I was honored to be in organizational commettee of the first interntional conference on preservation of aboriginal dogs of the world. The event took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from Spetember 10 to 16, 2007. Among different kinds of aboriginal dogs, special attention was piad to some hunting breeds, such as the Saluki. One article was about the East Siberian Laika.
Taigans of Kirghizstan are particularly interesting. This is a sighthound for hunting big game in high altitude mountains. Taiga is alsoa treeing dog, but it will tree norhtern lynx or young bears. This is one of rare dog breeds, which can catch and kill wolf. Well, not each dog can kill any wolf, but a pair or three dogs sure can and some can do it singly. There were many articles about huge livestock guarding dogs. I brought a Tazy (same as Saluki, they call them Tazy there) male puppy from there. Hunting never stopped in Kazakhstan.

Wow my friend you got me there, I know Labs, Springers, hounds, and Setters. Didn't know about those you have listed!!

This is a unique breed. The coat is heavy, worn out naturally in the summer and turns thicker for winter. The tail is carried hig, forming a ring and it should be alomost hairless, like in the rat. I do not know, why so much attention to the tail, but this described as an important trait of the breed. I had an opportunity to obtain a pair of puppies. It was three years ago. I refused, because it would be too hot fot this dog in Virginia and, with its heavy coat, it would colelct all kinds of burs.

What do you hunt with your dogs???

They are gorgeous dogs! I really like the way that one looks, really pretty.