Yakutskaya Laika

The Yakutskaya Laika has a strong desire for freedom and a pronounced prey drive. To offer this willing hunting and sled dog a species-appropriate life, regular exercise to tire it out is necessary. Running and pulling are among its favourite activities, making canicross suitable for the breed.

Athletic people can accompany the quick Northern Light while riding, jogging, skiing, and skating. Yet, its intelligent mind and keen nose also require stimulation. Through creative intelligence games and scent work, the Yakutskaya Laika can demonstrate its cleverness.

Cooling down the Yakutskaya Laika 

Its thick, warming coat makes the Yakutian Laika perfectly adapted to the Arctic climate of its Siberian homeland. The summers in more southern areas can become problematic for the breed. 

During high temperatures, it’s crucial to provide cooling – for instance, with cooling mats or a dog pool.  

The dense coat of the Yakutskaya Laika should be brushed once a week. During the moulting period, coat care should become a daily task on its owner’s to-do list.

Good to know: Brushing distributes an oily film over the hair, which acts as a water repellent and gives the coat a beautiful shine.

The Yakutskaya Laika requires high-protein food

The Yakutian Laika needs protein-rich food. It is not accustomed to grains and vegetables, as no agriculture can be conducted on the permafrost soils of its northern Russian homeland.

This dog breed can’t digest carbohydrates in the form of legumes and grain due to the lack of an enzyme that breaks down the contained starch.

Therefore, wet food with a high percentage of vegetables or wheat, dry food, and snacks containing grain are not suitable for this Nordic breed. Instead, high-quality dog food with a high meat content should be fed. Alternatively, biologically appropriate raw feeding, or BARF, is a choice for the dog.

The Yakutian Laika is generally a healthy breed. The sometimes harsh living conditions of its North Siberian homeland have resulted in only the strongest individuals surviving and reproducing.

However, hereditary diseases are occasionally seen in breeds propagated abroad.

This dog breed can be prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. Cancer, particularly colon cancer, is also a common ailment.

Animals with white fur and blue eyes have an increased risk for deafness and hereditary eye diseases.

How long does the Yakutskaya Laika live?

The average life span of this resilient hunting and sled dog is about 12 years. Adequate exercise and a species-appropriate diet with high protein content significantly contribute to the Yakutian Laika’s health.

The Yakutian Laika has been owned by the peoples of Northeast Siberia since ancient times. Archaeological findings confirm that these thrifty quadrupeds lived in the Yakutia region 8,000 years ago.

The alternative name Kolyma-Indigirka Laika comes from the two large rivers of its homeland.

The indigenous people used these dogs for hunting and as sled dogs, and also as herding dogs for reindeer flocks. In times of need, they served as a source of meat and were used in religious ceremonies as offerings.

Saved from extinction

In the early 20th century, various sled dog breeds of Siberian peoples were brought to Alaska, including the Yakutskaya Laika. With these animals, the Norwegian dog sled driver Leonhard Seppala founded the breeding of the Siberian Husky.

With advancing industrialisation, the importance of the Yakutian Laika in its Russian homeland waned: traditional dog sleds were increasingly replaced by modern snowmobiles for cargo transport.

In the ’90s, the breed was considered to be at risk of extinction. However, dedicated breeders were able to secure its preservation.

Provisional recognition by the FCI

Only at the end of the ’50s was a detailed description of the Nordic dog breed written. Since 2005, there has been an official breed standard set by the Russian Kennel Club.

In 2019, the Yakutskaya Laika was eventually provisionally recognised by the canine umbrella organisation FCI.