Russo-European Laika vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison

The Kerry Beagle is an ancient dog breed, thought to go back as far as the 16th century and looked upon as one of the oldest of all the Irish dog breeds. The dog was introduced to Ireland by the Celts.

It is believed to have descended from the Old Southern Hound or Celtic Hounds.The Kerry Beagle was taken by Irish immigrants to America and is a foundation breed in the development of the  Coonhound for hunting and scenting.

The Kerry Beagle isn't recognized by the AKC but has been recognized by the Irish Kennel Club in 1991. It is still rare outside of Ireland and it hasn't been recognized by major kennel clubs.

The Russo-European Laika is a hunting dog that comes from Russia.

It is a dog that has been developed from Spitz type dogs. A breeding program was started for the dog in 1944.

The Russo-European Laika dog is recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in the Spitz and Primitive type group.

The Kerry Beagle is a medium sized dog with a solid physique. He stands at about 56 – 61cm and weighs between 22 and 27kg. He has a broad head with drop ears. His eyes are large and deep set and are a yellow to brownish color, giving the dog an intelligent expression.

His coat is short and the most common color for this dog is black and tan, but you can also find tan and white or some blue mottling as well. He is a lean, muscled dog with a deep chest and legs which are slim and long, providing the dog with the ability to pick up speed on a hunt. The tail of the dog is long and slightly curved and carried level.

Temperament:

As a packhound this dog is a serious hunter. He may look aggressive as he goes after his prey but he is actually a calm, well-balanced, friendly dog who forms a strong, loving relationship with his human family.

He is also gentle and playful with children in the home and also gets on well with other dogs too. He is intelligent and will readily respond to training and socialization. It's a dog that just loves being outside, especially when there is something to do, such as playing ball games or going on a long walk.

He is alert and inquisitive and makes an excellent watchdog. A home with a good sized garden will be ideal for the Kerry Beagle, though it can be kept in small gardens in the city too, just so long as he is given the opportunity for daily exercise.

The Russo-European Laika is a medium sized dog Spitz dog that stands at between 54 to 60cm in height and weighs in the region of 20 – 23kg.

The dog has quite a strong resemblance to the Karelia Bear Dog. They are sometimes mistaken for each other.

The Russo-European Laika has the typical triangular shaped head with small dark eyes, a black nose and erect, pointed ears. These are deep chested dogs.

As with other Spitz breeds, this dog has a thick fur with a densely furred tail which is curved over the back. The double coat is fairly long and usually a dark grey color or black with some white markings. Sometimes the dog has a white coat.

Temperament:

This is a lively, energetic dog breed that loves to spend time outdoors. It has always been used to alert hunters to prey, using its bark to alert the hunter.Training and socialization will be necessary for the dog if you don’t want it to be barking in the house too.

He makes an excellent guard dog, protecting his human family. It is very tolerant of children too, getting on well with them as well as other pets.

The dog is known for being totally devoted to its family, being an affectionate and loyal breed that doubles as a family pet and guard dog.

The Kerry Beagle may well be quite an aggressive dog when showing off his hunting skills, but when it comes to being around his human family, he softens up and becomes a gentle, loving friend.

He is an affectionate playmate for children and also gets on well with other dogs you may have in the home.

Your Kerry Beagle is alert, intelligent and active, and when you have one of them as a 4-legged family member, you'll discover what a wonderful, devoted companion he can be.

This is an intelligent dog breed, loving the time he spends with his human family but reluctant to be patted by strangers.

They also get along with pets that they have grown up with. They get on well with kids and make great watchdogs too. Small wonder they make such sought after pets and companions.

If your Kerry Beagle is ill or injured you need to get him to the vet for a full assessment. As a puppy he will also need certain vaccinations to protect him from some life-threatening illnesses as well as getting de-wormed.

Dental Health:

Bad smelling breath is a symptom that your pet's teeth need checking. If you're not sure how to maintain his teeth, make sure your Kerry Beagle has professional dental cleaning to ensure his gums and teeth are kept in a healthy state. Your vet will give you advise on how to watch for periodontal disease.

Fleas and Ticks:

In hot weather particularly, check your dog over for fleas and ticks and remove them.

Heartworm:

Heartworm is a fatal disease which which can affect your dog. Speak to your vet about treatments as living in a hot, wet area opens you pet up to bites from infected mosquitoes.

These Spitz type dogs are always known to enjoy good health, and owners don’t have to worry too much about their health as only a small number of health issues are reported with this healthy dog breed.

Umbilical Hernia:

This is a congenital defect in the abdominal muscles and can result in fat or tissues being evident under the skin. A bulge is often seen in the area of the abdomen. Larger hernias will require surgery.

Grooming:

Because of the short coat of the Kerry Beagle, he is looked upon as a low maintenance dog. He doesn't shed very much, and simple grooming is required such as brushing the coat twice a week.

His nails will also need to be clipped, as left long, they can hook on things and rip your pet's flesh.

You will need to check his teeth and also check inside his ears. Dogs with floppy ears are more prone to infection in the ears and this can cause terrible pain for your pet.

Diet:

If you keep your Kerry Beagle as a hunting dog, you will know that active dogs like these have different dietary requirements to companion dogs.

All that activity requires top quality nutrition and a certain amount of calories. If you're buying dry kibble, make sure its the highest quality so that he doesn't require huge portions to satisfy him. Leading canine nutritionists recommend a hunting dog like this be fed a large meal once a day and preferably in the evening, after all the hunting action.

Exercise:

This is an energetic dog and will require a good amount of excerise. This dog isn’t suited to living in the city as they are highly active. Apart from wanting large grounds to run around in, he will need walks as well as ball- and rope games to keep him busy.

He is intelligent and needs some form of mental stimulation. There are good quality toys which one can buy for these dogs than can make them think.

Diet:

Many things can change a dog’s longevity, and diet is one. A good nutritious diet with vitamins and minerals will give your dog less of a chance to get sick.

If you go for the best quality commercially manufactured dog foods, you’ll find that they are both convenient and well balanced.

To provide your dog with just a bit of variety in his diet, some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time will delight your pet.

No need to make preparing the food a huge issue either. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and add small portions of it into the dry kibble.

Try to include a bit of raw meat occasionally and never let your dog be without a constant source of fresh, cool water