West Siberian Laika vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison

West Siberian Laika vs Abruzzenhund - Breed ComparisonWest Siberian Laika is originated from Russia but Abruzzenhund is originated from Italy. West Siberian Laika may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Abruzzenhund. West Siberian Laika may weigh 22 kg / 48 pounds lesser than Abruzzenhund. Both West Siberian Laika and Abruzzenhund has almost same life span. Both West Siberian Laika and Abruzzenhund has almost same litter size. West Siberian Laika requires Low maintenance. But Abruzzenhund requires Moderate maintenance

History

west siberian laika - historyThe West Siberian Laika come from the Khanty and Mansi tribes of West Siberia and Ural. They are a primitive breed used for hunting and come from the spitz and wolf lines. They retain many of their primitive looks and traits to this day. They were pre-historic companions to human hunters and remain so today in the northern regions of the Russia. They were never sled dogs but pure hunters throughout their journey to a domesticated breed. They hunted in the forests of the mountainous regions and were adapted to hunting in the woods. When their prey was hunted almost to extinction, the Laikas were also in danger of disappearing.

From the early days of the 1900’s through the first World War, there were several campaigns to save the WSL from extinction. A breed standard was developed around the 1930’s. Following the war the breeding programs became more uniformed and followed the standard that was in place. World War II disrupted it again, but once again it was resumed after the war.

The breed was once again threatened by industrialization and deforestation in the early 20th century, as they were replaced by newer, more popular breeds. There were thought to be dozens of aboriginal Laikas with various groups attached to different groups of indigenous hunters.

Following the second World War and the ever increasing detail of breed standards, the Laikas were divided into four pure bred groupings: the West Siberian Laika, the East Siberian Laika, the Russ-European Laika and the Karelo-Finnish Laika. All of these breeds are Laikas because they are bark pointing hunters.

They were imported to the U.S. in the early 1990’s by a Russian immigrant. Vladmir Beregovoy is credited with bringing the breed to the States. There are now about 300-400 West Siberian Laika’sin the U.S. They are a very emotional breed, very in touch with his human’s feelings, habits and intentions. He is a barker for sure who hates to be left alone. An intense breed with the need for companionship and a purpose. They will do anything to escape a pen if left alone for long periods of time.

The breed is protective of its people with other animals and some are wary of strangers. He needs an active family to match his active spirit. They will bark at all wild life including all the squirrels in your yard. So if don’t want a “barker”, don’t get a West Siberian Laika.

They are recognized by the United Kennel Club, the American Canine Association the Dog Registry of American and the Federation Cynologique Internationale

abruzzenhund - historyAbruzzenhund was established as an individual breed in the middle of the 20th century. They are descendant of the big, white Eastern sheepdogs which came to Europe 2000 years ago. Abruzzenhund is a mix of Turkish sheepdogs Akbash and Karabash, the Kuvac, Slovakian breed Hungarian breed, Komondor, and a French sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Those dogs were much bigger than today’s breed. Abruzzenhund is still not very popular breed, but it is very common in Great Britain and Italy. They have been used as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and working dogs because they are very brave and strong.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Russia
Italy
Height Male:
56 - 61 cm
22 - 25 inches
60 - 73 cm
23 - 29 inches
Height Female:
53 - 58 cm
20 - 23 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 23 kg
35 - 51 pounds
30 - 45 kg
66 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 20 kg
30 - 45 pounds
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
6 - 9
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
WSL, Zapadno-Sibirskaia Laika
Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog
Colors Available:
gray, white, white with patches
Black, Cream, White, Grey and Brown
Coat:
double coat
Profuse and Long
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Protective, Stubborn, Territorial
Courageous, Independent
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

west siberian laika puppy - descriptionThe WSL comes from the Spitz line and also directly descendent from the wolf. They look and act a lot like a wolf in many ways. They have retained much of their primitive traits. With a pointed, long muzzle, an almost square head, and square body, they have wolf colored coats of gray and red. They are mostly medium in size but some can be smaller or larger. Their head is shaped like a wedge, their eyes are typical almond shape and set deep in their head. They are brown or even darker. The muzzle is almost as long as the skull. Their lips are thin and black. The ears are straight up and pricked.

They have bodies longer than they are tall with a lot of musculature. They carry their tail high over their backs. With straight legs and forward feet, with gray, red and white coats, they still look like wild dogs.

abruzzenhund puppy - descriptionA height of Abruzzenhund variates between 60-73 cm, males are slightly bigger than females. While the weight is 30-45kg, again, males are heavier than females.

Lifespan of Abruzzenhund

Abruzzenhund lifespan is between 11-13 years, but since these dogs don’t have any weaknesses and don’t tend to get sick, they can live longer with a proper care and adequate food and training.

Litter size of Abruzzenhund

Litter size of Abruzzenhund depends, but as any large breed, they usually have 6-9 puppies. And that is a very good considering size of the breed.

Abruzzenhund is not the only name of this breed. There are more names that you might hear. You can hear names like Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog, and many similar names. Basically, they sound similar but there are differences.

