West Siberian Laika - dog keeping rules

2024 Author: Arianna Cook | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:23

The appearance of the West Siberian husky, its characteristics, behavior and health, rules of care: how to walk, what the diet includes, how to train the dog. Puppy price. West Siberian Laika is a unique breed. With it you can hunt upland, waterfowl, bears and ungulates. Hunters note that with likes they hunt anyone, from a mouse and above. In modern times, "Westerners" are one of the most common varieties of such dogs on the territory of the Russian state. They have their own unique appearance and breed characteristics. West Siberian Laika is a beauty of Taiga with a wolf color. This hunting dog is very hardy and strong, and also loves its owner loyally.

The appearance of the West Siberian Laika breed

Despite the name, the homeland of the West Siberian huskies is in the Urals. These dogs come from the Khanty and Mansi Laikas. Animals lead their pedigree from the dogs of Fedor Fedorovich Kresnikov, who back in 1908 singled them out as a separate breed. The Khanty and Mansi peoples, since ancient times, lived on the lands adjacent to the Ural ridge.

Fedor Fedorovich Kresnikov also lived in the Urals. That is why, until the middle of the 20th century, these dogs were called Ural Laikas. Why the name of the breed was changed, experts cannot answer this question for sure. Disputes about this do not subside until now, because these animals are special dogs.

West Siberian huskies are the pride of Russia, its national treasure. The breed is one of the few that was bred here. Thanks to the West Siberian huskies, they mined the soft gold of Russia - furs. For a long time, the entire economy of the Russian state was based on this “product”.

How the welfare of mankind is changing now is a philosophical question. Recently, the scale of values has changed a lot. And, for example, a hundred years ago, many of our ancestors would have considered it fortunate to have a real, working, West Siberian husky.

Now, modern hunters are in demand for wild boar and bear, and earlier a person who went to the Taiga to hunt, went exactly for sable skins, less often squirrel skins. In such a hunt, these huskies were worth their weight in gold, in the truest sense of the word. And what did the man eat in Taiga? The dog helped the hunter to track down the wood grouse, the black grouse, that is, the prey that he could cook quickly enough.

Hunting and fur trade was an important factor in the development of the Urals and Siberia. They paid for salt and tobacco with skins, paid yasak (tribute). Soft gold was accepted on bail as a kalym or dowry. For a long time, the husky was considered a peasant dog and no attention was paid to it.

Only at the end of the 19th century, Prince Shirinsky-Shikhmatov made the first description of sharp-eared northern dogs. He identified ten offspring, but this outstanding cynologist wrote that every nation in the north has its own husky and it is unique both in its exterior and in working qualities.

Almost all researchers noted the huge role of hunting dogs in the life of both indigenous peoples and Russian settlers. True, for some reason domestic scientists were not immediately interested in huskies as a breed. Many of us have heard about foreign cynology luminaries. For example, about Max von Stefanitz, the man who bred the German Shepherd, or Ludwig Dobermann, the creator of the Dobermann.

And, for some reason, little is known about domestic dog handlers. In Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, the name of Nikolai Borisovich Poluzadov is remembered and honored. This man is practically the godfather of the West Siberian husky. In the thirties and forties, by order of Stalin, here in the Urals, the breeder chose the best producers, which formed the basis of this breed, and sent them to the central nursery of the workers 'and peasants' red army.

The West Siberian Laika is closer to the original type of wolf than others. The signs of domestication in these animals are at least both physiological and psychological. They almost did not lose their wild qualities. The multifaceted formation and selection of the breed went through many centuries, and at times was very tough. Nature got rid of weak individuals. Man discarded parasites and lazy people. But, all this was not in vain. Now we can see, beautiful both in appearance and in its working qualities, a hunting dog - the West Siberian Laika.

External characteristics of the West Siberian Laika

The representative of the breed is a beautiful proportionally built dog. He reminds of the article of a young wolf. The height at the withers in males is 56–61 cm and in bitches 52–57 cm. The weight of males is 18–26 kg and bitches are 16–24 kg.

