While Yakutian Laikas only recently become more well-known in other parts of the world, they are an ancient breed. As you may be able to guess based on their name, they first originated in the Yakutia region of Russian Siberia. The breed was used by the Yakute people in the region for herding reindeer, hunting, and pulling sleds across the snowy and icy terrain. In fact, the Yakute people were the first group that is known to have used sled dogs. Sadly, the number of Yakutian Laikas started to decrease with technological advancements and other methods of transportation. However, the breed was saved in 1998 by a group of individuals who worked hard to keep it going.

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Yakutian Laikas are very smart, eager to please, and pretty easy to train. Overall, they do well with children and can make a wonderful family pet. However, since this breed has a high prey drive, they are not ideal for homes with cats or other smaller animals.

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Owning a Yakutian Laika: 3 Pros and Cons

Yakutian Laika Size and Weight

These dogs are a large breed dog. Males and females are typically around the same size, with a height between 21 and 33 inches and a weight between 40 and 55 pounds.

Yakutian Laika Common Health Issues

Overall, these dogs are a healthy breed. However, as with all dog breeds, there are a few health concerns to be on the lookout for.

One potential health issue a Yakutian Laika may face is bloat. Bloat (gastric dilation-volvulus-GDV) is a condition that can impact larger dog breeds. The stomach twists and traps air, causing a potentially life-threatening situation. While the exact cause of GDV is not known, there is a link between eating a large meal followed by exercise, so take care to feed smaller meals and limit your dog’s activity after mealtimes.

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They may also develop hip or elbow dysplasia. These are inherited conditions where the hip or elbow joints don’t develop correctly and rub against each other. They can cause the dog a lot of pain and may require surgery to remedy.

Yakutia Laikas may also be prone to more eye troubles. It is important to schedule regular checkups with a veterinarian to confirm there are no issues that need to be addressed.

As a summary, some common health issues they may face include:

• Bloat
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Eye problems

Yakutian Laika Temperament and Behavior

These dogs have a very friendly personality, especially with the people they trust in their family. Overall, their traits make them a good pet for homes with children, particularly those they are raised with. They can be very affectionate and playful. However, they may not be as tolerant of more rambunctious children or those who may try to grab or pull the dog.

While these dogs are often more reserved around strangers, they are unlikely to exhibit any aggressive behaviors unless they sense a threat to their family members.

How to Take Care of a Yakutian Laika

As you plan to care for your new dog, keep the breed’s temperament, health concerns, nutritional needs, activity requirements, and grooming needs in mind.

The Best Dog Food for Yakutian Laikas

When choosing food for your dog, look for a high-quality option. You may choose to purchase prepared food or make your own food at home. Whichever option you choose, consult with your dog’s veterinarian to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy. The right amount of food for your Yakutian Laika can vary based on her weight, age, activity level, health needs, and other factors, so your veterinarian can be a good resource in this respect as well. To prevent potentially fatal bloat, make sure your Yakutian Laika doesn’t get too much activity immediately before or after eating.

If you are bringing home a puppy, it is important to realize that puppies will need to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. They have smaller stomachs and can’t handle as much food as a full-grown dog can eat at one time.

Since dry food can swell in contact with water and contribute to bloat, Yakutian Laika owners may want to consider wet dog food instead.

That’s why A-Z Animals thinks this is the best dog food for your Yakutian Laika: Blue Buffalo True Solutions Jolly Joints Natural Mobility Support Adult Wet Dog Food.

This joint support formula is packed with vital chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, clinically proven to build and maintain strong hips, knees, and elbows, with EPA from fish oil to enhance mobility. Instead of nutritionally lacking poultry by-product, corn, soy, and artificial preservatives, this mobility support wet dog food adds taurine, amino acids, and a host of vitamins to your Yakutian Laika’s diet for nose-to-tail wellness.

Check out Blue Buffalo True Solutions Jolly Joints Wet Dog Food on amazon.

