The Yakutian Laika was created in the harsh climates of Siberia where only the strong would survive. This medium-sized spitz is a multi-purpose dog used for sled pulling, herding and hunting. As such, today he is a versatile breed who enjoys numerous outdoor activities with his owner! The breed is clever, lively and affectionate – an excellent companion for active people and/or families. When raised with children, he is superb with them and can be very gentle.
The Yakutian can make a good watchdog as he will alert to the presence of strangers on the property, however he is not suited to guard dog work. Although slightly reserved around strangers initially, he enjoys making friends and is simply too friendly to be any real threat. Any type of aggression is extremely rare in this breed. He also gets along very well with other dogs, particularly those in his own household (no surprise there, as he would often work on sled dog teams). His friendliness doesn’t always extend to other species, however. The hunting background can make some individuals iffy around cats and other small animals. When raised with an indoor-only cat, it is possible for the Yakutian to accept his feline housemate but this does depend on the particular dog.
Yakutian Laikas do shed seasonally, and during this time the shedding can be quite extreme! Owners must make sure to brush very frequently during these time periods – as often as every day. Other than this, the breed doesn’t require any special trimming other than neatening up underneath the feet. Nail care, ear care, and the occasional bath are also necessary procedures, and it should be noted that Yakutians aren’t noted to have an excessive odor.
Yakutians, like all other sledding breeds, have a lot of energy that must be mitigated through daily exercise. For owners that don’t live in snowy regions, this breed enjoys sled-like experiences such as bikejoring (running in front of a bicycle) or even pulling a dog-powered cart. Obviously, those that do live in the snow are happiest when pulling an actual sled or participating in skijoring (running while towing a person on skis)! As might be imagined, this is an endurance dog and needs the types of exercise that reflect this. A walk around the neighborhood is not enough.
The Yakutian Laika must live inside the home or with a family who can spend plenty of time outside with the dog. This is a very social and faithful breed that was raised with the family and never expected to spend long periods of time alone. They enjoy playing, whether it be in a game of fetch, a romp around the yard or a hiking adventure with their people – they want to be active with you! When living with a family, they tend to pick a favorite person and this favorite often is the person who spends the most time with the dog.
Yakutians are smart people-pleasures that learn very new commands very quickly. This said, they have a stubborn streak! Although they do enjoy training when it’s on their terms (which is why they can learn quickly), once they become bored or during the corrective phases of training tend to show their stubborn sides. Although intelligent, they can be independent and want to do things their own way rather than yours. They respond more favorably to positive methods of training, however corrections are a necessary aspect of training. Be mindful and always fair with corrections (these submissive dogs don’t require a lot), and guide the dog towards your goals while keeping in mind his individual temperament!
