Today, in almost every family there lives a pet that gives positive emotions to its owners. Just do not forget that any animal requires proper care, attention and care. If all this is not provided to the pet, he may get sick. The breed of hunting dogs husky comes from the tundra and forest-tundra zones of Eurasia. The characteristic features of the appearance of these animals are sharp muzzle and erect ears. Dogs of this breed are excellent hunters. In this review, we will take a closer look at what a European like is: a description of the breed, its features, grooming and other aspects.
Story
Where does the Russo-European Laika breed come from? There is practically no information about where these dogs came from. Experts explain this fact by the fact that few people in the north paid attention to these things. Likes have lived close to man for many centuries. No one was specifically involved in the breeding of this breed. The oldest images of such dogs are found on ancient Russian frescoes.
The traditional habitat of representatives of this breed is Europe, where aristocrats loved them very much in the Middle Ages. All like-like dogs abroad were called "Spitz". The first experiments on the artificial breeding of the species were carried out at the end of the 19th century by Prince A. A. Shirinsky-Shikhmatov, as well as dog handlers G. Poplavsky and M. G. Dmitriev-Sulim. Already at that time large nurseries were being created.
European Like became widely known in the 20s of the XX century. These dogs were indispensable helpers at the front: they were used to find mines, transport goods and people.
Types of huskies
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Huskies of all kinds are perfectly adapted to life in the north. For several centuries, local residents used these dogs to develop the territory.
There are several subspecies of this breed:
- West Siberian Laika. Appearance is determined by the standard FCI№306 from 10/13/2010. Male individuals can reach heights of 55-62 cm at the withers. Bitches grow to 51-58 cm. The dog has a strong and strong physique, the body length of the animal is slightly greater than the height at the withers. The breed is distinguished by pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are much larger and more courageous than females. Animals have a strong skeleton and well-developed muscles. The breed standard allows several color options: gray, red, zonal-gray, zonal-red, red-brown, fawn, piebald, white.
- Russian-European like. Photos of this breed will help establish the main differences from the West Siberian husky. The Russian-European variety is primarily distinguished by color. As a rule, it is black or black and white. The appearance of the breed is determined by the FCI№304 standard of 10/13/2010.
- East Siberian Laika. The dog has a compact, but rather dense physique. The head of the animal is quite large and massive, the skeleton is strong. Typical colors for representatives of this breed are: black with tan, black with white and pure black. There are also animals of gray, red, brown, fawn or spotted color. Breed standards allow for small specks on the limbs. The dog has a well-developed sense of smell. The breed is distinguished by credulity and good disposition. Perfect for hunting large animals.
- Norwegian Elk Husky. It has a compact proportional body and a flexible neck. A distinctive feature is thick, plentiful wool and a tightly curled tail.
- Finnish Spitz. The dog is of medium height, square format. Has a strong physique and proud posture.
Breed features
Regardless of the variety, all likes have a number of common characteristics. The main features of the breed, experts consider independence and love of hunting. However, despite his love of freedom, likes remain loyal to their owners. The animal shows a soft, flexible character, but in controversial situations it can still show discontent. Dog European Laika is characterized by increased curiosity. This circumstance should be taken into account when going for a walk. In pursuit of prey, the dog can run a decent distance. Small prey like just crushes and brings the owner. Larger beast - barks and holds up.
Like people are quite good-natured. Representatives of this breed are able to show aggression to humans only in an exceptional situation. They get along well with children and do not rush to strangers. A separate plus can be called the fact that likes respond well to training.
Maintenance and care
So what do you need to know about this? The European Laika breed is distinguished by its thick fur, due to which the animal perfectly tolerates low temperatures. But in hot weather the dog will be more comfortable on the street. Huskies are very active, they need long walks in the fresh air. It is better to walk the dog in an open space located away from the carriageway. If this is not possible, then the animal must be kept on a leash.
Huskies are fairly clean dogs. Bathing them is recommended only if necessary. But the hair of the animal should be combed regularly. This will avoid the appearance of warlocks.
The animal is unpretentious in food, but this does not mean at all that a husky can be fed leftovers. The dog needs a quality balanced diet that provides the body with all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. If you decide to feed your pet straight, then the set of products should be varied. The diet of the dog must include meat, river fish, cereals, vegetables and dairy products. It is also recommended to add special mineral additives to food. Adults are usually fed 1-2 times a day.
As for the volume of food, likes are not gluttonous. They can do without food for quite some time. If the dog’s food consists mainly of dry food, then preference should be given to formulations that are high in fat and protein. To compensate for the lack of mineral salts and strengthen the teeth, the animal is recommended to give tendons and bones. Laika can not be fed minced meat, sweet and flour products. Legumes of all kinds are strictly prohibited. The use of these products can adversely affect the condition of the gastrointestinal tract of the animal.
Try to inspect your pet’s eyes and ears regularly. If necessary, they should be cleaned. Also, after a walk, you need to check the dog's paws for splinters and abrasions.
Huskies with proper care live 10-14 years. However, there are cases when dogs of this breed delighted their owners until the age of 18. The main condition for a pet’s long life is long walks, good nutrition and the owners love.
