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Karelo-Finnish laika (KFL)
- Origin
of the breed
- Standards
of the breed
- Hunting
characteristics of the breed
- Photo album
- Video materials
 
1. Origin of the breed
Finnish
ancestors had bred from the Ancient times (long before they spread over the
territory of to-day Finland) a very nice, active and independent hunting
dog, that was later called Suomenpistikorva, or Finnish bird laika now
called Finnish Spitz (see photo with a bear showing an excellent male,
Champion of Finland for exterior and hunting qualities). This breed lived
and was cultivated over the territory of East Finland and Karelia for many
centuries. After the October Revolution of 1917 Finnish and Karelian
branches of these dogs became separated. Finnish dog-breeders went on
cultivating the breed as is, while Soviet Karels … in a word, Finnish bird
laika became mixed with other laikas. In spite of mixing with local dogs
Finnish bird laika preserved its breed and in the 30s was separated by the
dog breeders of Leningrad and made a
separate Karelo-Finnish type of laikas (KFL). Persistent work on
selection resulted in consolidation of the breed, increase in the number of
dogs. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War (1941 – 1945) a temporary
standard of the KFL was adopted in the USSR. This standard has been
practically unchanged nowadays (it is similar with the standard of the
Finnish Spitz but has some differences from KFL - tight coat characteristic
of the breed, not very bright color, acceptable big spots on the chest and
legs, not very rigid requirements to the shape of the ring tail and the way
it is worn). During the siege of Leningrad nearly all livestock of dogs was
eaten (sorry for telling the truth), although we managed to preserve some
fine breeders; besides our motherland plus Stalin took care of dog breeding
and set up a breeding kennel for local stock in Karelia, not far from the
village Medvezshjegorsk (the exterior of the dogs was worse in comparison
with Leningrad dogs). All these, sometimes heroic , efforts together with
delivery of pure Finns from Finland after the war, ensured that at the end
of 50s it was possible to increase livestock of KFL in Leningrad and
Moscow. The peaks of the development of the breed was in 50s and the
beginning of 60s and the end of 70s. There is a clear explanation to this –
post-war years were years of hunger, the 70s were characterized by scarcity
of food…, thus it was easier to keep a small dog.
KFL have
seen better days then now. At exhibitions, tests and hunts we can see a
small number of these dogs, we notice
cryptorchidism (retained testis), or we see toothless or untypically
small and slim dogs. I think that Russian dog-breeders should admit
honestly that there is a unique and wonderful breed of hunting dogs, i.e.
Finnish Spitz, and to concentrate efforts in order to revive this breed and
make it popular in Russia. And what
a splendid voice they have!
2.
Standard
of the breed
KFL is
the smallest of all Russian laikas. General physique of males is nearly
square, females are standing over more ground. The head is clear-cut,
relatively V-shaped. The muzzle is
clear-cut and pointed and much shorter than the sculp. The length of the
scalp equals or slightly exceeds its width. Transition from forehead to
muzzle is smooth but clearly noticeable. Occiput is not prominent. Ears
are rather small, with sharp edges, put wide. The eyes are round, the
darker the better. The dog has a lively and expressive look. The nose is
black, brown being acceptable for light-brown dogs. Haunches are
always lighter than the head and the back.
Limbs are slim, round paws. The fifth finger is
unacceptable. The coat is thick and tight. There is a ring tail or a curved
tail. The is all tints of ginger (pale yellow and light red are not good).
The color of the body is not homogeneous – the lower part of the body and
the tail are always lighter than the back and head. White spots on the
chest, tip of the tail and legs, some black hairs on the back and the upper
part of the tail are acceptable.
General
appearance. The dog is of small height and strong built, it’s lively.
Withers height is 42 to 48 cm for males and 40 to 46 cm for females.
Head. Seen from above it is V-shaped. Sinciput
and occiput are not prominent, transition from forehead to muzzle is hardly
noticeable. The upper line of forehead and the line of the muzzle are
parallel. The muzzle is pointed. The dog is dry-mouthed, with thin, tight,
not flabby lips.
Ears are rather small, pricked-up, nimble, in
the shape of slightly stretched triangle with sharp edges.
Eyes. The eyes are small and round, slightly
slanted, dark-brown.
Body. Deep chest, flat; strong withers,
straight and muscular back, short and domelike coupling, broad and short
rump, nearly horizontal, the belly is tucked up
Limbs are straight and parallel. Hind legs are
set a bit wider, than forelegs. The paws are round, the fingers are tightly
pressed.
Tail. Set high. Ring or pressed to a hip,
sometimes circle. Tail goes to the tarse or is 1 to 2 cm shorter. Evenly
coated.
Coat. The coat is thick and broken, straight.
Feathering on the neck, on the shoulders and on the wither makes side
whiskers and collar. The coat on the head, on the ears and on the front
side of the legs is short. There is some feathering on the rear side of the
hind legs. The tail is evenly coated, between the toes hair makes a small
brush covering foot sole.
3. Hunting characteristics of the breed
KFL has a
very excitable type of higher nervous activity, these dogs are very lively,
hot-tempered and have a good contact with man. They need understanding,
calm and gentle treatment; they are easily offended and cannot not stand
beating. KFL perfectly suits hunting small fur animals and birds. It has a
very fine ear which makes it good at hunting upland game, squirrels and
martens. There is also evidence of using KFL while hunting hoofs or even
bears.
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