At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
thick straight double coat with dense undercoat
A strong, compact, muscular spitz of medium size, 10-15% longer than tall. Its glossy, straight outer coat sits over a heavy undercoat, with a mane around the neck (fuller in males) and feathering on the hind legs and tail. Eyes may be dark brown, blue or one of each.34
Personality what they are like
An upbeat, energetic dog that likes to stay close to its people and is open and friendly with them. It is brave and capable, with the endurance of a true sled dog, and can be very bouncy in play.342
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. Needs daily exercise and ideally a secure, fenced area to run; it can take part in sledding, herding, coursing and agility.45
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Comb and brush the thick coat weekly, and more thoroughly during the one or two heavy moults each year; dry the dense undercoat well after a bath.4
Home where they are happiest
Needs a well-fenced garden; copes easily with very cold climates.42
Company who they like around
Very people-oriented and sociable; supervise play with young children because of its exuberance.34
The story where it all began
The peoples of northeastern Siberia have used dogs like this for sledding and hunting for thousands of years, and written records go back to 1633. Mechanisation reduced their numbers in the 20th century, and breeders then revived the breed, which the FCI accepted provisionally in 2019.321
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Sled-harness remains from the region are around 8,000 years old.3
- 2
One of the earliest written accounts of the breed appears in Nicolaes Witsen's 1692 book Northern and Eastern Tartary.3
- 3
Blue eyes, brown eyes and odd eyes are all accepted in the standard.3
- 4
Two Yakutian Laikas were cloned in 2017 to help preserve the breed, and one later fathered a litter of seven puppies.2
- 5
Its traditional jobs cover herding, pulling sleds and hunting.5
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 365, Group 5 Spitz and primitive types, Section 1 Nordic Sledge Dogs, with working trial; provisional acceptance 4 Sept 2019.1
- AKC
- Foundation Stock Service from 2017; moved to the Miscellaneous Class in 2024.2
- Dogs Victoria (ANKC)
- Utility Group (Group 6).4
- Russian Kennel Federation
- Recognised national breed.2
How many 30002
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Yakutian Laika. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI nomenclature: Yakutian Laika fci.beused for recognition, group
- Yakutian Laika - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, AKC status, history, population, fun fact
- FCI Standard No. 365 Yakutian Laika fci.beused for history, size, coat, colours, eyes, temperament, fun facts
- Dogs Victoria - Yakutian Laika dogsvictoria.org.auused for lifespan, exercise, grooming, habitat, group
- AKC - Yakutian Laika akc.orgused for uses, activities
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.