What kind of breed characteristics of the appearance, psyche and behavior of our breed and what distinguishes it from other Spitz-like dogs (Laikas), including its German and Scandinavian descendants and, from now popular youngest cousin, the Samoyed?  As we know, all Laikas and Spitzes are weakly differentiated into different breeds and some of them are very similar to each other.

Official breed standard of the Olenegonka put together at the first recognition as the Reindeer Herding Spitz characterizes the breed as naturally harmonious and functional.

At a glance, the Olenegonka has an unmistakably “northern” appearance.  To some people, it resembles a kind of wild animal, such as polar fox, just a fox, a bear cub or little known, wolf-like animal.  White and larger size Olenegonkas, especially grown up puppies, are not distinguishable from the Samoyed.  Gray Olenegonkas can be easily shown like Wolfspitzes.  Brown, black, red, piebald and pinto Olenegonkas are very similar to the Lapphund and the German Spitz.

Reindeer Herding Spitz is not big, but medium to smaller than medium size dog.  Height at the shoulder is slightly different from those offered by older writers about the Olenegonka.  Our results obtained during survey of the most typical showed that males were from 41 to 52 cm, average 47; females were 37-48 cm, average 44 cm at the shoulder.  Dogs were measured in a quiet and not tired state.

Professor N. A. Smirnov (1936) based on his own materials on Laikas found that males were 40-54 cm, average 47 cm at the shoulder.  He added that optimal size in western regions of the north should be 42-45 cm and in the eastern regions, where snow cover is loose, it should be higher, from 45 to 50 cm.

The breed standard, for the purpose or preservation of the breed and involvement of maximal number of dogs in the breeding pool, offers rather wide range of variation of height: males 44-52 cm and females 40-48 cm at the shoulder with allowed deviations in either direction up to 2 cm.

Index of body proportions of the Olenegonka stipulated in the standard is in males 102-104 and in females 104-108, which makes the dog look very compact despite profuse coat.  The body proportion index is measured as a ratio of body length measured from femur/scapula joint to pelvis to height at the shoulder.  Males are particularly compactly built, more robust and taller on the front legs and with richer coat even during shedding time.

Coat color of Olenegonkas is mainly like in wild canids, but unlike in many cultured breeds, it is diverse.  In the past, there was no selecting for a certain coat color, like it happened, for example in the Samoyed.

Coat color includes such pigments like black, red (yellow), and brown.  Black and red are often combined, but the brown produces coat color independently. Henceforth, come the original set of coat colors of Olenegonkas as well of other primitive Spitz-like dogs (Laikas).  Coat colors may be gray, red and mixed, such as gray-red, and brown.  The intensity of coat color varies from white to almost black.  All these coat colors are so-called zonary; each hair has differently pigmented zones and its distribution over the body also has zones.  As a result, there are lighter colors on muzzle, lower parts of body and posterior sides of legs and lower side of the tail.  This is particularly well visible on dogs pigmented well, but not too profusely.  These lighter pigmented zones should be distinguished from spots, albinotic patches with well marked borders.  Moderately pigmented dogs display lighter and  darker pigmented zones along the back, margins of ears, upper tail, frontal side of legs and in upper parts of legs.  Dark zones emphasize contour of dog’s body.

Entirely light colored and nearly white dogs are not albinos.  Theoretically, they are very light red, light red or light brown, which can be determined by color of their undercoat.
Noteworthy is the fact that light pigmented to white Olenegonkas occur most often.  Most likely this is how it was still in early XIX Century.   In one early description of characteristics of this breed, there is a statement:  “Among purebred dogs of Samoyeds pure white with yellow shade are seen most often.”

Coat colors of Olenegonka with only brown pigment deserve special consideration.  Because of variation in the intensity of pigmentation, such dogs can vary from actually white to very dark brown, almost black, but they always have yellow eyes, brown nose, lips and eye lids, unlike dogs with black and yellow pigmentation.  The latter eye colors varies from light brown to dark brown and nose, lips and eyelids are always black.  This is true even in white dogs.  It is true that their nose can become slightly paler, but this usually happens in winter, because of lack of vitamins and the food is deficient in “green” constituent.  This should be not confused with cases of poor pigmentation.
Thus, Olenegonkas have entirely gray, red, gray-red and brown zonary coat colors of various intensity, from white to black and their by products, including piebald and spotty coats obtained in the process of domestication.

Contemporary standard does not permit only brindle coat color.  This kind of Olenegonka never occurred.  Brindle coat color is not a trait of our northern dogs.  Therefore, we disqualified Kamchatka and Chukotka sled dogs with this kind of coat color.

