Discover Everything About Karelian Bear Dog
Learn about the breed characteristics, health, history, and find trusted breeders
Breed Profile
The Karelian Bear Dog is a medium-sized dog with a strong and robust body structure. This athletic dog has a broad chest, powerful legs, and a bushy tail that is carried curled over its back. Its head is broad with a pronounced forehead and a straight bridge of the nose. The eyes are dark brown, small and round, the ears are medium sized and set high, they are upright and tilted slightly forward. The coat of the Karelian Bear Dog is dense and straight, the length varies from short to medium long. A thick undercoat protects it from extreme weather conditions. The coat color is primarily black with white markings commonly found on the chest, neck, face, legs and tail. The Karelian Bear Dog belongs to FCI Group 5, the Spitz and Urtype dogs, more precisely to Section 2, the Nordic hunting dogs. There is no distinction between performance and show lines, all Karelian Bear Dogs are working dogs valued for their game handling skills.
| Height | 57 - 52 cm (Female), 57 - 52 cm (Male) |
| Weight | 20 - 23 kg (Female), 23 - 27 kg (Male) |
| Life Expectancy | 10 - 12 years |
| Character | independent, courageous, energetic |
| Coat | short to medium long, dense, with undercoat |
| Coat Color | black with white markings |
| Price | 1500 - 2500 € € |
History
The Karelian Bear Dog, also called Karjalankarhukoira, comes from the Karelia region, which lies between Finland and Russia. This breed is the result of centuries of breeding dogs specifically designed to hunt large game such as bears and elk. This breed is believed to be closely related to the primitive dogs that lived in this region thousands of years ago. The development of the modern breed began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the Finns began to systematically breed the best hunting dogs. During World War II, the Karelian Bear Dogs were threatened with extinction because many dogs went to war or lived in the war zones. After the war, efforts were made to revive the breed by importing dogs from the remote parts of Karelia. The Karelian Bear Dog was recognized as a separate breed by the Finnish Kennel Club in 1945. Today is the Karelian Bear dog very popular in Finland and is still used mainly for hunting large game. However, this breed is rare in the rest of the world.
The Karelian Bear Dog was bred to hunt large game such as bears and elk.
Finland
1600
Character & Temperament
The Karelian Bear Dog is an energetic, independent and courageous dog. It was bred to hunt in the wild without human guidance, so it is characterized by a high level of independence and determination. However, he is also loyal and can develop a strong bond with his owner. As a hunting dog, the Karelian Bear Dog has a strong hunting instinct. It shows a strong interest in game and can react quickly when it sees prey. This instinct can become a problem if not managed properly, so it is important that the Karelian Bear Dog is kept in a controlled environment and that it is well trained. The Karelian Bear Dog is an active dog that needs a lot of exercise. He enjoys long walks and games, but he also needs mental stimulation to be happy. Despite his independence, he enjoys the company of people and can integrate well into a family as long as his needs are met. The Karelian Bear Dog is an alert dog that is very aware of its surroundings. He tends to guard his territory and can be suspicious of strangers. However, despite its size and strength, the Karelian Bear Dog is not an aggressive dog and does not typically display aggressive behavior unless it feels threatened. Although the Karelian Bear Dog enjoys spending time with his family, he can learn to stay alone as long as he is properly prepared. It is important to note that this breed does not like to be ignored and they require sufficient mental and physical stimulation to be happy and well-adjusted. So if you have an active lifestyle and are looking for a dog to accompany you on your adventures, the Karelian Bear Dog could be the perfect choice for you. Please note, however, that this dog requires clear leadership and consistent training to reach its full potential.
| Trainability | |
| Watchfulness | |
| Openness to Strangers | |
| Hunting or Herding Drive |
Did you know that the Karelian Bear Dog is so popular in its native Finland that it has even been featured on a postage stamp? Yes it is! This impressive breed has achieved postage stamp fame.
Fun Fact!
What Awaits You
The Karelian Bear Dog is a strong and enduring hunting dog, particularly suited for work in dense forests. It shows a high degree of independence while still being loyal to its owner. These dogs are alert and brave but require consistent training and sufficient activity. Due to their strong hunting drive, they are less suitable as purely family dogs but are well suited to active people with experience handling hunting dogs.
Housing & Care
The Karelian Bear Dog is an active and energetic dog that requires plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. It is therefore more suitable for rural areas or houses with a large, secure garden than for a city apartment. He enjoys long walks and outdoor activities. Although he generally gets along well with children, his size and energy may make him not the best choice for families with very young children. However, there should be no problems with older children who know how to treat dogs with respect. As for other pets, it should be noted that the Karelian Bear Dog has a strong hunting instinct. So it could be difficult with cats and small pets unless he grew up with them from a young age.
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| Child Friendly | |
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| City Friendly |
Owning a dog is not only a privilege, but also a responsibility. If you want to bring a dog into your life, you must be aware of the commitment that dog ownership entails!!
Training & Education
Raising the Karelian Bear Dog requires patience, consistency and clear leadership. He is intelligent and learns quickly, but can also be stubborn. He needs lots of mental stimulation and tasks that satisfy his hunting instincts. Therefore, activities such as tracking or mantrailing are ideal for this breed. Although the Karelian Bear Dog is a working dog, you should be careful not to overwhelm him. As with any breed, there is a risk that he will become a "ball junkie" if he is trained too intensively. becomes. It is important to ensure sufficient periods of relaxation and also to integrate playful elements into training. An important aspect of training is teaching the Karelian Bear Dog to control its instincts. Since he is a strong hunter, it is important to get him used to dealing with other animals early on and to train him to have a strong recall command. Promoting frustration tolerance and impulse control should also be part of the training. Distraction training can be particularly helpful here. If you are willing to invest enough time and energy into training, you will find that the Karelian Bear Dog can be a loyal and capable companion.
Nutrition & Care
When it comes to nutrition, the Karelian Bear Dog is not particularly demanding and does well with a balanced, high-quality dog food. However, make sure that it doesn't over because being overweight can seriously affect your dog's health. When it comes to grooming, the Karelian Bear Dog has a dense, water-repellent double coat that protects it from the harsh climatic conditions of its homeland. So he can also cope well with the German climate. However, during the shedding phases in spring and autumn, he can shed quite heavily. Regular brushing helps keep the coat clean and healthy and the hair in your home in check.
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This information is currently being reviewed by experts. If you discover an error, please send an email to info@honestdog.de!!
Health
No Health Tests Available
No specific health tests are currently available for this breed.
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