{"data":{"slug":"lai-dog","name":"Lài Dog","url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/lai-dog","api_url":"https://techtools.cz/dog-atlas-api/v1/breeds/lai-dog","also_known_as":["Chó Lài","Chó Lài sông Mã"],"kind":"landrace","extinct":false,"group":{"key":"spitz","label":"Spitz \u0026 Primitive","fci_group":5,"fci_group_name":"Spitz and Primitive Types"},"size":"Medium","origin":"Vietnam","countries":[],"height_cm":null,"weight_kg":null,"life_expectancy_years":{"min":null,"max":20},"temperament":["Intelligent","Loyal","Quick-witted","Protective","Aloof with Strangers"],"exercise_level":"High","wikipedia_views_60d":1484,"summary":"A rare landrace from the mountains of northern Vietnam, the Lài is a hardy, loyal farm and hunting dog with webbed feet and a wolf-like tail, now critically endangered.","photo":{"url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/photos/lai-dog-e434b312c3-1280.webp","small_url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/photos/lai-dog-e434b312c3-640.webp","width":1080,"height":723,"author":"Stephanie See","license":"Public domain","license_url":null,"source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:L%C3%A0i_Dog.jpg"},"updated_at":"2026-10-15T14:49:09Z","ratings":{"energy":4,"exercise":4,"grooming":2,"shedding":3,"trainability":3,"barking":3,"kids":3,"other_dogs":3},"coat":"Double coat, long or short","colors":[],"fun_fact":"Lài dogs have webbed feet and wrists that rotate flexibly, which lets them climb trees and swim while chasing prey.","sections":{"overview":"The Lài dog is a landrace of the northern mountains of Vietnam, especially the highlands along the Mã River. It is counted among the country's four great national dogs, yet it is the only one not recognised by the Vietnamese Kennel Club.\n\nTraditionally it works as a farm dog, controlling pests, herding cattle and hunting in the forest. Only a few hundred are thought to remain.","history":"The Lài is traced to ancient dogs found along China's Yangtze River, and its ancestors reached Vietnam several thousand years ago. Dog motifs appear on Đông Sơn drums and other ancient artefacts, and folk tales say the dogs descend from crosses with golden jackals or dholes.\n\nHistorical accounts credit Emperor Lê Lợi with breeding Lài dogs for military and hunting service, and they helped during the Lam Sơn uprising. The greatest modern threat is interbreeding with non-native dogs, since they roam freely. Sanctuary breeding efforts are underway.","appearance":"The body is long and wide, with a long triangular face, slanted red or amber eyes with dark rims and lance-shaped ears set on the sides of the skull. The bite is scissor-like and the tail hangs down like a reed or a wolf's tail.\n\nIt has a double coat, a rough outer layer over a soft insulating undercoat, and may be long- or short-haired. The round feet are webbed, and the forepaws turn with wrist-like flexibility, helping it climb and swim.","personality":"Intelligent, quick-witted and loyal, the Lài protects its people boldly. It has strong drive and stamina, is aloof with strangers and makes an excellent watchdog.\n\nIt becomes deeply attached to its humans, which makes rehoming difficult.","care":"A working landrace, it needs plenty of activity, a secure fence and a task to do. It keeps good vermin-hunting instincts and may wander if allowed to roam.\n\nThe double coat needs only routine brushing, with more during seasonal shedding.","health":"The Lài is considered robust with few known health problems, and some are said to reach up to 20 years. Very little scientific research has been done on the population."},"recognition":{"fci_number":null,"fci_standard_url":null,"akc_url":null},"sources":{"wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A0i_dog","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113697158","wikipedia_revision":1373079794},"profile":{"written_by":"AI model (Claude Sonnet) from the sources above","written_at":"2026-10-15T13:59:38Z"}}}