One of the most important traits of the breed, which makes it unique among our other Laikas is their rich, thick coat.  This serves as a good protection against both hot and cold weather.  Dogs with such a coat live without a doghouse through the winter north of polar circle.  At the same time, it is not threatened with overheating, when there is no place to hide from polar sun in the tundra or at the dog show in a southern city, where poorly coated dogs sometimes cannot endure direct sun.

This universal protection is created by coarse, straight and stiff guard hairs combined with a profuse, thick and soft undercoat.  This luxurious coat is retained through the summer, because it has other functions.  In the tundra, a thick coat saves the dog from mosquitoes, blackflies and horseflies.  In the south, it is a protection against ticks.  When we inspected our dogs in Carpathian forests, we rarely saw attached ticks, except on eyebrows.

In water, Olenegonka is easily floating in a horizontal position; its back and curving tail remain on the surface, because the dogs’ profuse coat retains air.  When the dog returns on land, it shakes the water off and dries quickly.  This cannot be said about washing Olenegonka by a human.  After this, the dog dries almost for 24 hours.

When snow cover is not deep and the snow is loose giving in under the dog’s feet to the ground, our dogs are slightly at a disadvantage, if compared with more long-legged dogs.  However, they are winning running on snow crust or on deep snow.  Light weight and fuzzy Olenegonka running on deep snow, does not sink much like swimming on loose snow. On the crusty snow, its advantage becomes particularly obvious.  Stiff hairs abundant on the feet are sticking between toes and creates enlarged footprints.  Professor N. A. Smirnov (1936) wrote:  If to take into account enlarged area of feet equipped with fuzzy hairs supporting weight of the dog, it becomes understandable why the dog sinks in the snow less then any other breed.”  Just like on the snow, Olenegonka is sinking less, when running on swamp.

Still one more function of the coat of Olenegonka:  it is protection against skirmishes with other dogs or wild animals during hunting.  This is why this dog feels very confident in such situations.  We had a chance to learn about it in our kennel in Kamchatka.  Attendants of the kennel, by a mistake, placed in a cage with thick coated male named “Shurik,” a gray German Shepherd Dog, instead of gray Kamchatka Sled Dog, with which Shurik had friendly relationships.  Nobody heard or saw them fighting, but next early morning the attendants found Shurik well wallowed in dirt and a senseless German Shepherd Dog.  A veterinarian recovered the German Shepherd Dog and explained that this happened because of pain shock.  Shurik managed to bit its base of ear.  Shurik had many injuries and scratches, which were discovered, when his dirt crust was washed off.  Long thick coat on the neck and especially on the withers saved Shurik’s life not allowing German Sheperd Dog’s teeth to go through.

Guard hairs are distributed on the  body of Olenegonka just like on other Laikas and Spitzes. However, because they are longer, they look more impressive.  Hairs are well developed inside ears and around ear bases hiding them sometimes almost to the tips.

Characteristic long hairs on cheeks and neck are up to 15 cm long, forming a ruff, on lower parts of the body and on thighs forming britches, on posterior sides of legs and particularly on lower side of tail up to 25 cm long and longer are most developed in males.  This serves not only as protection, but also makes the dog looking peculiar and beautiful.

The head of the Olenegonka is a typical head of northern dog.   It is lean, moderately wedge-shaped, with relatively broad skull and not a long muzzle.  Stop and transition from cheeks to muzzle are gradual, but distinct.  This is accentuated by shorter thick and short dense hairs on the muzzle and around eyes.  Small prick ears are set wide; they are very mobile and reflect mood and physical condition of the dog and its social status among other dogs.

Lively and expressive eyes are small, almond-shaped, moderately oblique set, brown or yellow. Despite modest size of Olenegonka, it has strong jaws and teeth, which are sufficient for eating any tough food, including bones, and to be aware of its own power.  At dog shows, Laika experts who meet Olenegonka for the first time are usually surprised that teeth of these smallish dogs are as big as in purebred hunting Laikas.

All other body parts of Olenegonka are also in natural harmony, see the standard.  We should mention that compared with other Laikas, Olenegonka has somewhat straightened angles of forequarters and hindquarters and their pasterns are relatively short.

We repeat once more emphasizing that the body structure of the Olenegonka is primitive like in a wild animal and it is highly functional.  Its tail also retains its original function.  In alert state is gaily carried over the back forming a fuzzy circle or semicircle.  When the dog is worried, the tail is lowered and it covers muzzle and eyes of the dog, when it is resting, protecting against cold or mosquitoes. A well movable tail helps when the dog is running and it is used for social communication.

The Olenegonka is light and agile like our aboriginal sled dogs; when walking or trotting they are single tracking.

