Zapadno Sibirskaia Laika

Zapadno Sibirskaia Laika or West Siberian Laika or  is one of the four hunting Laika breeds established in Russia by the All-Union Cynological Congress of 1947 and registered by the Moscow Kennel Club. Although this breed bears a resemblance to the Siberian Husky it is considered a hunting breed rather than a sleddog.

The West Siberian Laika- WSL- is a hunting breed developed by the indigenous people of Northern Ural and West Siberia. They used Laikas mostly for treeing squirrels and hunting small predators with valuable fur. Communism in Russia destroyed the traditional way of life of these people and brought them and their hunting dogs to the brink of extinction.

Industrialization in Siberia introduced many new breeds of dogs to this region. Crossbreeding with them completely wiped out the last remains of pure bred indigenous Laikas. Many Russian hunters from big cities such as Sverdlovsk and Moscow were aware of this process. They tried to save the last exemplars of Laikas. The first attempts to establish the West Siberians as a modern hunting breed was made in the 1920s.

History: The breed was gradually established in the mid twentieth century by selective sampling of Laikas (the word “Laika” simply means “barker”) from the Mansi (Voguls) and Hanty (Ostyak) peoples of western Siberia. In the 1920 decade there were two centers of breed development in Sverdlovsk and Moscow. 

By the 1950s, Soviet government kennels had become heavily involved in development of the breed and new centers had arisen in Gorky, Perm and Novosibirsk. The Russian cynologist E. I. Shereshevsky was highly instrumental in this work, as team leader of the government Kennel of the All-Union Research Institute for Hunting Industry. By the 1960s the breed had become the most popular Russian hunting dog.

Appearance: Males stand 19 to 20 inches at the withers, females 18 to 19 inches. The most usual colors are wolf grey, red, or black and white; the grey coat can vary from almost white to very dark grey. Facial and body markings similar to those of other arctic breeds are usual. Ears are erect, the coat is an arctic-type double coat, the tail is curled tightly. Body proportions are nearly square.

The Russian Standards for West Siberian Laikas changed several times/1947-1966 -1979-etc./. Usually Males stand 19 to 20 inches at the shoulder, females 18 to 19 inches. Most of the modern dogs today are bigger and heavier than their original ancestors. Typical for all Laikas are, erect, triangular ears and a tail that is carried high curving over the back . The coat is a so called double type observed in wolves and most of the polar dogs. Hair that is too long, too soft, curly or growing in all directions is a sure sign of mixed blood. Standard colors are gray, rusty, and white.

The gray coat can vary from almost white to very dark. Brown or shades of browns are absolutely unacceptable. Many dogs imported from Asia /Kazakhstan/ have such a fault as a result of crossbreeding with German Shepherds and other breeds. Black, or black and white WS Laikas, frequently appear in litters and are considered by old descrptions of indigenous Laikas as pure bred. This color is unwanted today, because of its associations with the other Russian Laika-the so called Russo Europeans-that have exactly the same color. The real difference between those two breeds is in the shape of the body and head and most of all in the character of the West Siberians. Pure bred West Siberians are not so nervous or easily excited as other breeds of Hunting Laikas. They display such a brave, cool, and calculating type of behavior even in the most dangerous situations. It comes as a package along with the ability to work on big game and to track very old, “cold” tracks.

Temperament: West Siberian Laikas are versatile hunting dogs capable of hunting both small mammals (squirrel and marten, for example) or big game such as moose, bear, or wild boar. They can also be used as retrievers by hunters of waterfowl. By nature they are independent hunters, accustomed to hunting in broad expanses of deep forest; they are quite protective of their masters against big game in the wilderness. With other dogs they are highly dominant and will readily fight to establish hierarchical superiority.

Originally, West Siberian Laikas were pro dogs for pro hunters. They can work as versatility dogs, but their strength is in their ability to specialize on one type of game only. Professional hunters want their dog to be focused on the game with the most valuable fur. Laikas working on sable and pine marten were, and still are, the most valuable. Such selection is fully understandable. In the nineteenth century the money from one silver-black sable pelt supported a family of four for a year. Because of this, the dogs that worked on every kind of game were killed or kept out of breeding. West Siberians are the last breed of hunting Laikas that still preserve this pro ability in their genes. This is what really differentiates them from other Hunting Laikas and makes them so unique.

They are capable of specializing on one game only and master hunting it to perfection.Today, careful training is paramount for a WSL to perform at its best. Depending on how it is trained, a West Siberian Laika can hunt squirrels, pine marten, or sable; or big game such as moose, bear, or wild boar. Some hunters prefer training their West Siberians for birds, such as Capercaillies, pheasants, or waterfowl. Properly raised and trained West Siberians make a tight bond with their masters and never loose contact with them in the forest or in the field. It is like a Symbiotic team created for successful hunting. West Siberians are poor guardians at home or for domestic stock. On the other hand during hunting big and dangerous game they are capable of protecting their human partners to the bitter end.Hot climate is a problem for West Siberians imported directly from North Eurasia.

When a litter is born in the USA, the chances for adapting to local temperatures, even in Florida, are better. West Siberians are selected for hunting and they live for it. Permanently keeping Laikas at home, on a chain, or in a cage is extremely harmful for them. If you do not have time or a place where you can hunt regularly with your WS Laika, it is not a dog for you. Highly territorial and aggressive with other dogs, WS Laikas cannot be kept properly in huge kennels. Two of them (usually male and female partners) are a good combination for hunting and breeding. The best way of bonding with a WSL is to raise and train it alone in an environment free of other dogs.

The introduction of this breed to the USA had a stormy beginning. Cheap crossbreeds named Laikoids were imported here, and kennels of “industrial” magnitude were established for making fast money.With the economical changes in Russia West Siberian Laikas lost their popularity there. Pro hunting is a dying profession and the new Russian Elite prefers “prestige” breeds of dogs imported from abroad. Luckily, American Hunters discovered the true potential of this breed and have recently imported some pure bred West Siberians to the US. Chances for this breed to prosper in America are good. More than 200 hunters in Alaska, Canada, and the Continental United States use this type of dogs today.

They became an important – American part of the huge family of Hunting, Sledding, and Herding Laikas living for millennia in Northern Eurasia. Preserving them in their original state is very important. Laikas, along with domestic Reindeer, are the oldest breeds of our civilization. They helped humanity to survive in the ice age.Changes in the climate usually work in both directions. Who knows — may be, we will need these breeds again in the future. West Siberian Laikas are a living monument to an ancient, very rich, and highly sophisticated indigenous culture. We must preserve this superior achievement of selection for our future generations.

Miscellaneous: Although the breed is thought to number around 20,000 in Russia, it is rare in the west; the U.S. and Canadian population is probably around 100.

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