West Siberian Laika review
Neutral reviews
anonymous
http://www.dogbreedslist.info/all-dog-breeds/West-Siberian-Laika.html#.XD0L-B-2LIU
This is not an apartment dwelling breed of dog. It is active and loves to explore its world, and a bored Laika is a Laika who is going to get into trouble in one way or the other to occupy its active mind.
anonymous
http://www.dogbreedslist.info/all-dog-breeds/West-Siberian-Laika.html#.XD0L-B-2LIU
This breed has a double coat and does shed a lot during the seasonal molt. However, once molted out and brushed he is manageable not much different than a German Shepherd or other dogs with double coats that shed. One important aspect to consider is that the WSL does not have natural dog body odor as with most modern breeds. A clean WSL even when wet does not smell "doggy". It will develop a warm climate coat once adapted to the warmth. The WSL is a naturally clean natured dog. Outside of seasonal shedding the breed is a clean companion. Its coat has the ability to naturally shed off dirt due to not having an oily coat as some modern dogs have.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is a Spitz breed native to Russia that naturally developed over many hundreds of years to meet the needs of the local tribes. Used for hunting a variety of prey, such as sables and squirrels, even today they are best suited to a working lifestyle.
anonymous
Medium in size, the muscular West Siberian Laika closely resembles their ancestor, the wolf, though can be distinguished easily by the bushy tail that curves over their back. This dog tends to form strong bonds with its family but is often suspicious of strangers and can take a long time to warm up to any new additions to the household. While fights are known to occur between male dogs, they can get along well with animals that they have been housed with since young.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is an ancient Spitz-type breed that comes from Ural and West Siberia. This breed was developed through very selective breeding of primitive hunting dogs used by the Voguls and Ostyak, two indigenous tribes. These dogs were actual descendants of wolves and primitive Spitz-type dogs and, because the gene pool has been kept fairly limited, modern specimens of the breed still retain much of their wild appearance and behavioral traits.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is a medium-sized breed but it is also a highly active breed. The best diet for this breed is an active or working dog formula, or perhaps a high-performance recipe. High protein and fat content is recommended to help this breed maintain his lean muscle mass while also providing for his energy needs. Like any dog, the West Siberian Laika can become obese with overfeeding so keep an eye on your dog’s body weight and condition.
4estfloor
I own a West Siberian Laika... And i will say this, If you cannot provide this dog with a full outdoor lifestyle, living outside, property to run around on, trees to stare into, things to hunt, then do NOT pursue buying this breed of dog. The yuppie city lifestyle will make this dog MISERABLE including yourself. Without the life he needs, he'll become a destructive piece of hell. They are damn near wild animals compared to your typical "dogs". These are not your regular breed of dog. They are very emotional, intelligent, very skilled hunters. They will be food aggressive. They are raised to be that way. You will not be able to man handle your dog like you do your pitbull or lab. These dogs grow up FAST like wild animals. From puppies to game in a matter of weeks naturally.. If allowed to, these dogs will den up underground like a coyote or wolf. Mine, is literally the smartest dog i have ever owned.
pet wise, If it didn't grow up with him, it's game. Neighbor cats will die. other dogs will get attacked if they wander into your yard (his territory). all people are barked at. NOTHING gets by him! BEST watch dog EVER. There is no other way around it. For my lifestyle, he's a great dog.
If you squirrel hunt and live in the country and know how to be sweet and treat your dog with love and not the Boot and F bombs, then these dogs will HUNT. But they need a soft up bringing. Very emotional dogs. I cannot stress that enough.
Riannon Sonsa
My dad had a male Laika, as he was living as a child/teenager in Siberia (around 45 years go). The dog was very family-friendly. My grandfather used the Laika to find his children in the Taiga (Wild Forest in Siberia), the dog was excellent for that.
The dog once attacked a chicken from their yard (they raised all their livestock themselves, without it they would starve...in supermarkets there were maybe sometimes bread, butter or something...). The grandfather beat the shit out of the dog for that and as my dad told me, the Laika never attacked anything ever again. Not livestock, not wildlife. So, it completely stopped being a hunter.