Temperament is balanced and flexible.  The dogs are energetic, emotional, alert and curious; they are self confident and easily learn diverse habits without forcible teaching and are eager workers.  Their intelligence and creative behavior are fascinating and they take the initiative to accomplish complex tasks. At the same time, the independent character of these dogs is combined with their ability to live happily with other dogs and for a strong attachment to the master and members of his “pack,” which is not always typical of other Laikas.  Perhaps, such qualities of this breed are a result of many centuries of intuitive selection for generally “useful” dog.

Thus, conformation, character and physiology of the Olenegonka make it fit for using under different conditions of climate and life for diverse kind of service.

REINDEER HERDING SPITZ. Breed Standard.

Reindeer Herding Spitz is an ancient aboriginal breed of Central Europe distributed northward to northeastern regions.  It was used for development of several cultured Spitz breeds.  Populations of these dogs, which escaped systematic artificial selection, were preserved in isolated regions with a traditional way of life in the tundra and forest-tundra zones of Eurasia, where they are used for herding domesticated reindeer and hunting being dogs of nomads.  Reindeer Herding Spitz is characterized by naturally harmonious and functional conformation, physiological resilience, adaptability, and balanced temperament.  Such traits of these not-big dogs allow using them under conditions of different climates and for performing different kinds of service, where a well balanced and not too aggressive dog is needed, such as customs, criminology, search and rescue, hunting, travels, as a farm dog, a hunting dog, a companion dog, etc.

Appearance

This is a Spitz-like dog, below medium to medium size, with a compact and lean body structure. Differences between sexes are well developed.  Males are more robust, taller in the anterior part of the body, nearly square, and retain a well developed coat through the summer.

Deficiencies or faults, depending on the degree, are coarseness or excessively slender body structure.

Size and body proportions

Height at the shoulder is 44-50 in males and 40-45 cm in females.  Body proportions index is 102-104 in males and 104-108 in females.

Deficiencies: deviations in height more than 2 cm or small deviations from body proportions indicated above.

Coat color

Zonary gray, red, intermediate, or brown of various intensity, white and black; sable patterns, piebald and patchy coat colors are also allowed.  Nose is black; in lighter pigmented dogs it can be brown.  Dogs with a zonary brown coat color of different saturation have yellow eyes, brown nose, lips and eyelids.

Deficiencies include partially pigmented nose.

Faults include dense ticking on body and poorly pigmented nose.  Brindle coat color is disqualified.

Coat quality

Straight, stiff and long guard hair combined with thick soft undercoat form luxurious coat of the dog.  Hair cover is present inside ears covering their bases. Particularly long hairs grow on cheeks (ruff), neck, withers and shoulders, lower side of body, thighs (britches) and lower side of tail and form brushes between toes.  On the muzzle, around eyes, on anterior side of legs, below elbows hair is dense, stiff and short. Length of hairs on the neck are up to 15 cm, on tail it is up to 25 cm and longer during time of maximal development.

Deficiencies:  short, soft, slightly wavy guard hair or poor developed undercoat.
Faults:  absence of typical longer furnishing hair, too wavy or curly guard hair.  Short hair or absence of undercoat are disqualifying traits.

Skin and Muscle

Skin is tough, pliant, without loose underlying tissue and folds.  Muscles are well developed, tough and not visible under profuse hair.  Bone is light, strong and well developed.

Deficiencies and faults, depending on the degree:  loose skin with folds, weak muscles, coarse bone and poor bone.

Head

Head is the shape of a moderately extended wedge, length of skull is equal to its width or slightly longer.  Occipital process is present.  Forehead is moderately convex.   Muzzle is wedge-shaped, gradually narrowing to nose, with strong jaws and lean close lips.  Length of muzzle is about 1-2 cm shorter then length of skull.  Nose is of medium size.

Deficiencies or faults, depending on the degree, include disproportional coarse or too light head, too prominent cheeks or eyebrows, too broad or too narrow muzzle, excessively pointed or blunt muzzle, dish face, Roman nose, and too abrupt or poorly pronounced stop.

Ears

Ears are prick, small, close to equilateral triangle, set high and rather wide apart, very movable; tips of ears are directed straight up and slightly tilted forward.

Deficiencies include too wide apart, too large or too soft ears.

Faults are too big with rounded tips ears, too thick or too soft ears.  Pendulous and partly pendulous ears are disqualifying traits.

Eyes

Eyes are small, moderately oblique, not deep and not bulging, brown or yellow.  Eye expression is lively and intelligent.

Deficiencies:  too big or too small eyes, and round and straight set eyes.

