West Siberian Laika - breed description and dog character

Working dogs are always one step ahead of those bred for home keeping. West Siberian husky belongs to the first type of pets. She is famous for her stamina, activity, high intelligence and unwavering loyalty to the owner. A dog always needs a service, otherwise its fighting light will gradually subside. In the dog, both the pet and the guard dog, who unquestioningly carry out commands, get along well. But enough of the lyrics, let's deal with everything in more detail.

Generally accepted standards

West Siberian husky refers to a dog in a measure of large size, having a proportional body constitution.

1. Height and weight. It is worth noting that with the conduct of selection work, the growth of animals gradually decreased due to the fact that large individuals lost their former agility and looked disproportionate. Generally speaking, modern representatives of the breed should not be huge or too small. Rather, they are medium, compact. By weight category huskies are in the range of 16-22 kg. While their growth is 53-60 cm (females), 57-65 cm (males). We will immediately clarify that when assessing animals, body weight and growth do not play a special role. Most important is how the dog is folded.
2. Head. Wedge-shaped, with the correct form, not large and not wide, collected, slightly elongated. The forehead hardly sticks out, a straight line, clearly flows into the muzzle. Temechko with a nape clearly visible. The nose is straight, the muzzle is not too narrow. If you look at the dog from above, you will notice that the muzzle is widened in the area of ​​the fangs. Tightened cheeks and cheekbones make the dog serious, eye sockets visible weakly. The lip line has a rim that highlights the growth of the pet.
3. Eyes. They have an oval shape, slightly slanted, with pigmented eyelids. According to standard features, the iris should be painted in a dark color.
4. The ears. Sharp triangles of regular shape. Are mobile. When the dog is agitated, the ears extend slightly forward.
5. Teeth. Fangs are large, a complete set of teeth. The jaws are strong, the scissor bite, there is no protrusion of any of the jaws.
6. Nose. The correct form, movable, the lobe does not stand out. It is pigmented with a dark shade.
7. Body. The dog is famous for its rectangular physique. A square constitution is considered a serious flaw. Without fail, the body is elongated, toned, harmonious. The curved neck does not differ in length, it is moderately thick, muscular. The croup rises, passes into the hips with a certain roll. Breast brought down, wide, missed to the elbows. The groin does not flow sharply into the chest, but does not sag, it is taut.
8. Tail. It can be located like a sickle, the end must be thrown on the lower back. It is also allowed to be placed ring-shaped next to the croup or on the back.
9. Limbs. Joints are visible, limbs sinewy, strong, bone wide. The front and hind legs are perfectly even, on the hind legs are clearly visible. Joint angles are harmonious. Fingers have a lot of hair in the area of ​​partitions. Usually profitable to be removed, but not necessary. The dog with all his stance exudes confidence.
10. Wool. Due to the fact that the husky must survive in rather harsh climatic conditions, breeders have taken care of the appropriate type of coat. It is two-layered, consists of a lush, thick undercoat with oily impregnation and upper hairs. The coat is coarse and thick in structure, looks upright.The muzzle with paws is covered with medium-long hair. The neck, tail, and torso lines on the side can boast a fluffy "mane."
11. Color. By generally accepted standards, huskies are more like wolves, so the main color is wolf. All shades of gray, brown, red, white with brownish or black pigmentation are allowed. On wool there is a peculiar piebald or zonal pattern. On the limbs and muzzle there should not be contrasting blotches of a different color, because this is considered a defect. However, if these points fit harmoniously into the overall tone of the coat, this will not affect the pet's show career. It is worth remembering forever that West Siberian huskies cannot be black.

Dog Features

Many people who want to become happy owners of the breed presented confuse northern pets with oriental and other classifications. In fact, this is not surprising, because today there are 5-7 breeds that, by their external characteristics, are similar to the West Siberian husky.

Very often, individuals can be confused with huskies, as well as eastern brethren. In order not to make a mistake in choosing and not bring an oriental husky to the house instead of a Siberian one, carefully study all the criteria.

First, in terms of dimensions, the breed under discussion is smaller than its fellow tribesmen. By color, all characteristics are given above, there can be no other. However, eastern huskies by their standards may be black, which can not be said about the West Siberian.

Secondly, it is very important to learn a range of skills. Western dogs are much more aggressive in relation to outsiders. Of course, in most cases, they do not care about others. But eastern dogs in this regard show complete good nature. As for temperament, the eastern brothers can bear other pets and even play with them. While Siberian animals will not tolerate domestic cats from your own family.

Thirdly, oriental pets cannot be alone, they immediately become discouraged and lose their essence. Siberians, on the contrary, like to be alone away from a person, but not always. Both breeds require a master with a strong character who can scold for dirty tricks or warm them with their care and love.

