Yakutian Laika
A friendly, sturdy Arctic spitz from Yakutia, bred to pull sleds and herd reindeer and happy to be part of family life.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–59 cm · Females 53–57 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–25 kg · Females 18–23 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- White, Black, Grey, Brown, Red, Bicolour
- Bred for
- Sledding, Herding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Russia
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 365 · 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 | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 5/5 – Very high |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| 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 …
- want a friendly spitz for pulling sports or hiking
- live in a cool or cold climate
- have time for daily outdoor exercise
Think twice if you …
- live in a hot climate
- want a low-shedding dog
- can only offer short walks
Care
Temperament
Kind, lively and people-oriented, with a calm side indoors when its needs are met. Usually tolerant with children and other dogs, and more alert than guarding.
Exercise
Plan on at least an hour or two of activity daily; sledding, bikejoring, canicross and long hikes are ideal.
Grooming
Brush a few times a week and daily during the twice-yearly coat blow; never shave the double coat.
Training
Quick to learn and willing with positive methods, though its working independence means recall needs steady practice.
Health
Generally a robust breed; hip dysplasia and some inherited eye conditions have been reported. Hip, elbow and eye checks are usual for breeding dogs, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Yakutian Laika was developed by the peoples of Yakutia in north-eastern Siberia, who relied on it to pull sleds, help with reindeer and keep watch around settlements. Russian breeders set down a standard in the early 2000s, and the FCI accepted the breed provisionally in 2019.
It is a sociable, even-tempered spitz that usually likes people and other dogs. It needs real daily activity and enjoys pulling sports, but it also settles well in the house once exercised. The thick coat makes it at home in snow and uncomfortable in heat, and it sheds a lot during its seasonal moults.
Did you know?
The breed standard allows blue, brown or odd-coloured eyes, so a Yakutian Laika may have one blue and one brown eye.