Laika is Russian - literally - for "barker"!!
The Soviet Union launched a dog named "Laika" into space aboard the Sputnik 2 space capsule.
Laika is also the name for a type of hunting dog. There are three breeds - the Russian European Laika, the East Siberian Laika and the West Siberian Laika. Note that Laika, the dog that went to space, is in fact a mongrel.