History.
Within Russia, 6 official Laika breeds can be distinguished. The Laika breeds are closely related to the Scandinavian peak dogs and also to the Nordamerican and Greenland sled-breeds, such as the 'Siberian Husky'.
It is estimated that this breed is 5000-6000 years old. Archeological research shows that the Laiki have been bred in unchanged form for thousands of years, under scarcely changed circumstances in the remote landscapes of the extreme north.
The Russian name 'Laika' has been derived from 'lajatj', which is Russian for barking, and thus the name Laika actually means 'barker'. There are currently several official sub-breed names, however, until the 19th century the word Laika was used for a variety of dog breeds - apart from the real 'pricked-eared Northern dogs, also the old-Russian Brak, which is a probably extinct representative of the Podenco group: the ancient Hounddogs that have erected ears.
In the literature, the laiki were classified as 'Gontsjoi' = 'chasers' and placed with the hounds in one group .
 In spite of all, Laikabreeds are not a part of the hounds. A considerable part were used as shepherds or sled-dog.
In general the Basenji and various pariadogs in Africa, the Batakdog of Indonesia, the Australian Dingo, the Chinese Chow-Chow and the Dutch keesdog intended for a kind of common ancestor. Besides commits distinguish a northern and a southern group. In the north, the Keesachtigen would have gotten a heavier appearance through crossing with the heavy northern wolves. Some see even for instance the Chow Chow and the Akita Inu as precursors of the Dogachtigen and others speak of resemblances between the Basenji and Podenco's.
Many important researchers of the European north and Siberia directed the attention on the so-called 'northern pricked ears dogs' as they in the literature were mentioned.
Also gives the academic A. F. Middendorf (' Travel through North and east siberia', part II, 1869) in  its journeys of 1834 t/m 1844 details about the dogs in the Stanovoj-mountains.
The ToengoezenLaiki, occurring upstream along the Amoer, were described by L. Serve (1899) But also series of similar indications of others reached most rarely the official Russian huntingworld. The from origin very insulated regions were penetrated with all sorts of strange blood , so that it shortly everywhere came to bastardy.
Moreover the hunt-Laiki were crossed on considerable scale with the herderslaiki.
Pace at the end of the 19de century the first articles appeared about Laiki and the hunt with them, through Narysjkin, Seriousness, Cucagov, Poplavskij, Jasjerov and others. In 1848 there appeared a bow of M. G Dmitriev-Sulima over the hunt with Laiki on roar, elks, and lynx in the different districts where they were bred.  In this came the already to distinguishing of various types. On foundation of that came the first real attempt till monografical description and taxonomy of the famous bearhunter A. A. Sirinskij-Sikhmatov, who personal has studied the different races on the spot. In an article of him in the leaf 'Priroda i okhota' in 1896 he divided the Laiki in two divisions:

Group 1: The Zyrjaanse (Komi), Finnish-Karelian, Wogoelse (Mansijskische), Toengoezische (Jewenskische), Galitskische (Kostroomse), Wostjaakse (Oetmoertse), Norwegian, Boerjaatse and Sojotse (Toewinse) huntlaiki.

Group 2: The Laplandish (Saamskische), Nenetskische reindeer-herding and Yakutianlaika.

In General, later experts have agreed with this division , however with exception that under the Yakuten before many bastard-laiki prevented. Moreover A. A . Sirinskij-Sikhmatov showed the explicit and convincing interest of Laiki at the original population. In Petersburg, the laiki of the kennels of Naryskin (Podogari) got in small extent acquaintance.
 In the Twerskische government became except of through the large-scale kennel of A. A. Sirinskij-Sikhmatov in Wysjni  Wolosk through the known hound-expert N. PEN. Kisenskij  bred also on small scale Laiki.
The forester A. O. Emke, a wellknown publicist in the many Russian huntpapers from before the revolution, used also Laiki for the hunt on bear. In Moscow, that time were not many Laiki-breeders, but some huntbusiness (M. M. Mironov and others) had Laiki for the bear hunt. In Zowolzje, huntlaiki were held by o. a. M. G. Dmitriev-Sulima, Poplavskij.
In West-Siberia (Government Tomsk), Laiki were held and described by F. Zjalin and in Easthern-Siberia became Laiki not much previously held through a Jasjerov.

