East Siberian Laika

The breeding center of this hunting dog is the taiga and mountain regions of central and eastern Siberia. The East Siberian Laika is the product of crosses between different varieties of Laikas of the Tungus and Yakut peoples and the pre-Baikal and pre-Amur regions. The breed was recognized in 1947 and the first standard was written in 1949. The definitive standard was recognized in 1981. Nowadays, the East Siberian Laika is well spread in its region of origin, but also in the Irkutsk region, in western Russia and in Scandinavia.

The East Siberian Laika is described in the FCI standard as a stable and balanced dog, friendly, kind and trustworthy toward humans.

Medium-sized, the East Siberian Laika is a robust and compact spitz-type breed with solid bone structure and well-developed musculature. The body length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump is slightly greater than the height at the withers. Sexual dimorphism is well pronounced. Sickle-shaped or curled, the tail is carried erect or falling forward. If it is curled, it rests firmly on the croup or back of the thighs. The head is relatively large and very strong. Of medium size, the eyes are oval in shape and placed obliquely. The color of the eyes is brown, preferably dark. The ears are erect and triangular in shape. The East Siberian Laika has a coarse, tight and straight topcoat with a dense and supple undercoat. It forms around the neck and on the shoulders a collar and, in males, a mane on the withers. Accepted colors are black and tan, black, black and white, white and pie.