Karelo-Finnish Laika

Coat and looks how to spot one

thick double coat

A compact spitz with pricked ears, a curled tail and a dense two-layer coat that keeps it warm in northern winters.1

Personality what they are like

A lively, happy dog that loves working with its people and puts great enthusiasm into the hunt.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very high. This is a working hunting spitz used on birds and furred game, so it needs long daily outings and plenty to do.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The thick double coat benefits from regular brushing, more often during seasonal shedding.1

Home where they are happiest

Built for cold forests; suits an active, outdoorsy home with secure space.1

Company who they like around

Enjoys close teamwork with its handler and does well with regular company and activity.1

The story where it all began

Until the early 20th century the red spitz dogs of Karelia were one population with the Finnish Spitz. After the Russian Revolution and later wars split the region, Soviet breeders kept and renamed their own line. In the 1950s they crossed imported Finnish Spitzes with local red Karelian spitzes to shape today's Karelo-Finnish Laika.1

Recognised by the official bits

Major kennel clubs (FCI, AKC, The Kennel Club)

Not recognised as a separate breed; its close relative, the Finnish Spitz, is the recognised form.1