The Russian-European Laika is a balanced dog breed with a square appearance and triangular head. It is known for its bravery and hunting abilities, as well as its strong bond with its family.
General details
The breed has a medium size, with a height ranging between 52 and 58 centimeters in males, and between 49.5 and 56 centimeters in females. The breed's weight varies between 18 and 25 kilograms and its life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years. The Russian-European Laika belongs to Group 5 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which includes Spitz-type and primitive-type dogs.
Breed history in brief
Russian-European Laika is a breed of hunting dogs originating from the forested areas of Europe in Russia. The first records of dogs of the breed in northern Russia date back to 1895, mentioned as Cheremis and Zyrianskiy Laïkas. In 1947, the Laïkas of Arkhangelsk, Komi, Karelia and other regions were unified into a breed called Russian-European Laika. The breed standard was approved in 1952, and the modern type of Russian-European Laika is the result of a long period of selective breeding.
Breed characteristics
The Russian-European Laika is a medium-sized dog with a square appearance. It has a slender wedge-shaped, triangular head, with oval eyes with a lively and intelligent expression. Its ears are erect, of moderate size and pointed shape. The tail may be sickle-shaped or curled.
The outer coat is harsh and smooth, while the undercoat is dense, thick and woolly. The head and ears have short, dense hair, forming side whiskers and a ruff around the neck. As for color, the most common color is black and white or black and white, although there may also be solid black or solid white specimens.
The Russian-European Laika is characterized by a confident and balanced temperament. They are courageous and self-confident dogs, which makes them excellent working companions. In addition, they possess an outstandingly developed sense of smell, which makes them adept at detecting prey during the hunt.
Common health problems
Information on the most common diseases in the Russian-European Laika breed is very limited. Even so, it is likely to be predisposed to some of the most common disorders in dogs such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.
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