Head dry type, the shape of a sharp wedge, stretched, in the form of a wedge, resembles a wolf. The skull is elongated, longer than wider. The superciliary arches are poorly formed, but the tubercle on the back of the head and the crest on the crown are perfectly visible. The back of the skull is rounded.
Muzzle pointed, but not narrowed, widens in the region of the canines, almost equal to the length of the skull. In profile, it is moderately wedge-shaped. The stop is not abruptly manifested. The lips come together tightly. The jaws are long, the dentition is strong, closes like scissors.
Nose harmonious to the muzzle, developed. Can be dark pigmented or lighter depending on coat color.
Eyes West Siberian huskies of an oblique section, located deep enough. The eyelids are close fitting, oval, brown in color.
Ears erect, set high, resemble an elongated triangle. The earlobe is not pronounced, the mobility is excellent.
Neck with dry muscles, oval. Its length is approximately equal to the length of the head, set at an angle of forty-five degrees.
Frame - elongated, with well-defined withers. The back is straight, well muscled, extended. The loin is shortened, slightly bulky. The ribcage is deep, wide and harmoniously lowered. The line of the abdomen is smooth.
Tail - a twisted bagel, the main distinguishing feature of the breed.
Front limbs West Siberian Laika - dry, strong, parallel. The hindquarters are strong with excellent joints, parallel. The lower legs are longer than the developed thighs.
Paws - oval, fingers are tightly placed. The two central fingers are slightly longer.
Coat developed: hard, straight and thick. The undercoat is softer and fuller than the center coat. The head and ears are short, while the neck and shoulders are fluffy. The hairs on the legs are short, and their back has a thick coat. Between the pads of the fingers, the hair is like a brush. The tail is dressed with lush, beautiful hair.
Color with a variety of shades. There are white, zoned and piebald, gray, red and brown.

Distinctive features of the behavior of the dog West Siberian Laika

Such dogs are the crown of the creation of man and nature. This is the rarest case when the breed was formed both under the influence of Mother Nature and under the influence of man. There are few dog breeds that can compete with the West Siberian Laika not only in functionality, but also in beauty. This is the best dog in which everything is beautiful, body, mind and soul.

In an excellent West Siberian husky, you can find a resemblance to a wild animal. This will be the defining moment of recognition of the dog as a breed. Such nuances confirm that the West Siberian Laika is a wild breed. But, it should be like that. She has a partnership with a person. The dog is not in his service.

These dogs are distinguished by a cheerful disposition. But at the same time, they are less excitable compared to other likes. "Westerners" are very lively, not discouraged dogs. Such qualities cannot but admire. This husky dog is in a good mood. Because the tail, which she always keeps above the line of her back, suggests that her mood is always elevated. Dogs give their owners a lot of positive emotions and not only in forest battles. It is so comfortable to sit with them at a halt by the fire.

The trump card of this dog, of course, is a very flexible mind. Hunting skills puppies absorb what is said with mother's milk. To establish ideal contact with the West Siberian Laika, the puppy must know its owner from infancy. These dogs are characterized by fierce anger towards the beast, but, as a rule, they treat a person calmly. Although they still have security qualities.

The West Siberian Laika is a unique dog. On the one hand, she is characterized by distrust of strangers. Quite often, if they are not put on a chain, then at least they are entrusted with the protection of the dwelling. On the other hand, for all its independence, this dog is completely and completely devoted to one single owner.

West Siberian huskies are often brought up by city dwellers and kept as companion dogs. This is not entirely correct - this is the opinion of breed experts. Because the home of these dogs is in nature. In the aviary, they are much better off than in the most comfortable apartment.

Health of the West Siberian husky

Since nature was mainly working on these representatives of the canines, they have excellent immunity. With their size, dogs live up to seventeen years. Observing all the requirements for care, you will provide your dog with excellent health. Hereditary diseases do not appear in the breed. The most unpleasant and frequent lesions in huskies are injuries inflicted by the beast while hunting. All injuries require immediate veterinary attention.

