West Siberian Laika
A fast, tireless hunting spitz from Western Siberia, among the most widespread hunting dogs in Russia.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–62 cm · Females 51–58 cm
- Weight
- Males 18–23 kg · Females 16–21 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- White, Grey, Red, Black, Piebald
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Guarding
- Country of origin
- Russia
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 306 · 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 | 2/5 – 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 most of your free time outdoors
- have experience with working spitz breeds
- live rurally with a secure garden
Think twice if you …
- have cats or small pets
- want a relaxed companion
- live in a flat
Care
Temperament
Energetic, alert and loyal, it is affectionate with its owner but reserved with strangers. It has a very strong hunting drive and can be quarrelsome with dogs.
Exercise
It needs hours of activity daily; hunting, tracking, long hikes and canicross are good outlets.
Grooming
The dense double coat needs brushing a few times a week and more during the moult.
Training
It is intelligent but independent; patient, consistent, reward-based training works best, and recall is a lifelong project.
Health
A hardy breed with few documented inherited problems; hip dysplasia is occasionally reported. 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 West Siberian Laika was standardised in the mid-twentieth century from the hunting dogs of the Khanty and Mansi peoples of the Ural and Western Siberian forests. It is a versatile hunter used on fur-bearing animals, birds and large game, and it is the most common laika in Russia.
It is a dog of enormous stamina and drive. With its owner it is loyal and affectionate, but it is independent, wary of strangers and often not friendly with other dogs or pets. It needs a hunter's lifestyle or an equally active home with plenty of space, routine and secure fencing.
Did you know?
West Siberian Laikas often work silently while searching and only start barking once they have found and stopped the game.