Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain dog breed · 927 on Animalso
West Siberian Laika
- Animal
- Dog
- Origin
- Russia
- Height
- 51 cm
About the West Siberian Laika
The West Siberian Laika, or WSL, is a spitz-type hunting dog from Russia. The name has been used broadly for hunting dogs associated with the Mansi and Khanty people of the Urals and West Siberia. Formal standards and registrations began in 1930, while World War II interrupted development. Systematic breeding and registration resumed in 1946, when the breed began taking its modern form. Earlier hunters referred instead to Mansi Laika and Khanty Laika, and some Ural hunters still used Mansi Laika in the early 1960s. In Russian, Laika comes from a word meaning “to bark,” reflecting the breed’s role as a bark pointer. The dog is versatile by use and environment, though it has become more specialized in some regions. Its listed height is 51.
What stands out
- Spitz-type hunting dog
- Versatile by use and environment
- Modern breeding resumed in 1946
- Bark-pointer working tradition
Worth knowing
- History includes wartime disruption
- Name was once loosely applied
- More specialized in some regions
Who it suits
It suits people interested in a Russian hunting dog with Mansi and Khanty regional roots. Its versatility may appeal to readers considering different working environments.
In short
The West Siberian Laika is a Russian hunting dog shaped by regional traditions and postwar registration. Its barking role, versatile use, and later specialization help define the breed.
More dog breeds from Russia
Bakhmull Russia Photo: Radobark · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Chukotka sled dog Russia Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain 
East Siberian Laika Russia Height 53 cm Photo: PrzemekL · Public domain 
Moscow Water Dog Russia Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain 
Russian Hound Russia Photo: Steve369 · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Russkiy Toy Russia Height 25 cmWeight 2.3 kg Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain Photo credits9 photographs on this page
- West Siberian Laika — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- Bakhmull — Radobark · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Borzoi — Taru T Torpström · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Chukotka sled dog — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- East Siberian Laika — PrzemekL · Public domain · file page
- Moscow Water Dog — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- Russian Hound — Steve369 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Russkaya tsvetnaya bolonka — Grebdnil · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Russkiy Toy — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.