Tazi: a russian sighthound similar to the Saluki, but more strongly built.
Taigan: a very rare Greyhound breed only found in the regions of Kirghises of the Tian-Tshan and probably resulting from a cross between the Afghan and the Tazi. It is very similar to the Tazi, though with the built and thickness of hair of the Afghan, though with some individual characteristics, like its unusually strong built hanging ears set deep on the head. It is, together with the Borzoi, the only Russian Greyhound with the strength, courage and keeness to hunt the fox.
South Russian Steppe Hound: a white or cream-colored hound, most common in the region of the Russian Caucasus Mountains, the Volga and the Don River, where it is known as the Abk-Taz-eet, or 'white Tasy dog'.
Circassian Orloff Wolfhound:
A greyhound similar to the Siberian Borzoi, but with longer legs and a shorter head, with the forehead not so sloping back between the ears and the eyes more open.
Altough long, the coat is not wavy, but lies flat on the body. the coat is longest about the breast and neck, forming a sort of frill. The hind part of the front legs, the thighs, and the lower part of the tail are heavily feathered. The coat color is always dark, black or dark tawny, and fawn on back and other upper parts, shading off into a lighter color on belly, lower thighs and limbs. While widely described in the early 1900s, the interest in this breed faded over the years and little is known about its current situation. Some authors say it is just another name for the Circassian Hare Hound.
East Siberian Laïka (Vostotchno-Sibirskaïa Laïka): the largest of the four Russian laikas (laika is the Russian word for 'barker'). It is a calm, good-natured and obedient dog. Its forefathers were sled dogs, which were later adapted to hunt large game such as bear and deer.
West Siberian Laïka (Zapadno-Sibirskaïa Laïka): the most common of all the Russian Laikas. Its head it longer and narrower than that of the East Siberian Laika and it has a longer body than its East Siberian cousin. Its speciality is the hunting of valuable sable or ermine.
Russian-European Laïka (Russko-Evropeïskaïa Laïka, Karelian Bear Laika, Karelian Laika): a breed developed to hunt large game such as bear, deer and wolf. Once, one and the same breed as the Karelian Bear Dog, untill it was decided in the 1940s to breed both dog populations separately. The Russian breed is taller, more powerful and more aggressive than its Scandinavian counterpart.
Karelo-Finnish Laika: one of the smaller Russian hunting dogs, also known as the Karelskaja. The coat may be fawn or black with small white markings on the head, chest, legs and tail.
Caucasian Mountain Dog (Caucasian Ovcharka): a powerful dog with a heavy, muscular body and thick coat that protects him against the harsh weather conditions and predators that menace the sheeps it has under its custody. The term ovcharka refers to a flock guard breed, and can be also be spelled ovtcharka or owtcharka, according to the transcription system used.
Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Alabai, Central Asian Ovcharka): described by some as 'the oldest Livestock Guardian Breed in the world'. On authority even believes it 'to be an ancestor of the Tibetan Mastiff'. It is strictly a guardian dog found in Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Today, the breed is also popular outside Russia.
Nenets Herding Laika: a medium-sized working dog which owes its name to the Nentsy tribe, an ancient nomad tribe.
Northeasterly Hauling Laika (Sewero-Wostotschnaja Jesdowaja Sobaka, North Eastern Sleigh Dog): a hardy and reliable sleigh dog common in the extreme eastern part of Siberia, as well as some of the Arctic isles. They are used exclusibely as sled-pullers, for professional transportation (mail, medecine) or skijoring. The furry pile of dogs with their tick and weather-resistant coats can also proof very efficient in protecting their owners against blizzards, serving as a kind of ice-proof furnace. Coat colors vary from solid white or black, over reddish gray to black & tan or pied. The tail types can be sickle, curled or straight.
Siberian Husky (Siberian Chukchi, Arctic Husky): one of the most ancient and purest of all the northern sled dogs. It is also the smallest and fastest of all sled dogs. The etymology of the word 'husky' is not clear; it is either a mispronounciation of chukchi, a local tribe of the extreme north-east of Siberia were this breed was commonly found, or a slang abbreviation of the word 'Eskimo'.
Borzoi (Siberian Wolfhound, Russian Greyhound, Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya, Barzoï): an elegant and graceful dog with aloof personality.
Moscow Toy Terrier (Moscovian Miniature Terrier): an urban dog, with a lively, playful temperament. It was probalby created from crosses between English Tory Terriers, Long-haired Chihuahuas and Papillons.
Russian Hound (Kostroma Hound, Gontchaja Russkaja): a comon and popular scenthound in Russia. Traditionally, it was worked in conjunction with the Borzoi, the sighthounds would chase the game that had been located by the scenthounds.
Russian Harlequin Hound (Russian Piebald Hound): originally called the Anglo-Russian Hound (until 1951), this tricolored dog was created by crossing the imported English Foxhounds with the local Russian Hound. It is intermediate in size between the Russian Hound and the Foxhound. It is considered the ancestor of the Norwegian Dunker.
Russian Spaniel: a small working spaniel, similar in appearance to the Springer Spaniel, but leggier. It is used for its finding, flushing and retrieving abilities in hunting for quail, duck and sandpiper. The breed, however, is not very resistant under rough working conditions.