Breed benefits
The East European Laika has many beneficial features for the owners. Keeping the breed simple enough. Huskies are playful and friendly towards a person, they are distinguished by attractive appearance and good health. In addition, these dogs are passionate hunters. For this reason, many people prefer to start this breed. In hunting, the animal takes a leading role. Laika herself decides when to perform an action. The pet distracts the attention of the prey on itself, which allows the owner to make a well-aimed shot on time. It is also important that the dog does not hunt for itself. She works for a person and, in case of unforeseen danger, without hesitation can sacrifice her life.
disadvantages
What are the disadvantages of the content of European likes? The animal has too thick hair and molts all year round, which can cause some inconvenience to the owners. In addition, keeping them in the apartment is quite difficult: likes are very mobile and active. They need daily long walks in the open. When starting such a dog, it is worth remembering that this is not a sofa toy. In a confined space, the dog will be unhappy. In addition, huskies cannot stand loneliness, they are extremely touchy and hard to tolerate separation from loved ones. The dog is also offended by injustice, and they will not tolerate it even from the owner.
Disease
Western European husky is in good health. These are very hardy individuals. This is largely due to the features of artificial selection: only physically strong and healthy dogs could benefit from hunting. However, there are a number of diseases that are characteristic of representatives of this breed. These include:
- renal failure;
- diabetes;
- deafness;
- retinal atrophy;
- glaucoma;
- hip dysplasia;
- bloating.
Training and education
East European husky is smart and smart. However, representatives of this breed do not really like to learn. Because of this, problems often arise during the training process. Classes will be successful only if the dog recognizes the leader in the owner. Only then will she agree to carry out his commands.
Some people think that likes are extremely moody. Only inexperienced breeders can say so. The difficulty of training is not due to the stupidity or laziness of animals. Huskies have a highly developed sense of self-esteem and are very independent. To train a representative of this breed, patience and certain skills are required. Training should be time consuming. Dog handlers also recommend alternating classes with rewards and games.
Laikes perfectly capture differences in intonation. If you constantly raise a voice on an animal, it can perceive it as an insult. You can’t use force and punish a pet: huskies do not tolerate abuse. The rude attitude of the owners can form a dog’s malice and aggression towards a person.
It is important to start training from an early age. The puppy must understand the simplest commands, know where its place is, what is possible and what is not. Only the right education will help you find a faithful and reliable friend.
Puppies
So, what should you familiarize yourself with first? Many today are interested in such a breed as the East European Laika. Photos of these puppies can not leave anyone indifferent. However, it is worth considering that choosing a pet is an extremely difficult task. First of all, you need to decide what you are getting the dog for. If the owner of the most important thing is the attractive exterior of the animal, then you should choose a pet, taking into account its external characteristics.
If you need a European like for hunting, then here you can not do just one look. Without thorough knowledge of breed characteristics and dog breeding skills, managing a husky will not be easy. These animals are independent and strong in character. Lovers of silence and homebodies, this breed is categorically not suitable.
There are situations when a person gets an adult dog. Laika Russian-European poorly tolerates a change of scenery. Representatives of this breed are monogamous. They can remain faithful to their first master for the rest of their lives. Most likely, they simply will not obey the new owner.
It is best to seek advice on choosing a puppy in the kennel. There, the future owner will be shown documents, as well as diplomas and certificates that their parents deserve. The deciding factor when choosing a pet should be its character - it is better to choose fun and playful puppies. The hunter is advised to buy medium-sized individuals. It will be possible to take the puppy to a new house when he reaches the age of 1.5 months.
Cost
Prices for European Laika dogs are quite affordable. This aspect should be given special significance. Purebred animals can be purchased at a cost lower than representatives of other hunting breeds. Buying puppies is recommended only from a trusted breeder.
As a rule, puppies without a metric or pedigree are sold for 5-7 thousand rubles. If you do not plan to breed professionally and take part in international exhibitions, this option would be ideal.
For a pedigree animal of the highest class, they usually ask from 10 thousand rubles. Such a high cost consists not only of the exterior and the purity of the pedigree, but also of the degree of fame of the nursery and the merits of the producer.
Many are interested in how much an adult Russian-European like costs. Photos of such animals can often be seen in ads for sale. The cost in this case depends on the size of the beast that the dog is capable of hunting. Belchatnitsy usually cost from 5 to 7 thousand rubles. The price of "companions" can reach up to 9 thousand rubles. Hunters for large animals are more expensive. Their cost starts from 10 thousand rubles.
Nurseries usually sell healthy and vaccinated pedigree puppies. There are actually not so many breeders specializing in husky breeding.
Conclusion
In this review, we examined in detail such an amazing breed of dogs as the European husky. Photos of these animals cause emotion for many. However, before deciding to get such a dog, one must carefully weigh the pros and cons. Likes are very independent and difficult to train. In addition, they need long walks in the fresh air. If you are not ready to spend a lot of time with your pet, then this dog is not for you. However, if you need a real hunter, as well as a loyal friend and companion, then a husky will become a wonderful pet. With proper care and compliance with the conditions of detention, the dog will delight you every day.