The Yakutian Laika is an ancient native dog breed, developed naturally by the aboriginal peoples of North-Eastern Russia. For thousands of years, these dogs served as sled pullers and hunting companions, with archaeological evidence showing their use for sledding and hunting as far back as 8,000 years ago.

The first written reference to dogs in this region dates to 1633, while the earliest published account of Yakutian dogs appeared in Nicholas Witsen’s Northern and Eastern Tartary (Amsterdam, 1692), under the chapter How Yakutians Travel in Winter. A more detailed description followed in 1843 in Geography of the Russian Empire, where the Yakutian Laika was recognised as a “dog of a special breed.” By 1856, records in Statistical Tables of the Russian Empire documented more than 15,000 dogs in the Yakut region, primarily used for sled work.

The first Breed Standard for the North-East Sled Dog was established in 1958, which later became the foundation for the official Yakutian Laika Breed Standard published in 2005 by the Russian Kynological Federation.

For centuries, the Yakutian Laika has been an indispensable partner to the people of the Far North—hunting game, guarding homes, herding reindeer, and transporting goods through extreme Arctic conditions. Today, their remarkable versatility and resilience are celebrated not only in Russia, but also by dog enthusiasts across the world

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The Yakutian Laika Club UK was formed in May 2020 to promote the breed positively in the uk, to provide education, support and promote the breed to the best of our abilities. We also provide rescue back up and owner support for any YL in the UK