SHORT HISTORICAL SUMMARY: This breed was established by crossing the closely related Hantyisker and Mansijaker strains of Laiki with the dogs of the Russian hunters of the Northern Ural and Western Siberia. Apart from the native stock in the areas where hunting is practised, this breed is widely distributed in the middle zone of Russia, where there is a big number of these dogs produced at large breeding establishments. In quite a few hunting areas there are special kennels for the breeding of West Siberian Laiki.
We still can distinguish the Mansi- and Hanty-types of Laiki in this breed.
The Mansi Laika is lighter built, with narrower chest and longer legs. The head is more elongate with a longer muzzle.
The Hanty Laika is stockier built and slightly rangy. The head is broader and the muzzle is slightly shorter. The coat, especially on the neck and shoulders is stronger developed than in the Mansi Laika.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium size; strong and clean constitution; bone structure well developed but neither massive nor coarse; muscles strong and well developed.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Index of format (length of the body x 100: height at withers) in dogs 103 - 107, in bitches 104 - 108.

BEHAVIOUR/CHARACTER: Balanced, lively.

HEAD: Not large.

CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Similar in shape to an equilateral triangle.
Stop: Transition from skull to muzzle gradual, barely noticeable.

FACIAL REGION:
Muzzle: Long and pointed. Lips dry, close fitting.
Teeth: White, large; scissor bite.
Eyes: Oval, slanting, dark in colour.
Ears: Pricked, set on high, pointed.
NECK: Muscular, dry.

BODY:
Withers: Very pronounced.
Back: Strong, straight.
Loin: Short, supple.
Croup: Broad, muscular, slightly sloping.
Chest: Well developed.
Belly: Lightly tucked up.

TAIL: Strong curl; carried over back or buttocks.

LIMBS:
Forequarters: Legs long; muscular, slanting shoulders; pastern not long, slightly inclined.
Hindquarters: Muscular, strong, with well defined angulations of hocks. Dewclawns should be removed.

FEET: Oval, arched with tight toes.

GAIN/MOVEMENT: Typical movement: short trot, alternating with gallop.

SKIN: Thick; without any folds.

COAT:
Hair: Guard hairs of outercoat hard, well developed undercoat. Top coat straight and coarse. Thanks to well developed dense undercoat, it is somewhat "stand off" and appears profuse. On head, ears and front side of the limbs, the coat is short; on withers, neck, shoulders and rear side of the limbs, the hair is longer; it forms a beard on the cheek-bones, a collar on the neck and slight feathering on rear of limbs.
Colour: White, Pepper and salt, red and grey in all shades; black colour permitted, also particolours and with patches of the same colours.

HEIGHT: Height at withers in dogs 54-60 cm, in bitches 52-58 cm.

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.