Nenets Herding Laika - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
The Nenets Herding Laika was developed by Nenets people, also known as Samoyed people and over the time it spread all over the northern parts of Russia, stretching from Kola peninsula to Chukotka. It is believed that they evolved from ancient dogs from paleolithic era and that they are almost unchanged to this day, which would make it one of the oldest breed in the world. But there are no written evidences about the breeds ancestry, so we will never be 100% sure about its history.

2) Reindeer herding
The original and main purpose of the Nenets Herding Laika is herding reindeer. The breed is also sometimes reffered to as Reindeer Laika or Reindeer Spitz. The Nenets people bred these dogs to herd and guard their herds of reindeer and to move them from one pasture to another. They are very tough dogs that can live and
be with the reindeers even in extremely harsh weather conditions. It is also very endurant, alert, loyal and attentive dog with great bark, all very important traits for herding.

3) Almost extinct
For a very long time the breed lived in isolation and it remained pure. But with the industrial and transport progress, it was easier to access the area of Nenets people and other non-native dogs began to intermix with the Nenets Herding Laika population. This lowered the purity of the breed and at the end of Soviet Era, it was believed that there are no pure Nenets Herding Laikas left. Luckily, the pure specimen survived in lower numbers and these dogs were used to save the population of this breed. Today, the breed is still extremely rare, but not on the verge of extinction anymore.

​4) Hunting
The Nenets Herding Laika is not only a reindeer herder. The word laika is used in russian language to describe all the spitz like hunting dog breeds. And even though the Nenets Herding Laika is less commonly used for hunting, they can still be very good at it. They do have a prey drive and chasing instincts and excellent sense of smell and hearing.

5) Sledding
It is believed that Nenets people were not traditionally using Laikas as a sled dogs. But some arctic explorers did use them for sledding and they performed very good. The most famous explorers who used Nenets herding laika for sledding were Alexander Borisov and Fridtjof Nansen.
6) Companion

Of course, this is not only a worker. The Nenets Herding Laika can make good companion pet for active people and families. It is very active, energetic and lively dog, so it is extremely important to provide this dog with plenty of physical and mental exercise. The breed standard describes the Nenets Herding Laika as a dog with lively and agile temper, that is easily trainable, that can be trained different skills and that can be wary of strangers. This is a loyal dog breed that creates a strong bond with its owners. They can happily live with other dogs in the households and they can be good playful partners for kids, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. The Nenets Herding Laika is an affectionate, smart, independent, loving and loyal companion.

7) Size
This is a medium sized, strong and athletic dog breed, with average height between 40-52 cm, which is 15-20 inch and weight between 10-15 kg, which is 22-33 lbs. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males.

8) Coat and color
This dog breed evolved in very cold region, so it is not surprising, that it posses a very dense doublecoat, which is protecting it from harsh climate. The coat comes in two varieties, long and short. The guard hair are stiff, longer and harsh, while the undercoat is very soft. This breed can be solid or bi-colored and the typical colors are grey, red, brown, white, sable and piebald.

9) Maintenance
Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention grooming and maintenance as well. This breed does shed all year long, more heavily during the shedding seasons. They do not need any special care about the coat, but regular brushing is definitely beneficial to remove all the dead and loose hair. No other grooming is required. Just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.

10) Health
This is usually very healthy and hardy dog breed with average lifespan around 14 or 15 years. There are no scientific studies about the breeds health, but it is not connected with any serious genetic health issues. Of course, some individuals might suffer from joint and bone problems, some eye problems, skin problems, allergies or infections, but is should not be very common.