Russian Laika Dog Breeds

The Laikas of Russia are a group of poorly-defined canine breeds that share a common geographic origin (Siberia) and certain characteristics in common, such as a fairly long double coat, erect ears, and a well-developed hunting instinct.

The All-Union Cynological Congress of 1947 in what was then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics defined and established breed registries for four Laika breeds: the West Siberian Laika, the East Siberian Laika, the Russo-European Laika, and the Karelo-Finnish Laika. It is said that some of these new breeds were in fact arbitrary amalgamations of multiple regional landrace groups. The Karelian Bear Dog breed in western countries is in fact virtually identical to the Russo-European Laika Russian breed, and the Finnish Spitz identical to the Karelo-Finnish Laika.

Recently the Laika group has had several additions. The Reindeer Herding Laika of the Nenets people is said to be the origin of the Samoyed breed now found in western countries. The Yakutian Laika, whose status is still under discussion, is said to derive from sleddogs from what is now the Republic of Sakha in eastern Siberia mixed with Nenets stock. An effort is under way to preserve landrace sleddogs of the Amur River region. Also the Chukotka Draught Dog and the Kamchatka Sled Dog should probably also be considered a part of the Laika group.