Abruzzenhund is a friendly dog, but it is very powerful. Very strong jaw with a scissors bite makes them very strong. They have small but intelligent eyes, usually dark colored. The undercoat is dense, while the coat is white with segments of ivory to white yellow. Their long undercoat and coat make them winter resistant.

Characteristics

1 Children Friendliness – Yes they are ok with children but not unsupervised.

2.Special talents stamina, agility

west siberian laika dog - characteristics3.Adaptability This is not really an apartment dog though he can adapt. He needs outdoor space to run everyday. So if in an apartment find a dog park for everyday use.

4.Learning ability – Highly trainable and very smart. Independent thinker though might cause some issues.

abruzzenhund dog - characteristicsAbruzzenhund is a very well-balanced breed who loves spending time with other animals and people. They have a very good temper. They love being around families, and they are very gentle with children. It is important to train Abruzzenhund properly because the dog of that size should be a leader. A human with a strong character should train this breed. Training is important because they tend to make their own decisions which can be bad sometimes.

Health Problems

west siberian laika puppies - health problemsHealth wise there are no genetic health issues known today. Since they were so wild, primitive and isolated there was not a lot of inbreeding to any standards. There are however some interesting health facts about the WSL.

• Females only come into estrus once a year, usually in the late winter. They are usually one to two or two and a half years old when this happens. The Russians who know them best frown on breeding them before they are at least two.

• They are subject to many of the same parasites and some diseases like any other canine. But they are not susceptable to any illness specific to their breed.

• Hunting accidents might bet he biggest health threat this breed faces at the moment.

• However with more dogs being bred for the show ring, this could all change and genetic issues could begin to pop up for them.

abruzzenhund puppies - health problemsA great thing about Abruzzenhund is that they are very healthy dogs. They don’t have any chronical health problems, so if you are feeding your dog properly, with a lot of exercises they will not have any health problems. It is also important to check genetics of the dog.

Caring The Pet

west siberian laika dogs - caringperformance, working dog food. High in protein and fat is needed to maintain their lean muscle. Don’t over feed them as they will become obese and they will be unhappy if their physical activities are restricted, even if by their own weight. Be sure you break up their day’s food amount into 3-4 smaller meals.

2.Feeding the adult – Almost everything is equally true for the adult. They need a high protein and high fat food – a high performance food. Don’t over feed and give them at least 2 meals per day.

3.Points for Good Health – as previously mentioned this is a hardy and robust breed,

4. Games and Exercises They need a lot of exercise, have a strong prey drive and are very intelligent. A dog with those traits that does not get enough exercise will drive you crazy if he is not stimulated.

abruzzenhund dogs - caringThey learn very quickly, but it requires strong will and constant training to keep them happy. They are great working dogs, and with the positive training, they are amazing. It is very important that they follow rules and to keep them in balance with training.

Feeding Abruzzenhund

They can eat a lot of food, depend on their activity. High-Quality dog food twice a day for a grown dog is a must. While puppies should eat 3-5 times, smaller portions of food. The food is important especially for working dogs, they need up to 2000-3000Kcal per day. Abruzzenhund will enjoy eating meat with a lot of vegetables and oil.

They are not recommended for small house or apartment. They need big yard because they require a lot of space. During the winter they can be outside because of their coat, but during the summer they need to be in the shade with a lot of fresh water available anytime.

Grooming the Abruzzenhund

The coat should be brushed and groomed very often because they have a thick coat. There is a lot of dead and loose hair in it. During shedding, period takes even more time to groom your dog properly. They love and they need exercise. Mental exercise is important as physical. Every day walking, running, playing with other animals is an important part of dog's activity. When they get enough quality exercise, they will sleep in the house.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. West Siberian Laika vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  2. West Siberian Laika vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. West Siberian Laika vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  4. West Siberian Laika vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. West Siberian Laika vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  6. West Siberian Laika vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  7. West Siberian Laika vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  8. West Siberian Laika vs Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever - Breed Comparison
  9. West Siberian Laika vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  10. West Siberian Laika vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  11. West Siberian Laika vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  12. West Siberian Laika vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  13. West Siberian Laika vs Lagotto Romagnolo - Breed Comparison
  14. West Siberian Laika vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  15. West Siberian Laika vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. West Siberian Laika vs Shikoku - Breed Comparison
  17. West Siberian Laika vs Slovakian Hound - Breed Comparison
  18. West Siberian Laika vs Small Munsterlander - Breed Comparison
  19. West Siberian Laika vs Sussex Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. West Siberian Laika vs Kooikerhondje - Breed Comparison
  21. West Siberian Laika vs Welsh Springer Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. West Siberian Laika vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  23. West Siberian Laika vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  24. Wetterhoun vs West Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs West Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  27. Akbash Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  28. Abruzzenhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  30. Rough Collie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  31. Bouvier des Flandres vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  33. Saarlooswolfhond vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  34. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  35. Huntaway vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  36. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  37. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  38. South Russian Ovcharka vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  39. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  40. Akita vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  41. Samoyed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Labradoodle vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  43. Cane Corso vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  44. Alaskan Malamute vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  45. Mixed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  46. Bullmastiff vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  47. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  48. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  49. Bloodhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  50. Great Pyrenees vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds