The history of the origin and purpose of the Swedish husky, exterior standard, character, health, care and training, interesting facts. Jemthund puppy cost. The Swedish Laika is one of the oldest northern hunting dog breeds on earth. And the very appearance of this husky, so similar to a real wolf, speaks for itself. It has not changed so much over the past millennia. The Swedish Laika is a born hunter, an excellent human helper when chasing large and dangerous animals such as the northern elk, bear or lynx. Since time immemorial, this clever dog has always accompanied the Scandinavian hunter, not only skillfully finding the animal and tracking it along the bloody trail, but also protecting the prey from predators and helping to transport the carcass to the settlement. Not every modern hunting dog is able to catch up with the "Swede" in her skills, let alone surpass her in fearlessness and dexterity. It is not for nothing that the northern trappers of Sweden, Finland and Norway adore and groom their wolf-like, but extremely reliable and loyal helpers.
History of the origin of the Swedish husky
Like any ancient canine species, the representatives of this breed also have a number of different breed names, which are often used in everyday life by hunters and dog handlers. Here are at least some of them. These are the Swedish Elhound, the Large Swedish Elk Laika, the Jämtland Laika and even the Bear Dog. Yes, yes, the Jemthound is one of those few dogs that will not give up even in front of an angry bear, and therefore the name is well deserved. And there are also many other options derived from the name of the recognized historical homeland of Laikas - the Jämtland region. Most of these options are due to the peculiarities of the pronunciation of the name in different regions of Sweden - jemthund, jemthund, yamthund and others.
Indeed, the Swedish Laika is a truly ancient northern breed, long and firmly established in Scandinavia. According to the most conservative estimates of researchers, the age of the aboriginal breed is from two to three millennia. And, according to experts, and is confirmed by DNA analysis, the Jemthund descend directly from the ancient wolves of the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the genome of which has been preserved only in two modern northern dogs of the peninsula - the Swedish Jemthund and the Norwegian gray Elhund.
However, until recently, these two types of Scandinavian huskies were considered one breed. And only through the efforts of enthusiastic hunters and dog handlers from the regions of Emtland and Herjeland, who managed to prove the difference in the exterior and behavior of these seemingly similar dogs (so similar that sometimes only an experienced dog handler can distinguish who is who), in 1946 the Swedish Laika was recognized independent breed. The International Breeding Standard was drawn up only in 1953.
It must be said that the selection of huskies in Sweden at all times was based mainly on the observance of the purity of the genus and the working qualities of the dog, less attention was paid to the exterior (however, strict observance of the purity of the line did not allow any mestizos to be born). A census of Laikas, first carried out in Sweden in 1974, recorded as many as 1,046 fine working specimens of Swedish Jamthundas.
The Swedish Laika received international recognition and registration in the Studbook of the International Cynological Federation (FCI) quite late - in 1998. The last change in the international standard was made in May 2003.
Much to the regret of many dog lovers and hunters, Emthunda huskies are common only in Sweden. And, despite the international recognition of their uniqueness and merits, they are almost unknown in the rest of Europe (excluding the Scandinavian states and Germany, where the "Swede" was brought back in 1973).
Purpose and use of emthund
This dog has long been considered a reliable assistant to the hunter. After all, the main function of such a dog was hunting, and, as a rule, for a large animal, such as a bear, elk, lynx or wolf. This was largely due to the fearless nature of the husky (not every hunting dog is capable of chasing such dangerous animals). The Jemtland Laika was especially successful when hunting moose, which earned it one more breed name - “Elk Laika”. Nowadays, the locals of the forest regions of Northern Sweden also use the Jämthund, mainly for this purpose. They hunt with Jemthund (with no less success) and smaller game (with Scandinavian bears now the situation is much worse than in the old days). Just like before, the Swedish Laika helps with the transport of goods and guards the homes. And he also serves in the Swedish police, as a search dog, excellently working on the trail.
Description of the external standard of the Swedish Laika
Laika Emthunda from Sweden can be safely classified as one of the most working hunting dog breeds in the North. The size of this dog is quite comparable to the parameters of large sled huskies in North America and Siberia. The greatest growth at the withers in a mature emthund male reaches 63 centimeters. Bitches are slightly smaller - up to 58 centimeters. The average body weight of the Jemthund is equal to 30 kg. If it were not for the curled tail of the husky, it can easily be confused with a real wolf in exterior and color.
- Head the Swedish husky has a wedge-shaped shape, with a convex skull, rather lean. The occipital protuberance is distinct. The muzzle is conical. The nose is large, wide, black. The bridge of the nose is broad and straight. The lips fit well to the jaw, no flews. The color of the lips is blackish. The jaws are powerful, with a full complement of large teeth and white canines. The bite resembles a scissor grip.
- Eyes almond-shaped, medium-sized, medium-sized, the outer corner is raised. Eye color - brown or dark brown. An attentive look, "in the eyes", resembles a wolf. The eyelids are dense, dry, black-pigmented.
- Ears Emthounda is not too large, high set, beautiful triangular shape with pointed ends, erect.
- Neck well muscled, more than medium in length, well balanced with the body. The skin fits well, there is no dewlap.
- Frame compact, dense, harmoniously proportional (the body format is close to a square), with mesomorphic muscles and strong bones. The back is straight, strong, of medium length. The line of the back is straight or sloping slightly towards the croup. The chest is well developed and broad. The withers are high and well defined. The croup is wide, sloping. The belly is sporty.
- Tail set high, of medium length, thickish, wrapped in a ringlet over the back. Along the edge it has beautiful, lush feathers.
- Limbs even, erect, proportionate to the body, strong, muscular. Feet well-knit, “tightly knit”, with firm pads and strong nails.
- Wool hard structure, long, with a thick and soft undercoat. In the area of the body, on the hips and tail, the fur is longer, and on the head and front of the limbs it is shorter and denser (smooth). The undercoat is rather soft to the touch, much lighter in tone.
- Swedish Laika color - gray or, as it is also called, "wolfish". The undercoat is always lighter in color (preferably white). The outer hair is darker and the tips are very dark. Cheekbones and muzzle, the front of the neck are often orange-red or light gray.
Jemthund character
Laika-Swede is a very brave, strong and energetic dog, unusually hardy and efficient, possessing excellent hunting talents, excellent instinct and perseverance. When searching for game, the dog is accustomed to work, silently and independently, sometimes moving away from the hunter at a distance of up to a kilometer. Having found the beast, the dog marks its position with a loud bark, attacks and tries to keep it in place, bringing it under the shot. The wounded animal always stubbornly pursues the bloody trail, periodically indicating its location by barking. Having found the wounded animal, he calls the hunter by barking and protects the prey from predators until the owner arrives. Emthund performs equally well in a wide variety of climates. He is able to find and chase the beast for hours in deep snow, swampy and wooded areas.
In ordinary life, the "Swede" is distinguished by a calm, balanced temperament. She is inquisitive, friendly to people she knows and is not prone to unreasonable aggression towards strangers. Performing security functions, as a rule, it is limited to barking and rarely attacks the intruder.
The Jämtland Laika is a strong and resilient dog, easily coping with the transportation of not too heavy luggage on a sleigh. Although, it can in no way be equated with sled dogs in Siberia and Alaska. Jämthund is absolutely unsuitable for city life. The housing maintenance of an energetic dog fetters his freedom and does not allow him to realize his hunting instincts. Even long walks are of little help here. And therefore, even in Sweden itself, it is extremely rare to meet such a dog in the city, despite the general love of the local population for them. The Swedes are well aware that Swedish huskies are freedom-loving hunting dogs, and therefore the attitude towards them is appropriate.
Swedish husky health
Laika-Jemthund is considered an exceptionally healthy breed of dog that does not have a genetically inherited predisposition to disease. She has a strong immunity to infectious diseases and an excellent adaptive ability to change weather conditions.
The average life span of these amazingly cute animals is in the range of 12-14 years.
Swedish Laika care tips
The Jämtland Laika, which has a thick, weather-resistant coat with a dense undercoat, is unassuming to care for. Especially when kept free. A sufficiently hard guard hair keeps its shape well and does not need frequent combing and washing. It is enough to comb the dog with a stiff brush no more than twice a week, and bathe as needed.
Of course, with apartment maintenance (which is not desirable), you will have to work harder (especially during periods of seasonal molting), if the owner does not want to be "littered" with scraps of wool around the entire perimeter of the housing. Yes, and in this case, you need to walk the emthund for a long time, giving you the opportunity to fully run up and communicate with other dogs.
Unpretentious "Swedish" and in food. Trapper Swedes usually feed their dogs natural meat food. Usually, these are offal and trimmings of not the most valuable meat from carcasses obtained during the hunt. In the conditions of urban life, of course, such a diet for the owner of the Jemthund will be too expensive. It is much more profitable and more convenient to feed the dog with industrial food of a high quality level, at least premium, in accordance with the weight of the animal and the recommendations of the food manufacturer. For good nutrition, it is necessary to supplement this diet with vitamin and mineral complexes.
Features of Swedish Laika training
Laika-emthound is the smartest creature, well capable of learning, especially hunting skills. Most of the necessary qualities, of course, are already inherent in the animal's genome, which is inherited from generation to generation. But their development depends entirely on the person.
Depending on what kind of game the hunter himself specializes in, the training of his dog also depends. Let us dwell in more detail on the peculiarities of the training of the "Swede" husky for its classic direction - elk hunting.
These dogs naturally find special pleasure in the pursuit of ungulates, and this love is clearly passed on to them by inheritance. Therefore, if there is a desire to have exactly the animal husky, then it is necessary to look for puppies, preferably obtained from a whole galaxy of working dogs specialized in elk hunting. Outwardly, the beastly husky is no different from the most ordinary one, neither in height, nor in an article. What distinguishes her is her character. Such a dog, even during an ordinary walk, without any training, begins to search, drive and bark even oncoming cows and goats.
When training a husky to hunt moose, the hunter should train the dog on the trail of these animals in the area of their night lying or in places of usual feeding. If the jemthund really has the necessary qualities, then they will appear immediately, from the first hunt - the dog will certainly try to find on the trail of the animals that interest him. Which allows us to immediately draw a conclusion about the suitability of a young dog for such a hunt.
One of the best training methods used by Scandinavian hunters is the collaboration of a young dog with an experienced husky. In this way, not only can the suitability of the young Jemthund be quickly checked, but also hastened his training.
To train a dog on an elk (in places where they are found or specially kept), they begin from the age of one and a half to two years, gradually developing the necessary endurance in the dog, the ability to detect the animal by smell and the necessary "viscosity" (that is, the ability to prevent the animal from leaving its intrusiveness, barking or imitation of an attack). All these skills are acquired by a young husky over time, and subsequently improved from hunting to hunting. Well, if an emthund works with an experienced husky, then, of course, mastery will come to him much faster. Also, when training, it is important to bait a pet on a bloody trail, which will give additional development of tenacity in pursuit.
The main task of the husky in moose hunting is to search for traces of the beast and chase it with a bark (voice) until it is intercepted by the hunter or the dog puts it, as the hunters say, "sucks" (the driven animal cannot run further, and the dog just holds it in place). Jämtland huskies are distinguished by exceptional resilience in pursuit of elk (and other ungulates), since they harbor a hereditary (or innate) dislike for them. That is why the Swedish animal huskies-emthunda very effectively chase elk, sometimes even engaging in single combat with wounded animals.
Interesting facts about Jemthund
Hunting in Sweden is practically a national passion, with a population of about 10 million, there are about 300,000 trappers, and the hunting season runs from August to February. It is for this reason that Swedish travel companies offer tourists not only to admire the amazing views of Scandinavia while skiing, but also to hunt for a moose or a bear. Including the famous Jämtland huskies. At the same time, travel agencies promise that a smart trained dog will do almost everything for a tourist on a hunt: he will find an animal, will not let him leave until a tourist-hunter arrives in time. The only thing she won't do is shoot the moose. And here the choice is for the tourist, to shoot at the beast or to limit himself to pleasant communication with nature and an amazing hunting dog - the Swedish Laika Yamthund.
Price when buying a Jemthund puppy
In Russia, primordially rich in huskies, this breed is not yet in great demand. In central Russia, their hunting methods are of little use due to the lack of the necessary animal and conditions, but in Siberia, the Urals and the Far East there are enough local huskies, time-tested breeds.
And although it is too early to talk about the appearance of real Russian kennels of Jemthund, the first Swedish puppies born in Russia are already being offered for purchase. The average cost of such a puppy from certified parents is in the range of 60,000 rubles.
Learn more about the Jemthund in this video:
