a pure sled dog. They all have a tick, weather-resistant coat with woolly undercoat, a very strong and muscular neck and a feathered tail that is carried curled over the back when the dog is working.

All Laika breeds are very affectionate and loyal to their owner, sometimes to the point of being a one-man dog. They are wary of strangers and can be boisterous and noisy, which makes them particularly unsuitable for living in an apartment. They are very resistant and can survive in the harshest conditions, even when given only minimal care.

Appearance Males are 55 to 66 centimetres (22 to 26 in), while females are on the smaller side at 51 to 60 centimetres (20 to 24 in). Black and tan, with light patches (called karamis), grizzle, patched, ticked, white, grey, black, red and brown of all shades. There are two major types, the Evenki and the Irkutsk; other less important types are the Yakutia, Amur and Tofolar. These types vary in color and physique, as the ESL is still more of a diverse conglomerate breed than the other three Russian Laika breeds. Physically the ESL is somewhat rangy, nearly square in proportion, slightly higher at the withers than at the croup, robust in bone; head shape varies with the regional varieties. Ears are erect and triangular, the tail carried in a curve over the back. The coat is a medium long double coat with straight coarse guard hair and a soft thick undercoat. Purpose The ESL is a natural hunting dog used for a wide variety of small and large game, ranging from squirrels, marten, sable, and grouse to moose, bear, wild boar and mountain lions. They can also be used as sled dogs. Temperament Highly aggressive towards large predators, they are calm and well-tempered with people, although they can be good watchdogs and if encouraged will be protective against human intruders. Generally they seem to be good companion dogs. Origin and History The breed designation was established at the All-Union Cynological Congress in 1947, along with that of the other three Laika breeds. The breed originated with dogs from the Lake Baikal region, Irkutsk Province, Evenki National Territory, the Amur River basin and Maritime Territory. The first breed standard was set by wildlife biologist K. G. Abramov. Systematic breeding began in the 1970s in government kennels at Irkutsk and in Leningrad.

Breed: Hunting Height: 22-25 inches Weight: 40-50 pounds Coat Type: Coarse, dense and soft The East Siberian Laika is a beautiful breed that resembles a wolf. Also known as Laika de Siberie orientale, Ostsibirischer Laika and Vostotchno-Sibirskaia Laika, this dog is even tempered, calm, easy to train and very obedient. It is the largest among all the four hunting Laikas of Russia, others being West Siberian Laika, Russo-European Laika and Karelo Finnish Laika. The dog is mainly used for pulling sleds and is capable of hunting large games as well, such as elk, bear and wild boar. It has a strong hunting instinct and a notable sense of direction, because of which it is always able to find its way home. Though it is quiet, the dog makes a loyal companion and dependable watchdog. Read on further to know more about East Siberian Laika dogs. History The East Siberian Laika is known to have originated in the Lake Baikal (aka the Blue Eye of Siberia, which is the largest freshwater lake in the world) regions. The dog is said to have developed from the dogs found in the Lake Baikal region. Though its origin is not known, it is believed to descend from spitz type dogs, brought from the west by tribes that migrated to the Evinki National Territories, Irkitsk Province, Amur River Basin and Maritime Territory. Several dogs were cross-bred to develop the East Siberian Laika. Five main variants were developed, namely Evenki Laika, Jakutia Laika, Irkutsk Laika, Amur Laika and Tofolar Laika, which differed in size, head proportion, ear shape, tail carriage and coat color. The East Siberian Laika is known to have developed from the Evenki Laika. The first breed was standardized by wildlife biologist, K.G. Abramov in 1949. The breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1996. Appearance The East Siberian Laika is a large strong beautiful dog. It has a wedge-shaped head, with a broad skull. The muzzle is equivalent to the length of the skull. The breed mostly has a black nose, but some dogs are known to have brown noses too. The ears are triangular in shape and pricked. The oval shaped eyes are dark colored and slanting. The dog has a strong back, with a broad, slightly arched loin. The tail is either sickle- or ring-shaped. A sickle tail is either erect or curves towards the loin, while a ring shaped tail leans on the croup or buttocks. The medium length double coat has straight and harsh hair, which protects the dog. The undercoat is thick, wooly and soft. The coat color can range from white, black and grey to brown and red. The most common coat is the karamis coat, where the dog is black and tan colored with light patches. Temperament The East Siberian Laika has a calm and well balanced temperament, making it an affectionate and loyal companion. It makes a good watchdog, since it is highly alert and has an innate distrust of strangers. Since it is accustomed to frigid temperatures of Russia and requires extensive exercise, this dog cannot live in apartments. It blends well with children, especially if raised along with them. Genetic Diseases The East Siberian Laika dog has not yet been diagnosed with any kind of diseases and ailments. Grooming Though the East Siberian Laika has a longish dense coat, it does not require frequent maintenance. However, the hair should be brushed once or twice a week, by running the brush through the thick mane. Also, the dog should not be bathed too frequently to avoid removing the natural oils from the waterproof coat. Ears and teeth have to be cleaned more regularly.

East Siberian Laïka:

The East Siberian Laika is the largest of the four Russian hunting laikas that has been selectively bred strictly for its hunting capability. Males stand 22-26 inches at the withers and females are 21-24 inches at the withers for a weight range of 40 - 50lb (18-23 kg). It is a calm, good-natured and obedient dog.

The breed was developed from the working sled and hunting dogs of the indiginous people of the High Arctic. The dogs were later adapted to hunt large game such as bear and deer. The type was fixed in 1947.

A sign that this breed has kept close to the primitive dog is that the females come in estrus only once a year (just like the wolf), usually in January-March. To be allowed at dog shows, East Siberian Laikas must pass field trial tests. This ensures that the tempermant and capability for hunting are not comprised in favor of physical conformation to the breed standard.