state-breedkennels
Round the last turn of the century there was much hunting with Laiki. Many about this was written in the huntmagazines of the close woodareas. Over the whole, the Laika remained till the October-revolution the dog of the Northern huntbusiness and had only small spread among the dog lovers, the kynologen in the cities.
The revolution of 1917 brought also a revolution in the hunt. The state monopoly on furwork (important export product) wanted to flourish the hunt. Instead of all sorts of forms of sport became the hunt as peoples occupation imported. Were hunt associations previously purify rich-man clubs, in 1920 Lenin signed a decree over the hunt, that the hunt associations became accessible for everybody. A state organ was set up for the hunt: Centrokhota.
An instigation of prominent hunters from the extreme North set up committee in the 30er years a special decree wanted to protect the Laiki against, what they called 'bloodpollution', the crossing with other races.
The population of the North had namely various fashion race, as German shepherds, dwarf races and such imported dogs and this bleed threatened the native Laika-material with 'pollution'. A complete import-ban for all dogs took care for it that only the own Laiki were used. The agriculture organ spread the paid-floating (herding-)Laiki to the East, so that in the reindeer-keeping sovchozen in the east by the Leny a state-breedprogram developed of reindeerherding Laiki , where also the shepherds got training in the intercourse with the herding-laiki and cattle on the meadow fields.
By the preservation and improvement of the sledlaiki, that are stretched in groups for the sled, in the eastern part of the extreme north a considerable role was played by the move of the breedmaterial of Nizjni-Kolymsk to the surroundings of the Yakutse ASSR. The zoötechnicus E. W. Schmit, member of the board of the Nizjni-Kolymskische zoötechnische top, observed the bastards under the local sledlaiki, and that led per 1930 till the obligation the breedprogram systematic and only with pure dogs was committed. The successful export took care for considerable improvements of the Molymskische Sledlaiki. The with explanation accompanied measures received the support of the population and authorities (De Nizjni-Kolymskische, Allaikliskische and Oestj-Janskische executive districts-committees of the jakoetse ASSR) Important measures consisted of mandatory castration of all dogs, that do no clean sledlaika-blood led and the foundation of special state-breedkennels.

Of the initial on own operating breedkennels very good results were made, that were confirmed by the exhibitions results to Moscow, by cooperation. An improved organization of the hunt household saw an increased interest for Laiki by a growing number of hunters and kynologen and not only in the north. The different rayon-bussines breedkennels woke also together at the training of inspectors, to promotion of the kynologie. Initially one distinguished not crossed might become three groups of separate Laiki, that mutually their typical, mutually different construction keep, to know: the huntlaiki, the herdinglaiki and the sledlaiki.
The Laika-races were classified in a system that became accepted on the Allrussian Kynological Congres of 1954, convened through the Ministry of Agriculture. Although subjected at vehement criticism became this division with majority of votes accepted. In 1959 confirmed the administration of the nature reservations and hunt household the standards of the 6 separate races: 4 Laiki for the hunt, 1 Laiki for the herding of paid and 1 as a sleddog.

The Russian-European Laika
In foundationthe Russian-European Laika descends of the Zyrjanskische (Komi) Laika.
Who there one sees, thinks with a Karelian Beardog to do, especially because he's also black and white. The first in the USSR applied standard also allowed other colors however, that prevented previously also well at the Karelian Beardogs, as unicolor black, pepper and salt (grey, grey-brown). Red principal color is wished considered as less, just as many ticking at the sorrow measures and depigmentated nose mirror. Whitter height for dogs 52-58 cm, bitches 2 cm less. Cross height 1-2 cm less then the scoundrel height.
Length-height proportions index (trunk length x 100: shoulder height) dogs 100-103, bitches 100-105. Coat hard, law, and adjust with good developed undercoat, on neck and shoulders sumptuous and a collar developed formative,
 on the scoundrel and back especially with males longer. Tail good swollen (of the hair), straight and hard, long at the underside, but without flag, on sorrow measures short and closed, the toes covering as a brush. The Russian-European Laika were bred especially in the north of Russia  and appears now also in the central lain command and are bred since a lot of years in large breedkennels. The race has approximately equal application by the hunt as the Karelian Beardog and Elkdogs in Scandinavia: for the hunt on birds, elanden, bear and also fish-otters. Importen of this race in Finland leaded to recognition in 1980 through the FCI. The FCI-standard nr. 304 appeared however only an extract  of the official Russian breedstandard.

