MyDogBreeds
Both Spitz and East Siberian Laika are originated from Russia. Both Spitz and East Siberian Laika are having almost same height. Spitz may weigh 16 kg / 36 pounds more than East Siberian Laika. Both Spitz and East Siberian Laika has almost same life span. Spitz may have more litter size than East Siberian Laika. Both Spitz and East Siberian Laika requires Moderate maintenance.
A spitz is not a breed of dog, but rather a “group or family” of dogs that has its roots in Germany. Within this family there are a variety of breeds that were bred for very specific purposes by people in many different parts of the world. The spitz family can be toy dog size up to vey large. Examples run from the Pomeranian to the Canadian Eskimo Dog.
The Spitz family dogs share the look of thick, long fur and pointed muzzles, ears and curly tail. Despite their German name, they are thought to originally be of East Asia or Artic descent. Most of today’s spitz are from Siberia’s Artic region, first described in 1788 and in English in 1792. Spitz have been bred for three types of jobs depending upon where they were developed. These jobs included pulling, herding and hunting.
There are very powerful and large Spitz breeds that pull or hunt large game. Examples of these breeds are the Swedish Elkhound, the Akita Inu, the Norwegian Elkhound and the Karelian Bear Dog. The smaller sized breeds like the Samoyed hunted small mammals and birds, while the Finnish Lapphund, Lapponian Herder, and Swedish Lapphund herded, hunted and pulled small sleds.
The three largest spitz also pulled sleds throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In most places the Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Alakan Malamute and the Greenland dog were used in sled racing and fur trapping while in Canada and Alaska the Siberian Husky was used for the same things.
Recently there have been genetic tests that show a large number of dogs that are considered Spitz type so share many strong ancestral ties and DNA similarities with wild wolves. It is now believed that a lot of these breeds were intentionally mated with wolves and some were accidental. Both domestic and wild dogs are included in this history.
Most spitz are made for cold weather, even today’s lapdogs, like the Pomeranian, do not do well in hot climates.
The East Siberian Laika Is a Russian dog developed for hunting in Siberia. The breed is a spitz type and good hunting large or small prey. It hunted squirrels and grouse as well as moose, mountain lions and bears. In the cold, snowy Siberia it was also a sled dog. There are four types of Russian Laikas: the West Siberian Laika, the Karelo-Finnish Laika, the East Siberian Laika and the Russo-European Laika.
Dog from the Evenki National Territory, the Lake Baikal region, the Maritime Territory, the Irkutsk Province, and the Amur River basin were the breeding groups from which the East Siberian Laika developed. In 1947 the East Siberian Laika was designated as a separate breed from the other Laikas. All 4 Laikas were registered as separate breeds at the All -Union Cynological Congress. Biologist K.G. Abramov is credited with developing the first standard for the breed.
The breed is recognized by the American Canine Association, Inc (ACA), the Dog Registry of America (DRA) as well as the FCI. They are not recognized by the UKC or the AKC. Only the government breeds the East Siberian Laika in Russia.
Most of the spitz breeds share a “look” that includes erect ears, stocky heavy, usually double coats, a pointed muzzle, thick, fluffy ruffs and a heavy curled tail carried high over the body. Build for northern climates they are insulated by a undercoat that is waterproof and dense and a less dense topcoat. Their ears are small to prevent frostbite and their paws have thick fur to protect them in the frigid, icy terrain.
Many still have wolf-like looks and tendencies. Some are very difficult to train to be companions – the Akita, Chow and especially the Karelian Bear Dog – fall into this category. Many mixed breed dogs are also considered members of the Spitz family. These dogs are easy to recognize as spitz because of these physical characteristics
Within the East Siberian Laika there are several different types, but two important ones are the Evenki and Irkutsk. Of all the Laikas, the East Siberian is the most diverse in physique and in color. It is a rangy dog, heavy boned and proportionately appears square. It has triangular, erect ears and a tail that curves over his back. The shape of his head can vary within the regions and the types.
1.Children friendliness excellent with almost all the breeds. Be careful of size. Smaller breeds may not be as friendly and larger may knock down small children.
The East Siberian Laika is bred to hunt and hunt large prey as well as small. For this reason, he usually doesn’t get along well with other dogs or other large predators. Other wise he is a calm; well-mannered dog and he can be a very good watch dog. They are very trainable and make great companion dogs.
The East Siberian Laika is the calmest and quietest of the four Russian Laikas. They are very affectionate and loyal to their families. They love to walk, jog, hike, run or camp with their family.
It is a little harder to characterize the health issues of a family of dogs than it is a .will overheat in hot climates due to their double coats. Here are some propensities of dogs in the Spitz family.
• Thrombopathia bleeding disorder with the risk of a hemorrhage, platets don’t clot.
• Larger breeds are affected by Elbow and Hip dysplasia that can cause arthritis and lameness.
Besides injures related to hunting, the East Siberian Laika is prone to several other conditions including dysplasia and:
The contents of the dog’s abdomen come through the abdominal wall at the umbilicas. They are surgically repaired.
1Feeding the puppy The Spitz family has high energy needs but in a slow-release so they need protein more than grain. Puppies should be fed 3-4x a day in small meals. Don’t overfeed them.
2.Feeding the adult – The Spitz type dog stores their energy to use in extended periods when working or playing. They will become obese if overfed or if they don’t get enough exercise. Feed 2-3X a day in small or medium sized meals, even the larger breeds because of their storage of calories.
4. Games and Exercises – Having been bred for endurance and stamina most Spritz breed need plenty of exercise, lots of space and lots of play. They love to run, jog, or play games. They are outdoors types who love to hike, and run or walk for long times over long distances. They are great in cold, wet weather but not so good in the heat. How much exercise they need depends on the size and history of the specific breeds. Most love to play with other dogs, so dog parks and dog day care can both be good choices for most of them. Agility, barnhunt, field trials, pulling games are all good choices.
This is an active, working dog and should be fed accordingly. Probably 1.5-2 cups of high quality dry dog food, two times a day.
The East Siberian Laika is an ancient breed and fairly healthy though prone to dysplasia:
The hip socket is not formed correctly, and the bone cannot fit properly causing lameness and/or arthritis.
Primary lesions and cartilage surrounding the elbow join and resulting in osteopathic injuries.
Again, this is a working dog. They need at least a half hour of moderate/vigorous exercise every day. A fenced in ran is a plus. You will also need to play with him to keep him from getting bored. Catch, flyball, or agility would all suit this breed well.