Meet the breed - Yakutian Laika
We are slowly making the transition away from breeding less wolfdogs and siberians to focus more on this amazing, rare breed.
Yakutian Laika, a more unusual breed we imported from Russia. Like Siberian Huskies, they excel in sledding, but they are also used for hunting and herding.
Yakutian Laika, a more unusual breed we imported from Russia. Like Siberian Huskies, they excel in sledding, but they are also used for hunting and herding.
The Good
Yakutian Laikas are most often mistaken for a Samoyed or Border Collie mix, but they are their own, unique breed. Piebald and Irish Marked are the most common, but all combination of markings are allowed except solids, not counting solid white. Merle and brindle are also not found in the breed, and some, like our Blackbird, even have rear dewclaws.
Similar to Siberian Huskies, these are for the most part a MEDIUM sized dog, though some Yakutians do get a bit bigger. Most of ours fall in a 40-65 pound weight range.
They can make excellent partners for endurance sports, like sledding, jogging, and bikejoring, and most are as suitable for work as they are for show. Some breeders are even trying out herding with them, and one of my own has his novice trick dog title. Unlike Siberians, they are generally eager to please and easy to train, working for praise rather than treats.
While they are usually confident, they often have their favorite people and can be a bit more aloof towards strangers.
Similar to Siberian Huskies, these are for the most part a MEDIUM sized dog, though some Yakutians do get a bit bigger. Most of ours fall in a 40-65 pound weight range.
They can make excellent partners for endurance sports, like sledding, jogging, and bikejoring, and most are as suitable for work as they are for show. Some breeders are even trying out herding with them, and one of my own has his novice trick dog title. Unlike Siberians, they are generally eager to please and easy to train, working for praise rather than treats.
While they are usually confident, they often have their favorite people and can be a bit more aloof towards strangers.
The Bad
While the Yakutian Laikas are definitely my heart breed, the downside to them is definitely the noise. They are much more talkative than my Siberians, who I'd honestly call pretty quiet for the most part, while the Yakutian Laikas love to hear themselves. They are observant alert barkers and are generally the first to know if anyone or anything is out of place.
Their coats do require a bit more maintenance than the average standard coated Siberian. All that flashy white comes with the price of trying to keep it clean, and they do need a little brushing here and there.
The excess white can also come with deafness. I wanted to have all my Yakutian Laikas BAER tested but between COVID and the nearest clinics not being in my state or any of the bordering ones, I haven't been able to get it done, but I can identify a deaf puppy in a litter should I have one, and they are of course placed in pet homes only.
They do have some prey drive, the desire to chase small animals. If you have small pets, it is best to get a puppy and not only introduce them early on, but train your puppy to be respectful of the other animals.
Of all my nordic breeds, the Yakutian Laikas are the most sensitive to a harsh word or firm correction, and they tend to need a gentler hand.
Their coats do require a bit more maintenance than the average standard coated Siberian. All that flashy white comes with the price of trying to keep it clean, and they do need a little brushing here and there.
The excess white can also come with deafness. I wanted to have all my Yakutian Laikas BAER tested but between COVID and the nearest clinics not being in my state or any of the bordering ones, I haven't been able to get it done, but I can identify a deaf puppy in a litter should I have one, and they are of course placed in pet homes only.
They do have some prey drive, the desire to chase small animals. If you have small pets, it is best to get a puppy and not only introduce them early on, but train your puppy to be respectful of the other animals.
Of all my nordic breeds, the Yakutian Laikas are the most sensitive to a harsh word or firm correction, and they tend to need a gentler hand.
Further Reading
Nightside Nordic's Yakutian Laikas
Details about each individual can be found on their page, located in the menu under "Yakutian Laika."