Blue Buffalo True Solutions Jolly Joints Natural Mobility Support Adult Wet Dog Food, Chicken 12.5-oz cans (Pack of 12)

• MOBILITY SUPPORT DOG FOOD: Our Jolly Joints adult dog food is formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin, clinically proven to support hip and joint health, plus EPA from fish oil for mobility support, and optimal minerals for strong bones
• NATURAL INGREDIENTS RECOMMENDED BY VETERINARIANS: BLUE True Solutions is a natural dog food made with the finest ingredients enhanced with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients
• STARTS WITH HIGH-QUALITY CHICKEN: This delicious wet dog food is formulated with wholesome ingredients including fruits and vegetables to help keep your dog moving, naturally
• MADE WITHOUT WHEAT: Unlike many other canned dog foods, BLUE never uses wheat as a thickener in our wet food. True Solutions science based dog food has NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, and NO corn, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
• Contains twelve (12) 12.5 oz. cans of BLUE True Solutions Jolly Joints Mobility Support Adult Wet Dog Food, Chicken

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Yakutian Laika Maintenance and Grooming

These dogs are not a hypoallergenic breed as they shed. Most times throughout the year, the dog will require weekly brushing to keep his coat looking its best. However, they do experience seasonal shedding, when they will require daily brushing to keep the shedding under control and prevent the hair from tangling or getting matted.

You should also brush your teeth regularly to prevent plaque and tartar buildup or dental disease. Be sure to also keep your Yakutian Laika’s ears clean and free of wax or debris.

Yakutian Laika Training

These dogs are a pretty easy breed to train. They are very intelligent, and, as long as they trust their owner, will respond well to training. However, they are not very responsive to corrective training methods but do best with more positive training strategies. They can also be motivated by treats during the training process.

Yakutian Laika Exercise

These dogs have a medium-high energy level. Making sure this breed gets sufficient exercise is essential. They were used as sled dogs in the past, and as such are used to doing a lot of daily work. They may enjoy taking a long walk with you, running alongside you as you ride a bike, playing catch in the yard, or pulling a sled.

Yakutian Laika Puppies

If you’re looking to adopt a puppy, you may find it challenging to do so depending on your location. This is a rarer breed that has not even gained recognition by many North American kennel clubs.

If you do find a puppy to bring home, make sure your home is ready for the pup first. Puppy-proof the space where the dog will spend most of his time. Also, be prepared to give puppies and adults the training and exercise they’ll need to thrive.

Yakutian Laikas and Children

These dogs generally are good family dogs. They do well with children and can be very affectionate with them. This breed can also be highly protective of the children and other members of his family. They typically do best when they are raised with children in a home. However, while a Yakutian Laika can be very gentle with children, they are also not very tolerant of children who are not respectful towards them.

Dogs similar to Yakutian Laika

Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Samoyeds are three breeds that are similar to these dogs.

• Siberian Husky: Siberian Huskies and Yakutian Laikas have both been used as sled dogs. Both breeds can be quite friendly and are known to shed a good amount. A Yakutian Laika is typically easier to train than a Siberian Husky.
• Alaskan Malamute: Alaskan Malamutes are another breed that was used to pull sleds. Alaskan Malamutes and Yakutian Laikas are both affectionate and very intelligent. Alaskan Malamutes are a larger breed though and weigh between 75 and 100 pounds compared to the 40 to 55 pounds that a Yakutian Laika typically weighs.
• Samoyed: Samoyeds are yet another breed that was used to pull sleds over the icy terrain. They also have long hair and shed a lot, like a Yakutian Laika. A Samoyed’s coat is white, cream, or beige, while a Yakutian Laika may also have some black, brown, or gray fur in addition to the white in their coat.

Famous Yakutian Laikas

Want to follow some Yakutian Laika pups on Instagram to get your daily dose of cuteness from this unique breed? Check out some of these pages:

• Yakutian Laika di casa Samnium
• Almazy Anabara
• Mystic Winds Yakutian Laika

Popular Names for Yakutian Laika

Give one of these names a try for your pup:

• Aspen
• Kodiak
• Hunter
• Maverick
• Comet
• Aurora
• Nova
• Sierra
• Sky
• Tundra

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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