Laika (dog breed)

Fédération Cynologique Internationale uses the word Laika in the names of three standard breeds: Russian European Laika (FCI standard No. 304), West Siberian Laika (FCI 306), and East Siberian Laika (FCI 305), which had been bred from the aboriginal dogs of northern Russia and Siberia.

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  East Siberian Laika
• 
  West Siberian Laika
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  Russo-European Laika

The Yakutian Laika is a multi-purpose laika breed from the Sakha Republic, used both in bird and seal hunting, reindeer herding, and sled pulling. However, nowadays it is solely a sled dog.[1] So far it has been officially recognized in Russia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Nordic Countries, and Brazil. In the US, it has been accepted to the Foundation Stock Service by the American Kennel Club.

The Northeastern Hauling Laika is a sled dog from East Siberia. It is not known as a "laika" breed in its original country of Russia, but rather as the "Northeastern Sled Dog" (severo-vostochnaya yezdovaya sobaka), so in its case the term "laika" is simply international or Western use. It is typically 58 to 69 cms at height, weighing 34 to 50 kg, and its coat can occur in any colour.[2]It is currently unrecognized, even in Russia.

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  Yakutian Laika
• 
  Northeastern Hauling Laika

The Nenets Herding Laika, also known as the Reindeer Herding Laika or Olenegonka[3] is the ancestor of the Samoyed - bred by Nenets people. It is used as a reindeer herding dog in northeastern Europe and West Siberia.[4] Unlike the Samoyed, it has different colour variations, such as white, red, brown, sable, grey, black and piebald.[4][3] It is officially recognized in Russia and Estonia.

The Karelo-Finnish Laika, not listed in the FCI nomenclature, was a small Russian hunting dog, with the first standard published in Leningrad in 1936 by the Russian Kennel Federation. It was a close relative of the Finnish Spitz, as both breeds were bred from similar native dog populations.[5] In 2006, the Russian Kennel Federation and the Finnish Kennel Club decided to merge the Karelo-Finnish Laika and the Finnish Spitz together as only one breed (the Finnish Spitz). This helped to improve the gene pool of both the Russian and Finnish populations.[6]

In addition, the Russians have described a separate breed called the Karelian Laika (Карельская лайка), descending from the Old Karelian "Zverovoy" Laika.

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  Karelo-Finnish Laika
• 
  Karelian Laika

Other hunting Laika breeds or local variations that have been mentioned in international bibliographies include:

• Amur Laika: a hunting dog from Amur Oblast[7]
• Bashkir Laika: a hunting dog from Bashkortostan, developed by the Bashkirs[8]
• Cheremiss Laika: a hunting dog from the Mari El Republic, developed by the Mari people[9]
• Chootch Laika: a hunting dog from Siberia[9]
• Finno Laika: a hunting dog from the European part of Russia[10]
• Irkutsk Laika: a hunting dog from Irkutsk Oblast[7]
• Korel Laika: a hunting dog from the European part of Russia, probably named after Korelskoye[11]
• Lapland Laika: a hunting dog from the European part of Russia, especially "Russian Lapponia" (Murmansk Oblast)[11]
• Tofolar Laika: a hunting dog from Irkutsk Oblast, developed by the Tofalars[7]
• Tunguse Laika (also known as Evenki Laika[7]): a hunting dog from the Tungus Republic, developed by the Evenks[12]
• Vogool Laika: a hunting dog from Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, developed by the Mansi people[12]
• Zorian Laika: a hunting dog from the European part of Russia[12]