How to care for the West Siberian Laika, features of the content

West Siberian Laika at their summer cottage

Wool in dogs it is very thick and beautiful. It perfectly protects the animal from negative weather conditions. Due to its rigid structure, dirt does not linger on the coat. Therefore, it is not often necessary to bathe West Siberian huskies. Of course, a competitive event requires full gloss guidance. When bathing, use a typed shampoo and conditioner, and when drying, a moisturizing spray. When the period of change of hair begins, the thick and soft undercoat of the dog begins to come off abundantly. If the pet sheds naturally, then its appearance is unattractive. Clocks of dead undercoat hang on the dog, and the animal itself is not very comfortable. Therefore, in order for your husky to have an ideal appearance and quickly change the old "coat" to a new one, it must be combed every day. Of course, this is best done on the street, so as not to clean up your house later. For such manipulation, you can use a slicker or furminator, which is more effective. This tool is better in terms of speed and quality of the procedure. As the saying goes, less movement, more effect. By brushing your pet, you improve the blood circulation of his skin, create a massage for it, and stimulate the separation of its stratum corneum.
Teeth West Siberian huskies, like other doggies, are best cleaned a couple of times a week. Plaque and unpleasant odor will be removed by bactericidal pastes that are applied to soft brushes. If you systematically give the husky bones from veins and cartilage, you will create an excellent preventive effect of dental plaque.
Ears inspect the dog after the hunt. They may have damage to the cartilage, which can lead to purulent internal infections. If you find that the surface of the ear is damaged, then the wound needs to be disinfected and medicated ointment applied to it. Once a week, you need to clean the auricle, but not with cotton swabs. The structure of the ear is such that with them you can create a sulfur plug. So buy an herbal lotion and fill your ear with it. To penetrate deeper, the base of the ear is massaged. Then the animal is released. When shaking off, the dog mechanically removes the dissolved dirt and sulfur, which is wiped off with a cotton pad.
Eyes West Siberian huskies are checked after the hunt for the presence of inflammation or mechanical injury. Common dust contamination requires wiping with a bactericidal and soothing agent. All pet injuries must be shown to a specialist. Only a veterinarian ophthalmologist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
Claws no need to trim if your dog walks a lot outside. When in contact with a hard surface, they will grind off by themselves. The shortening of the length requires only the dewclaw of the dog, if not removed. If your pet's claws have grown more than the desired length, then they must be cut off so that the fingers do not deform. You can cut them off with claws or file them with a file.
Feeding West Siberian huskies, if they are workers, should preferably be natural. Since a dog is a predator, most of its food is various types of meat (beef, lamb, udder, tripe or stomach, heart, lungs), but not fatty pork. The pet is given meat scalded with boiling water or frozen. Twenty percent supplement the diet with boiled cereals and vegetables. Sometimes they give cottage cheese, an egg. Adding fish oil to the porridge will strengthen the dog's body. Natural feeding requires a constant intake of vitamins and minerals.
Walking West Siberian huskies must be complete and based on breed priorities. Of course, a husky can be kept in an apartment as well. But, then, you will need to take your pet out to the forest at least for the weekend, and each regular walk should last at least an hour and a half.

Moreover, the owner must load the dog, at least play with it in the handling objects. If you do not provide your pet with such loads, he will take out their lack in your home.

Do not forget that the owner is obliged to drive huskies in urban conditions only on a leash. Their hunting instinct can turn into big troubles, because there are many vehicles and other dangers in the city.

The best life and happiness for a "westerner" is living in a private house in an aviary and the owner must be a hunter. The dog is obliged to fulfill its purpose. Only then does it bloom and feel great.

West Siberian husky training

Now, in the fishery in Taiga, these huskies are weaned from squirrels, because the fur is not valuable and there is a lot of fuss. More preference is given to marten, sable, ermine. The dog finds the animal with the help of his instinct. Hunters put a whole complex into this concept: sight, hearing and smell.

One of the breed characteristics of huskies is a loud, sonorous and, as the hunters say, an informing voice. Not only does the four-legged hunter need to find the animal, but he also needs to notify about his find. And, at this time, a person can be several kilometers from the dog. All this time, while the hunter goes to this place, the dog must bark continuously.

West Siberian huskies have many advantages, but there are also difficulties. Outside of hunting, these dogs are best kept on a leash. They have very strong hunting genes. At the call of the blood, at the first opportunity, huskies can go into the forest for the beast. The dog can get lost, which must be remembered.

"Westerners" are rather vicious animals. It is not uncommon for animals to fight. When a working dog is in the forest, then in fact, it instantly changes and turns into a real predator.

Interesting facts about the West Siberian Laika

West Siberian Laika near the caught game

Puppies of this breed are born very dark, and from eight months they brighten.

Anatoly Mavrikievich Sarafanov in 1928, for the first time in the history of Russian cynology, systematized the working rules for testing West Siberian huskies.