Faults: very big, too round with loose eyelids or different color eyes.

Teeth

Teeth are large enough, strong, white and well fit.  Incisors are on one line at base.  Complete set of teeth and a scissors bite is a must, but at the age older then four years straight bite is allowed.

Worn out teeth disproportional to the dog’s age, yellow, too small or parse teeth, or missing one or two first premolars at birth are deficiencies.

Incorrect bite disproportional to age, absence of incisor, canine, second and further premolars or molars are faults.

Neck

Neck is lean, oval in cross section, set up at 45-50 degrees to the upper line of back .
Too short or too long, low set or too loose neck are deficiencies or faults, depending on the degree.

Withers

Withers are well developed, especially in males.

Back

Back is broad and short; in females it may be slightly longer, straight and muscular. Deficiencies: Soft, narrow or slightly convex back.

Faults: sagging or arched back.

Loins

Loins are straight, slightly convex and muscular.

Deficiencies: weak loins.

Faults: too long, too convex or sagging loins.

Croup

Croup is broad, straight or slightly sloped and muscular.

Deficiencies:  narrow or excessively sloped croup.

Faults:  too long or abruptly sloped croup.

Chest

Chest is deep, lowered to elbows, moderately broad and oval in cross section.

Deficiencies:  too shallow, too narrow or flat chest.

Faults:  the same deviations, but at a greater extent; round chest in cross section.

Abdomen

Abdomen is tuck up, which is hidden by long hair.

Deficiencies: too low abdomen.

Forequarters

Forequarters are strong, well boned and with lean muscles.  Angle at scapula/humerus joint is 100-10 degrees.  Forearms are straight, parallel and sloped.  Pasterns are short, springy, slightly tilted or vertical.  Length of legs measured from elbows is equal or slightly greater then half height at the shoulder.

Deficiencies or faults, depending on the degree:  curving forearms, elbows directed outward, east-west feet, feet directed inward, and weak or too much tilted pasterns.

Hindquarters

In posterior view, hind legs are straight, parallel and positioned wider then front legs.  Angles at joints are slightly straight.  Thighs are strong and muscular.  Tarsi are strong, relatively short and vertical.

Deficiencies or faults, depending on the degree:  too close legs, too straight or too  bent  at joints hindquarters, cowhocks or bowhocks and tilted tarsi.

Feet

Feet are oval, toes are slightly arched and with strong nails.  Dewclaws are removed.
Deficiencies: splayed, too narrow or flat feet and presence of dewclaws.

Tail

Tail is reaching to hocks or slightly shorter.  In a dog in an excited state, its tail is curving over the back forming a ring or semi ring; in a dog in a quiet state, tail is kept down or sickle-shaped.

Deficiencies:  too high or too low set tail, too long or too short tail, tail not carried over the back or tightly curving never unfolding tail.

Faults:  bobtail or abnormally short tail at birth.

Movement

Locomotion is light, quick and springy.  Typical type of movement is galloping or fast trotting.  When the dog is walking or trotting, it is single tracking.

Behavior and Temperament

Temperament is lively and balanced.  This dog  is energetic, emotional and alert; self confident, strongly attached to the master and interacting with him, affectionate, easily trainable to perform different tasks without using forcible methods, and eager to work.
Deficiencies:  shyness, indifference and excessive excitability.

Faults:  aggressiveness to humans and excessive aggressiveness to domesticated animals.

Traits disqualifying dogs

Brindle coat color, short hair, absence of undercoat, lops or semi pendulous ears, straight bite out of proportion to the age and monorchidism.

COMMENTS TO STANDARD OF REINDEER HERDING SPITZ

The Reindeer herding Spitz is the oldest and among most interesting aboriginal breeds of northern dogs, which does not have well deserved recognition of official cynologic organizations. It has been developed by peoples of Central Europe, using primitive intuitive selection and then spread to European north and since 30th of past Century to northeastern Asia, including Chukotka and Kamchatka (Vakhrushev and Volkov, 1945). In West Europe, similar looking derived from this aboriginal dog breeds are bred, such as the German Spitz,Finnish and Swedish Lapphunds, the Elkhound, the Buhund, the Norbotten Spitz, the Island Dog and other breeds. Popular in Europe breed the Samoyed has been developed by selective work with Reindeer Herding Laikas of Nenets people imported from Russia in early XX Century (Peretonny-Vemyan, 1992).

In the Soviet Union, this breed did not interest cynologists. Specialists on hunting Laika breeds usually mentioned and described them only briefly (Pupyshev, 1936; Ryabov, 1939; Vakhrushev and Volkov, 1945; Shereshevsky, 1965 and a few others).A. P. Mazover (1954, 1960) offered a rather detailed description of typical traits of the Reindeer Herding Laika, including working dog breeds. 