The dog was protective of the children, when they took him into the Taiga. I don´t know any encounters with big game (in the Taiga there were bears f.e.), but he was protective against strangers (not people from the village). Which unfortunately cost his life at some point. He was shot from a russian guy (a hunter I suppose), who was walking in the Taiga too. As far as I know, the Laika didn´t go into full blown attack, just barking & coming to close. (In the past dogs were never on leash when being on a walk, well nobody had a leash for theirs dogs...they were only on a chain when being in the yard).
Shortly after the death, my dad´s family got another Laika, which didn´t live long either. It ate something bad (not sure what, maybe it had a disease & it only showed similar symptoms of being poisoned...I don´t know) and the grandfather shot it.
The color of the first Laika was like a wolf, with a full mask. The tail wasn´t curly as in this video.
In the village there were a lot of Laikas, I think every family had one.
anonymous
West Siberian Laikas belonging to Mansi and Hanty often live in a close company of reindeer herds and they do not kill or attack them. In Russian villages and small towns, Laikas are well educated to ignore farm animals, such as cows, calves, pigs, goats and sheep. Small animals, such as cats, rabbits and poultry are most tempting. Laikas learn to leave alone cats living in the same household and ignore poultry. Rabbits seem irresistible to them and must be kept in sturdy enclosures. West Siberian Laikas learn to stay away from killing chickens, but even most reliable dogs may change to worse in a new place. With small animals, the training to inhibit attempts to kill works, but good results obtained in one situation should never be taken for granted in a new situation.
anonymous
West Siberian Laikas start fighting each other when they are very little puppies playing with each other. By age of eight weeks, dominance hierarchy among littermates is still not quite established, but fights become less frequent. A fight may erupt at any time, because some pups challenge a dominant one. During adult life of dogs, younger dogs, especially males, would challenge older males and try to resolve their problems by fighting. Generally, dogs belonging to one household and raised together since puppy age live in peace with each other. However, relationships among males introduced to each other as adults may remain tense for their lifetime.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is a very affectionate and devoted to the master dog. Majority of them barks at strangers approaching the house. The attitude to unfamiliar people varies individually and depending on the situation. Some dogs first bark and then wag their tails greeting the guest and allow to be petted. Many West Siberian Laikas are aloof with strange people, avoid hands and watch him suspiciously. Some dogs become protective over the master, his family and their property. There are many West Siberian Laikas accepting a new owner with difficulty and need time to adjust to a new place.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is primarily a hunting dog. Those thinking about purchasing one should understand this and expect the full package of traits present in a typical hunting Spitz. This is an emotional dog that is not only extremely affectionate and devoted to his master but very observant of his masters habits, and mood and can often foresee his intentions.
Positive reviews
anonymous
https://primitivedogs.com/west-siberian-laika-dog-characteristics/
The West Siberian Laika is the most popular and most numerous of the Russian Laikas and like its cousins it is primarily bred and used for big game hunting. However, that doesn’t mean this breed hasn’t been tried and tested in some other “roles”. On the contrary, apart from being an excellent hunting dog, WSL has proved its worth as a wonderful family companion and an incredible watchdog. Indeed, this Laika is usually very fond of all family members and is equally affectionate to every one of them. Of course, the primary owner gets the most of its attention and loyalty since he is literally the Alpha and Omega to this dog. Nonetheless, WSL will for sure enjoy the company of every other member of the household, including kids. Yeah, indeed, surrounded by its loved ones, Zapadno-Sibirskaïa Laïka can be very cheerful, silly, and eager to play. On top of that, this dog is very tolerant and careful with children. So, you can rest assured your kids will have a lot of fun with your Laika, but still, it is recommended that you supervise them since this is not some small and harmless dog.
Scottie Westfall
I love this breed!
tobydata
awsome breed!
Ra El
Beautiful dog
Neutral reviews
anonymous
http://www.dogbreedslist.info/all-dog-breeds/West-Siberian-Laika.html#.XD0L-B-2LIU
This is not an apartment dwelling breed of dog. It is active and loves to explore its world, and a bored Laika is a Laika who is going to get into trouble in one way or the other to occupy its active mind.
anonymous
http://www.dogbreedslist.info/all-dog-breeds/West-Siberian-Laika.html#.XD0L-B-2LIU
This breed has a double coat and does shed a lot during the seasonal molt. However, once molted out and brushed he is manageable not much different than a German Shepherd or other dogs with double coats that shed. One important aspect to consider is that the WSL does not have natural dog body odor as with most modern breeds. A clean WSL even when wet does not smell "doggy". It will develop a warm climate coat once adapted to the warmth. The WSL is a naturally clean natured dog. Outside of seasonal shedding the breed is a clean companion. Its coat has the ability to naturally shed off dirt due to not having an oily coat as some modern dogs have.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is a Spitz breed native to Russia that naturally developed over many hundreds of years to meet the needs of the local tribes. Used for hunting a variety of prey, such as sables and squirrels, even today they are best suited to a working lifestyle.
anonymous
Medium in size, the muscular West Siberian Laika closely resembles their ancestor, the wolf, though can be distinguished easily by the bushy tail that curves over their back. This dog tends to form strong bonds with its family but is often suspicious of strangers and can take a long time to warm up to any new additions to the household. While fights are known to occur between male dogs, they can get along well with animals that they have been housed with since young.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is an ancient Spitz-type breed that comes from Ural and West Siberia. This breed was developed through very selective breeding of primitive hunting dogs used by the Voguls and Ostyak, two indigenous tribes. These dogs were actual descendants of wolves and primitive Spitz-type dogs and, because the gene pool has been kept fairly limited, modern specimens of the breed still retain much of their wild appearance and behavioral traits.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is a medium-sized breed but it is also a highly active breed. The best diet for this breed is an active or working dog formula, or perhaps a high-performance recipe. High protein and fat content is recommended to help this breed maintain his lean muscle mass while also providing for his energy needs. Like any dog, the West Siberian Laika can become obese with overfeeding so keep an eye on your dog’s body weight and condition.
4estfloor
I own a West Siberian Laika... And i will say this, If you cannot provide this dog with a full outdoor lifestyle, living outside, property to run around on, trees to stare into, things to hunt, then do NOT pursue buying this breed of dog. The yuppie city lifestyle will make this dog MISERABLE including yourself. Without the life he needs, he'll become a destructive piece of hell. They are damn near wild animals compared to your typical "dogs". These are not your regular breed of dog. They are very emotional, intelligent, very skilled hunters. They will be food aggressive. They are raised to be that way. You will not be able to man handle your dog like you do your pitbull or lab. These dogs grow up FAST like wild animals. From puppies to game in a matter of weeks naturally.. If allowed to, these dogs will den up underground like a coyote or wolf. Mine, is literally the smartest dog i have ever owned.
pet wise, If it didn't grow up with him, it's game. Neighbor cats will die. other dogs will get attacked if they wander into your yard (his territory). all people are barked at. NOTHING gets by him! BEST watch dog EVER. There is no other way around it. For my lifestyle, he's a great dog.
If you squirrel hunt and live in the country and know how to be sweet and treat your dog with love and not the Boot and F bombs, then these dogs will HUNT. But they need a soft up bringing. Very emotional dogs. I cannot stress that enough.
Riannon Sonsa
My dad had a male Laika, as he was living as a child/teenager in Siberia (around 45 years go). The dog was very family-friendly. My grandfather used the Laika to find his children in the Taiga (Wild Forest in Siberia), the dog was excellent for that.
The dog once attacked a chicken from their yard (they raised all their livestock themselves, without it they would starve...in supermarkets there were maybe sometimes bread, butter or something...). The grandfather beat the shit out of the dog for that and as my dad told me, the Laika never attacked anything ever again. Not livestock, not wildlife. So, it completely stopped being a hunter.
The dog was protective of the children, when they took him into the Taiga. I don´t know any encounters with big game (in the Taiga there were bears f.e.), but he was protective against strangers (not people from the village). Which unfortunately cost his life at some point. He was shot from a russian guy (a hunter I suppose), who was walking in the Taiga too. As far as I know, the Laika didn´t go into full blown attack, just barking & coming to close. (In the past dogs were never on leash when being on a walk, well nobody had a leash for theirs dogs...they were only on a chain when being in the yard).
Shortly after the death, my dad´s family got another Laika, which didn´t live long either. It ate something bad (not sure what, maybe it had a disease & it only showed similar symptoms of being poisoned...I don´t know) and the grandfather shot it.
The color of the first Laika was like a wolf, with a full mask. The tail wasn´t curly as in this video.
In the village there were a lot of Laikas, I think every family had one.
anonymous
West Siberian Laikas belonging to Mansi and Hanty often live in a close company of reindeer herds and they do not kill or attack them. In Russian villages and small towns, Laikas are well educated to ignore farm animals, such as cows, calves, pigs, goats and sheep. Small animals, such as cats, rabbits and poultry are most tempting. Laikas learn to leave alone cats living in the same household and ignore poultry. Rabbits seem irresistible to them and must be kept in sturdy enclosures. West Siberian Laikas learn to stay away from killing chickens, but even most reliable dogs may change to worse in a new place. With small animals, the training to inhibit attempts to kill works, but good results obtained in one situation should never be taken for granted in a new situation.
anonymous
West Siberian Laikas start fighting each other when they are very little puppies playing with each other. By age of eight weeks, dominance hierarchy among littermates is still not quite established, but fights become less frequent. A fight may erupt at any time, because some pups challenge a dominant one. During adult life of dogs, younger dogs, especially males, would challenge older males and try to resolve their problems by fighting. Generally, dogs belonging to one household and raised together since puppy age live in peace with each other. However, relationships among males introduced to each other as adults may remain tense for their lifetime.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is a very affectionate and devoted to the master dog. Majority of them barks at strangers approaching the house. The attitude to unfamiliar people varies individually and depending on the situation. Some dogs first bark and then wag their tails greeting the guest and allow to be petted. Many West Siberian Laikas are aloof with strange people, avoid hands and watch him suspiciously. Some dogs become protective over the master, his family and their property. There are many West Siberian Laikas accepting a new owner with difficulty and need time to adjust to a new place.
anonymous
The West Siberian Laika is primarily a hunting dog. Those thinking about purchasing one should understand this and expect the full package of traits present in a typical hunting Spitz. This is an emotional dog that is not only extremely affectionate and devoted to his master but very observant of his masters habits, and mood and can often foresee his intentions.
Positive reviews
anonymous
https://primitivedogs.com/west-siberian-laika-dog-characteristics/
The West Siberian Laika is the most popular and most numerous of the Russian Laikas and like its cousins it is primarily bred and used for big game hunting. However, that doesn’t mean this breed hasn’t been tried and tested in some other “roles”. On the contrary, apart from being an excellent hunting dog, WSL has proved its worth as a wonderful family companion and an incredible watchdog. Indeed, this Laika is usually very fond of all family members and is equally affectionate to every one of them. Of course, the primary owner gets the most of its attention and loyalty since he is literally the Alpha and Omega to this dog. Nonetheless, WSL will for sure enjoy the company of every other member of the household, including kids. Yeah, indeed, surrounded by its loved ones, Zapadno-Sibirskaïa Laïka can be very cheerful, silly, and eager to play. On top of that, this dog is very tolerant and careful with children. So, you can rest assured your kids will have a lot of fun with your Laika, but still, it is recommended that you supervise them since this is not some small and harmless dog.
Scottie Westfall
I love this breed!
tobydata
awsome breed!
Ra El
Beautiful dog