It is also worth paying attention to one important fact. The West Siberian Laika is recognized as an independent breed by the International Kennel Federation. While eastern dogs are only a pedigree group.

Hunting qualities

By their nature, West Siberian huskies are born hunters who are endowed with appropriate reflexes. Dogs are perfectly adapted to the cold environment, they can track the game and drive it.

According to the reviews of the owners, it can be concluded that dogs are famous for their agility and perseverance. They have a craving for hunting in their blood, so it is advisable to satisfy the needs of the pet.

They like bear, sable, lynx, hoofed animals, etc. Endurance, strength, momentary reaction - these are the qualities of a real hunting breed. The dog is not typical of anger towards a person, but it can be trained as a guard.

Care and maintenance features

1. If you keep your pet in the aviary, then care will not present any difficulties. As for the conditions of keeping the animal in the apartment, here things are a little different. The first thing you may encounter is the hyperactivity of the animal. Likes need sufficient free space.
2. The pet should not feel constrained, he needs room in the movements. In addition, do not forget that the dog is very shedding. Therefore, a large amount of wool will constantly remain on furniture and carpets.You should not get such an animal if you are used to a measured lifestyle and spend most of the time at work.
3. Like needs to throw out all the energy and replace the hunt with any activities or workouts. The dog should be given long walks or active jogging. If the animal cannot "let off steam" on the street, do not be surprised at spoiled things in the apartment, there is nothing to be done about it.
4. Most people strive for the fashion and unusual appearance of the dog. Such owners think that the like is a formidable guard. You should immediately disappoint you, the breed presented is indifferent to strangers and may even show sympathy and friendliness.
5. It is worth noting that the Siberian husky is endowed with excellent health, the breed is not prone to hereditary pathologies. In addition, she assimilates food better than other relatives. If necessary, the pet will eat up with a margin. This feature is needed if you go hunting for several days, otherwise it will not be required.
6. Laika should be fed according to the usual schedule. 2 times a day for an adult is enough. It should also be noted that dogs are not picky about food at all, so there will be no problems with food.

Training and education

1. A feature of this breed is that they belong to monogamous, so the pet will be distinguished by devotion to the owner. Do not agree if someone offers to give you an adult. The dog does not recognize you, and will constantly yearn for the previous owner.
2. As soon as you get a pet, upbringing needs to be given a lot of time in the early days of an animal in the house. Therefore, try to take a little puppy and immediately begin to deal with it. In the future, problems with education will not arise.
3. First of all, the dog needs to be trained in standard commands. The animal must learn to obey you. Most often, say the command "You can not!". This way you can teach your dog discipline. Further training will be easier.
4. If you purchased a pet for hunting purposes, after six months with the dog you must go through special classes. After that, a husky needs to be dragged to hunt a certain type of beast. If necessary, consult a dog handler.

Health

1. It is worth noting that the harsh Siberian climate tempered the breed of dogs for a single century. Therefore, it is safe to say that the husky is one of the healthiest relatives. The dog easily survives to 15 years. Of course, if you do not follow the animal and do not provide proper nutrition, excellent health will quickly disappear.
2. Do not neglect leaving and do not ignore pet complaints. Perhaps he is trying to say that he is seriously ill. Visit your veterinarian regularly and get appropriate vaccinations. Health problems most often occur after playing, hunting and fighting with other dogs.
3. Therefore, be sure to inspect the pet after a walk. Likes can get emotional trauma. On the animal you can not break down, use physical force or simply do not care about the pet. The dog suffers the most from lack of attention. Also, do not forget to inspect the husky for parasites. Take appropriate action.

How to choose a puppy

1. If you come to the fact that you fully accept the characteristics of the animal and decide to make a strong, active and courageous friend, you should consider some of the subtleties when acquiring. Give preference to trusted nurseries or professional breeders.
2. In appearance, Siberian husky puppies can be very different. It is often very difficult to discern a breed or its absence. If you didn’t have a like before, contact a dog handler for help choosing an animal. A professional can easily select a thoroughbred puppy for you.
3. Do not get huskies from your hands, puppies of mutts can also be very similar to huskies. Try to get the dog from the breeders. At the same time, ask parents to show likes and related documents. Ask with what package of documents puppies are for sale. Pay attention to the class of the animal (work or show). The breeder should always advise you in case of any questions.

Siberian huskies are active and cheerful dogs. When getting such a pet, be prepared for the constant upbringing of the animal and frequent long walks. Do not neglect leaving. Be sure to keep a balanced diet. All the subtleties must tell the breeder.

Video: West Siberian husky dog ​​breed