Only reindeer breeders never forgot about this dog. Thus, in Chukotka and Kamchatka, from 1962 to late 80th (Nosov and Bogoslovskaya, 1961), Reindeer Herding Laikas were bred mainly in reindeer herding teams.

Contemporary state of the aboriginal population is critical, despite the revival of private reindeer breeding and high value of these dogs as reindeer herding assistants replacing two-three human herders. Organization of pedigree breeding in the north is very problematic. There fore, well based on science breeding program in kennels and clubs is necessary.

Cynological research kennel “Kinos” created for purpose of reestablishing ofnorthern dogs conducts survey of still remaining pockets of typical Reindeer Herding Dogs and organizes their pedigree breeding. Besides considerable funds, this project requires to have an official standard of the breed as a basic tool for the work.

The proposed breed standard was put together by workers of “Kinos” B. I. Shirokyy and O. B. Shiroly.  It is based on compilation from old literature, some unpublished materials, and results of work of “Kinos” related to the breeding and using dogs under modern conditions.

We also used kindly provided to us by the author project of the standard of the Nenets Reindeer Herding Laika written by V. G. Gusev.

Basic statements of the breed standard were discussed with cynologists and biologists as follows: V. A. Belenky, L. S. Bogoslovskaya, V. A. Gusev, E. N. Mychko. N. A. Nosov, G. M. Pasechnikova and N. A. Tarynbekova and reindeer breeders and herders.

Name of the breed. In the literature there are names like  Nenets Reindeer Herding Laika,  Nenets Herder’s Laika,  Olenegonka and Russian Samoyed Laika (see “Minor Atlas of Dog Breeds by Andrew De Prisco and James B. Johns, 1992. Since 1994, the breed is known mainly as Reindeer Herding Spitz.

Distinguishing traits of the Reindeer Herding Spitz are undisputable. On one hand, this is a smallish light built dog undemanding to life conditions, feeding and shipping. On the other hand, it is tough enough, with great physiological potential, adaptable and with well balanced temperament dog. Among cultured breeds of dogs, it has a vacant place for using.

According to a specialist in search and rescue dogs M. I. Usov (1988), such dogs as the Olenegonka are most tireless capable in high mountain areas dogs; they do not have any drawbacks, when used for search and rescue work in any region; in the endurance, agility and the ability to go through avalanched areas they are superior over other dogs.

Because of their peculiar qualities, Reindeer Herding Laikas and their mixes are used in criminology for recognition of individual smells of humans (“Droog”, No. 2, 1991, in Russian).

Certainly, Reindeer Herding Spitzes can become best assistance in custom service, where spaniels are used at present time. Spaniels are not as good because they are less adaptable to conditions of life in the kennel, food requirements and balanced temperament as Reindeer Herding Dogs.

These dogs are very good at hunting, companions for nature lovers, house dogs, etc.

Reindeer Heding Spitz is a primitive breed in positive sense of this word; it means it is closer to primitive ancestor, despite being people oriented and its strong attachment to the master.  The breed has been developed under harsh conditions of the environment and selection for qualities for versatile work. Hundreds years of intuitive selection did not touch the dog’s appearance. This dog does not have excessive traits of the appearance and retains natural harmony and functionality. It is an advantage of our breed as compared with diverse other man-made breeds of dogs.

The breed standard includes rather wide range of traits of the breed.  It does not pursue goals of “improvement” and uniformity of the breed. Quite opposite, the standard should help preservation and restoration of geographic phenotypes (and genotypes) of large population scattered among many small pocket, in some of which these traits are lost or almost disappeared. Truthfulness of the standard is particularly important in the incipient stage of formation of the breed as purebred, because this would not allow narrowing of the genetic diversity and involve many various type dogs from fragmented range of the breed.

Breed expert should not give preference to any of the designated in standard traits of the dog, such as sturdy or lean body structure, greater or smaller size or a particular coat color. In all cases of judging at show and subsequently in breeding program he should not compare dog’s head, eyes or ears regardless of general body complexion, legs, etc. Thus, in sturdy built dogs, one should expect a more massive head with a shorter and not too pointed muzzle, shorter and wider set ears and less oblique set and more round eyes. Legs may be longer and closer to each other in leaner built dogs. They may also have stronger developed angulations of forequarters and hindquarters. Longer guard hairs may be not as coarse as shorter hair in sturdy built dogs, etc.

Knowledge of the breed and common sense of expert and breeder would allow to preserve valuable qualities of the aboriginal Reindeer Herding Spitz