East Siberian Laika
A large, enduring Siberian hunting spitz that tracks game across vast forests and needs work and space.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 56–64 cm · Females 53–61 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–28 kg · Females 18–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- Black, Black and tan, Grey, Red, Brown, White, Piebald
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Guarding, Sledding
- Country of origin
- Russia
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 305 · Spitz & primitive types
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 1/5 – Very low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- hunt or spend long hours outdoors
- live rurally in a cold climate
- have experience with working spitz breeds
Think twice if you …
- live in a town flat
- keep cats or small pets
- want a dog for short walks only
Care
Temperament
Balanced, loyal and alert, it is friendly with its owner and reserved with strangers. It is independent and very determined when hunting.
Exercise
It needs a lot of daily exercise, ideally hunting, long hikes, tracking or pulling sports in cool weather.
Grooming
The thick double coat needs brushing a few times a week and much more during the moult.
Training
It is clever and can be cooperative but stays independent; consistent, reward-based training and recall work are important.
Health
A hardy breed with little published health data; hip dysplasia is the main concern screened for. Ask the breeder for hip and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The East Siberian Laika was standardised in the mid-twentieth century from the hunting dogs of eastern Siberia, around Lake Baikal, the Amur region and beyond. Local peoples used these dogs to hunt sable, squirrel, elk and bear, and sometimes to pull sledges.
It is the largest of the Russian Laika breeds and a true working dog: hardy, tireless and independent. It is calmer and more balanced than some laikas, loyal to its owner and moderately reserved with strangers. It still needs serious daily activity and has a strong hunting drive, so it is best suited to hunters or very active rural homes.
Did you know?
The East Siberian Laika is the largest and heaviest of the three Russian Laika breeds recognised by the FCI.