West Siberian Laika

Other name: Zapadno-Sibirskaïa Laïka

Photo: adult dog of West Siberian Laika breed
© joppo / Shutterstock
Photo: adult dog of West Siberian Laika breed
© Maria Konkova / Shutterstock

This sturdy Siberian hunter is as business-like as he is beautiful. A mid to large-sized dog, there is some variation in his precise qualities as different populations of the West Siberian Laika have been adopted and developed by humans at different points in history. Wolf-like in appearance, the West Siberian Laika shares an aesthetic appeal with Asian cousins such as the Japanese Kishu Ken and Korean Jindo Dog. He is energetic and can become aggressive if poorly trained; he can also be a stubborn fellow. Perhaps this is why he is considered a worker first and foremost. As for the most famous Laika dog of all, yes the first dog in space was named Laika (which means barker) but she was actually a Bitzer who just happened to have that name.

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Life expectancy

The West Siberian Laika has a life expectancy of between 11 and 13 years

Temperament

Size

Medium

Adult size

Female Between 20 and 23 in
Male Between 22 and 24 in

Adult weight

Female Between 44 and 66 lb
Male Between 44 and 66 lb
Coat colour
Brown Red White
Type of coat
Hard Long
Eye colour
Brown
Good to know

It is quite difficult to track down a West Siberian Laika pup to raise in the UK.

More details about the West Siberian Laika

West Siberian Laika: Origins and history

The Laika is an ex-wolf, hence his hunting instincts. He developed over the centuries in Russia among the Hanty and Mansi cultures in the Ural Mountains and West Siberia, and was used to hunt sable among other creatures until the sable became near-extinct and the fur industry no longer demanded it. After that the West Siberian Laika struggled, and numbers dipped until the 1900s, when efforts were made to restore him and his close cousins, the Karelo-Finnish Laika, Russo-European Laika, and East Siberian Laika.

FCI classification of the West Siberian Laika

  • Group 5 - Spitz and primitive types

  • Section 2 : Nordic Hunting Dogs

Training a West Siberian Laika

It can be rewarding to train this clever boy, but due to his independent streak it is a challenge that should only be approached by experienced pedagogues. 

West Siberian Laika: Purchase price

We do not have enough data to set and average price. Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £70 to £100 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.

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