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NORTHEASTERLY HAULING LAIKA |
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During the 1940s,
Russian cynologists attempted to consolidate the multitude of existing
Northern draft/hunting/herding type dogs from Siberia and the Soviet Union
into six distinct breeds. This amounted to an exercise in "lumping."
They established four hunting or hunting/sledding breeds, one sledding/
herding breed and one pure sledding breed, although they recognized there
were other types that did not fit into these parameters.
The pure sledding
breed is the Hauling Laika, which is probably an amalgamation of various
native draft types. The standard established is one for a large hauling
dog, very similar to the Eskimo Dog or the Malamute.
Soviet cynologists
recognize the necessity for sled dogs in the most remote areas of Siberia
and the Arctic. They say dogs and vehicular transportation, even in the
1980s, complement each other.
Should a visitor
arrive in the lower Kolyman and Anadyr River areas of far east Siberia
during their short summer, says a modern Soviet dog writer, he would
immediately notice many idle, dirty dogs. They wander about, covered
with clumps of shedding hair and mud, seeming quite useless to the visitor.
But the locals know that the long, bitter winter is not far off. Then
the dogs grow a beautiful winter coat and work constantly. They pull
skiers (doing "skjoring") and haul sleds to all parts of the
tundra. They deliver the physician and veterinarian and supplies as
well as mail and news from afar.
This dog furnishes
warmth to his master when, during a sudden blizzard, every living creature
digs into a snow drift. And he can unerringly find his way home even
in blinding snow. Hauling dogs often second as hunting dogs as well.
A team of six to ten Hauling Laikas, pulling a load of 88-110 pounds
per dog, may average three to four miles per hour. This figures to 40-48
miles a day for a four to six day trip in -40 to -50 degree weather,
all on only about three pounds of fish a day per dog! Thus to this day,
the northern peoples of the Soviet Union love and respect their amazing
helpmates.
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