Yakutian Laika: An indigenous breed from Russia's diamond land (PHOTOS)

This dog is easily recognized by its unusual coat pattern: it has black, gray or red spots on a white background. It also often has different-colored eyes: one blue, the other brown. And it seems as if it can see right through you!

The Yakutian Laika is one of those dogs that, in ancient times, was the constant companion of the inhabitants of Russia's coldest region. As early as the 17th century, explorers Semyon Dezhnev and Semyon Remezov described dogs living on the banks of the distant Siberian rivers Indigirka, Omolon and Kolyma.

Yakutian dogs pulled sleds loaded with cargo and provided mail service between settlements. And the distances there are no joke! A Laika would cover dozens of kilometers a day and over 100 without a load. In addition, the Laika was also taken along for hunting.

Despite its ancient history, the breed itself was only described in detail in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The modern breed standard, meanwhile, was only established in 2005. And now it can be seen not only in the Far North.

Like other sled dogs, the Yakutian Laika, of course, loves to spend a lot of time outside, especially when there is snow! It's a very fluffy breed that has adapted to freezing temperatures over the centuries.

It also gets along great with children, almost becoming a nanny to them. However, it gets very sad when lonely and if you leave it alone for too long, it will regularly let you know exactly what it thinks of your work schedule!