About Yakutian Laikas

If you’re searching for a versatile, devoted, and entertaining breed with stunning looks and adaptable energy levels, look no further! Yakutian Laikas bring all that and more to the table-here are some things to know!

Historically, this is a multi-purpose breed, used for pulling sleds (think steady freight work rather than speed racing like the Iditarod), hunting small game, and herding. Most people don’t have access to reindeer as livestock in the United States but past Caldersong dogs have done just as well with sheep.
We have also produced dogs that excel in Rally obedience, weight pull, scent work, therapy, FASTCat and recreational mushing (traditional and dryland)

***While we do recognize that there are individual dogs (including some from our own breeding) that may make suitable service dog candidates, as a whole, we do not endorse the breed for this purpose and therefore make no intentions nor guarantees for the appropriateness of any dog from our kennel for this line of work.***

Behavior/Training:

YLs crave a partnership with their person/people. These aren’t push-button dogs that obey for the sake of obedience. They need incentive to work for and with you. This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to beg, coax, and bribe your dog every step of the way but more that you should expect this naturally inquisitive breed will have ‘questions’ along your training journey.

A YL will be whip-smart to learn new things but may become bored with overly repetitive training and they do not respond well to aggressive or overbearing methods. Flexibility, clear communication, and a thoughtful approach to training will yield the best results.

Most Yakutian Laikas love, love, LOVE their people-many owners know that the concept of ‘personal space’ goes right out the window when their dog wants to be cuddling but, you can capitalize on this interest in being close to you by training a reliable off-lead recall when your dog is young! They can be trustworthy around small animals/other pets in the household if raised with them and/or trained accordingly but, we would recommend building a strong ‘leave it’ command on top of recall, as YLs will normally have a moderate to high prey drive.

Yakutian Laikas also have a great sense of fun and so should you! Whether throwing toys for themselves, bouncing around your furniture or tongue-lolling while awaiting belly rubs, they can be downright goofy in the most appealing way! You can look forward to plenty of playful romping from your dog well in to old age.

In general, these are cheerful dogs that want to maintain their focus on you, their owner. They are, however, extremely aware of their surroundings. Even when walking or relaxing in public, you will notice your dog taking a keen interest in the goings-on around them. They will be very quick to alert about anything unusual.

Remember: ‘Laika’ means ‘bark’ in Russian-these dogs TALK! While there is natural variation in just how talkative individuals may be, you can expect some level of howling, woo-woo-ing, yelling, grumbling and normal barking. Many owners learn the significance of specific sounds their dog makes and will use that to strengthen their communication, but, for this reason, they do not make a good apartment dog.

Important note: When growing, any dog can hit ‘fear periods’ as they move from the puppy to adolescent phase; in primitive breeds, these can be more intense. Please be cognizant of this with your puppy and understand that consistency is key when continuing socialization from 4-18 months. As this is a slow-maturing breed, this could extend as far as to 24 months of age.

Exposure to novel situations, strangers, other animals, and the world at large may seem scary at different times to your puppy as you help them navigate their ‘teen months’ but, REMEMBER: This will not last forever and your bond with puppy afterwards will be stronger for it!

You may note your dog becomes more reserved with people outside their immediate sphere and less interested in befriending strange dogs during this time. This is normal and acceptable behavior in the breed.

Both male and female dogs may develop some level of same-sex intolerance as they mature, particularly if kept intact (IE: not neutered or spayed). For this reason, we generally recommend mixed-sex households unless owners have sufficient experience managing multiple dogs.

Grooming/Health:

Yakutian Laikas possess a medium-length, double coat comprised of fluffy insulating undercoat and a harsher, weather proof outer coat. If intact, you can expect seasonal heavy shedding, aka ‘blowing coat’, from your dog, with bitches also experiencing coat loss during heat cycles and after giving birth. Adolescents will present heavier shedding as they transition from puppy to adult coats. Be prepared to brush at least every few days during this time.

Intact dogs will have lower to barely perceptible shedding between coat blows; dogs that have been neutered/spayed will likely have more continuous shedding to varying degrees throughout the year.

**Even if your dog has not yet experienced a coat blow or heavy shed, please be prepared to get them acclimated to regular grooming from a young age. The more routine it becomes, the easier it will be on both of you when longer grooming sessions become a necessity.

Aside from shedding, the coat is relatively low-maintenance and should not require frequent bathing outside of situations such as preparing for competition. Under normal circumstances, dirt and debris can be brushed out.

YLs require regular nail trims, and dental care. Although not prone to buildup, ears should be checked regularly to ensure no infections.

Frequent, gentle handling of sensitive areas such as paws and ears will help your puppy remain calm for both you and professionals, such as veterinary staff, during examinations.

***It is required that all owners follow proper vaccination schedules for any Caldersong dog for the duration of its life. All dogs should be kept on preventatives for fleas/ticks, parasites, and heartworm.***

As a breed, the most frequent health concerns are hip dysplasia and deafness.

Exercise:

One truly wonderful aspect of the Yakutian Laika is how well they adapt to your lifestyle. As a working breed, they obviously require exercise but are less intensely ‘go go go’ than similar breeds.

If you do want to pursue some kind of sport with your Caldersong dog, you’ll find an eager companion for any activity but so long as they’re receiving regular physical+mental exercise, they will be equally game for a hike or to snuggle on the sofa.

We would prefer a securely fenced yard for any puppy homes. Taking your dog on daily walks is recommended but a safe, enclosed area in which they can run full speed for play time is a bonus for any dog.

Nutrition:

Our perspective on canine nutrition is to feed what works best for the dog in front of you. Our personal dogs do well on a fish-based dry food, with supplemental wet food as needed. We ask that any puppy owner carefully research the pros and cons of any brand before use. **While we do not outright discourage raw diets as a concept, with the recent increased risk of various food-borne illnesses, it is NOT recommended.**

Caldersong dogs, doing their thing!