The Yakutian Laika (pronounced yuh-koo-tee-un) will be recognised by the Royal Kennel Club with effect from 1 July 2026. The breed will be classified in the Working Group on the Imported Breed Register. Until such time as a Royal Kennel Club interim breed standard has been published, the Yakutian Laika is not eligible to compete at Royal Kennel Club licensed breed shows.
Rooted in the vast and demanding landscape of northeastern Russia, the Yakutian Laika is an ancient working breed shaped over millennia by its vital role in transport, hunting and daily survival. Celebrated for its resilience, instinct, and unwavering devotion, the breed was carefully revived in the 1990s and formally recognised by the Russian Kynological Federation in 2004. Today, the Yakutian Laika stands as a striking, versatile companion whose popularity is steadily rising worldwide.
The Royal Kennel Club will recognise 227 breeds of pedigree dog from 1 July 2026 following the simultaneous recognition of the Miniature American Shepherd. The last breed to be recognised was the Hungarian Mudi in July 2025.
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15 April 2026
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Photo caption: Tri-colour female Yakutian Laika. Photo by Asteridae Photography.
The Royal Kennel Club
The Royal Kennel Club (RKC) is the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to the health, wellbeing, and happiness of all dogs. Granted the royal prefix by His Majesty King Charles III in 2025, the RKC builds on over 150 years of heritage to champion responsible ownership and ensure every dog leads a healthy, fulfilling life.
As a profit-for-purpose organisation, the Royal Kennel Club reinvesting in dog health, research, and education, extending its expertise beyond pedigree breeds to benefit every dog in the UK. It maintains the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs, alongside Petlog, one of the UK’s biggest microchip reunification services, and runs the Royal Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training scheme, the nation’s most extensive dog training programme.
The RKC licenses and supports a wide range of dog activities and shows, including the world-famous Crufts, now evolving into a year-round community celebrating dogs and their owners. Through the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the organisation funds vital research into canine health and wellbeing, supports breed rescue organisations across the UK, and works with partners such as the British Veterinary Association to run national health screening schemes.
With a mission to promote responsible ownership and celebrate every dog, the Royal Kennel Club continues to evolve, combining heritage with innovation to create a healthier, happier future for dogs and the people who love them.