The Karelo-Finnish Laika
From local Laiki, to know, the Olonetskische and Karelian, and crosses of them with the Finnish (bird)sptizdogs arose the Karelian-Finnish Laika.
The dogs will be  however for experts easily exchangeablely with the in our country known Finnish spits, which has been imported since the sixty years repeated in the USSRfor refreshing the meagre native blood.
The original spreadterritory of the Finnish spitzdogs stretched initial from over Sweden, Finland and Karelië; the last country has been divided between Finland and the USSR now. There are also no differences for what the use on the hunt concerned: Amongst others startling of fowls and with barking (from there probably their name 'Laika' = 'barker') indicate in which trees this are fled.
 Also they hunt on marten, ermine, squirrels and polecat.
The standards of the Finnish Spitz and the Karelo-Finnish Laika differ a little on a few small details. The Karelo-Finnish Laiki measure 42-48 cm at the scoundrel with dogs, bitches 2 cm less (by the Finnish Spitz resp. 44-50 cm and 39-45 cm). Length-height proportions index (trunk length x 100: shoulder height) dogs 100-102, bitches 100-103. Furcolor just as by the Finnish Spitz:  red in all nuances according to fixed shade. Nose mirror also black, but by sore light reddish specimens is  a brown nose mirror allowed,  this is not allowed by the Finnish Spitz. Also the Russian standard allow small white marks  at snout and forehead, belly and end tail, even as a black muzzle.

The Westsiberian Laika

Also used for the hunt, became the Westsiberian Laika created by mixing of local varietys of Laiki, and well in the first place the Hantejskische and the Manskische. The race was imported in the second half of the sixty years in Sweden, acquired however yet no international recognition.
The headtype of the Westsiberiaan is somewhat less broad then that of the Russian-European laika. Backs of the headknob good developed.
Eyebrow arc faintly developed. Backs of the head-skull part somewhat rounded off.  Stop not sharp expressed. Color: white, stained and multicolored, grey, red; grey-brown in all nuances. Black and black spotted permitted.
Height on the whitters for dogs 54-60 cm, with bitches 2 cm less.
Cross height with dogs 1-2 cm less then the scoundrel height, with bitches resemble or 1 cm less. Length-height proportions index (trunk length x 100: shoulder height) 104-108.

The Eastsiberian Laika
Just as the Westsiberian Laika used for the hunt (although he sometimes also as sled-dog were be used) on all sorts of game, not only birds and squirrels, but even on much larger game, sometimes even on tigers, so that of the race except of a high extent of mobility and sensitivity also a robust portion courage and especially also orientation-ability is desired (what besides for all jachtlaiki required is). The Eastsiberian Laika has been developed  from different local Laika-, mainly the Jewenskische, Lamytskische and Amoerlaika.
The race comes for in the woodareas of the river the Jenissej to the lake of Okhotsk. The official in the USSR set up standard, of which FCI-standard nr. 305 only is an exctract, is  a temporary and describes the different types of Eastsiberian Laiki  insufficiently, it's actual a composition and thus on many degrees conditional.
Height on the whitters for dogs 55-63 cm, bitches 2 cm less.
Length-height proportions index (trunk length x 100: shoulder height) for dogs 104-108, bitches 106-110. Weight 20-26 kilo. Color: sore differred, black is not named in the breedstandard, but photographs show well dogs in the black principal color. The temporary standard prescribes: pepper and salt, as well stained as a fur, white, grey, red and grey-brown in all nuances. Tickingof the size of a five-kopekencoin is permitted so far as in the same color as the trunk. Nose mirror black, but by unicolored white and faded furcolor is a brown nose allowed.

The Nenetskian Herdinglaika.
The name indicates the specialisation: the herding of reindeer on the meadows of the high North.
It is a diligent worker that can be trained best for the driving of cattle. The Nenetskische reindeer herding laika is in  particular degree related to  the with us known as white samojed. Russian specialists consider 'our' Samojed at most most as underbreed or a color blow of the Nenetskische Laika and amaze derself about it that our standard only the white color allow. Strong resemblances, especially in the use of reindeer herding, shows the breed with the in Norway, Sweden and Finland native samendogs  and Laplander herdingdogs. Others point out on the likeness with the Euraziër, a mix that  came tol position  through crossing of the wolveskeesdog and the Chow Chow.
In the USSR, the breed is  intensively used on the northern meadows for the herding and is bred mostly especially in the reindeerbreeding kolchozen (collective farms) and sovchozen (states-country business) of the Moermanksische and Archangelse districts, on the Tazowse and Gydojanse peninsula and also in Tsjukotka and Kamtsjatka.
The herding of reindeer require a mobile reindeerherder, who can move  just as  good on fixed ground as on ice. However this Laiki  also were used many for the hunt on birds (mainly water bird) squirrels, elks and even bear.
The crossing of reindeerherding Laiki with real huntlaiki had serious consequences for both kinds.
The crossing found place unfortunately on broad scale in the north of the Komi ASSR, in the Nenetskische and Jamalo-Nenetskische national district. Such crosses that when the herds became  in large woodareas showed huntpassion and hunted on young cattle instead of herding them, used by the hunt  on the other hand crosses had too little huntpassion and too little real trackdesire. Reason for these crosses was that particular cattle-traders their dogs through crossing better truce wanted to make against particular environment influences, as the mosquitoes and other bloodsucking insects in the summer.
In appearance, the Nenetskian herdinglaika does think of the Lappdog. The form of the head differs from the hunting Laikabreeds by a stronger curve of the skull. Fur long, closed with very good developed undercoat, her law, good stiff and strongly. Scoundrel and cross height with dogs 45-54 cm, with bitches 40-50 cm. Color: white, black, red, as well stained as spotted.

The North-Easthern sled-Laika
The most important means of person- and cargotransportation of the local settlements and the coast population. Except  for the sledtrips were this sled-laiki often be used for the hunt.
Downstream the Kolymy and that one tributaries show sled-laiki their talent on elks. When it still was allowed were they even used in groups of eight until thirteen dogs for the hunt on icebears. Where it was permitted were sled-laiki used for the hunt on wild reindeer.
The basis of the breedprogram of these dogs in the USSR finds one now at the lower course of the large northern rivers: the Obi, Jenissej, Leny, Klymy, and even by the Jany, Indigirki, Anadyrja, moreover at the coast strip of Tsjukotka, Kamtsjatka, the lake of Okhotsk, the mouths territory of the Amoer, the coast territory of Sakhalin, Nova Zembla, the entire coast territory around the Beringssea and the Jakoetse ASSR. Former authors in the west described this race often under the indication of Kamtsjatka-Laika.

It is a sturdy  dog, good equal to the climate. Height on the whitters with dogs minimally 60 cm, bitches 58 cm.
Cross height 1-2 cm less. length-height proportions index 109-110. Fur long, coarse, good protective against the raw northpole circumstances. Undercoat long and closed. Particularly thick coat on the neck, along cross, on shoulders and hip. There are dogs for with softer and longer hair. Long and briskly her in increasing extent on the feet, between toes, the cushions protecting against directly touch of the snow. Color: black, white, grey, grey-brown, as well colorfully as stained, also superior color with each other. Headtype broad and solid, forehead, with  not large, but noticeable stop. Muzzle short, massif, broad and what to above directed, intensified. Lips tight and closely fitting.
 Nose mirror black or  brown. Ears standing, very high placed and a little short,  broad at the basis, stump at the ends. Tail reaches till at the leap joint, sometimes somewhat shorter. Of form commits the state circle formation to be, hanging with a curl at the top or in a stiff curl over the back. In some districts, one cuts the tails with dogs of this breed.

**This article appeared earlier in the eighties in the dutch dogmagazine "Onze Hond"
and is written by Leo Bosman
Translated by Jolanda Wessing