Karelian Bear Dog

Considered a national treasure in its native Finland, the Karelian Bear Dog earned its name by its ability to hunt bear. It is a dog of the northern Spitz type. Although it is rarely seen in America, it is one of the ten most common breeds in Finland. It is widely valued not only as a hunter, but also as a watchdog. The Karelian Bear Dog is a silent hunter. It only barks once it has the prey at bay. Interestingly, the dog conveys to the hunter the very type of prey it has located by the quality of its bark. This breed is of medium size, sturdy, compact and powerful. It is thick-boned and hardy and stands about 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder, depending upon sex of the individual. Its luxurious coat is of medium length and is double; its outer coat is made of long, straight, stiff, weather-repellent guard hairs, the undercoat is dense, fine and soft, and serves to insulate the dog from extremes of cold. The coat is mostly black, with white markings (ideally about a 70/30 ratio). Frequently the ends of the black guard hairs are brown (possibly from bleaching by the sun) and give the coat an overall iridescent quality. The ears are sharp, pointed, small and set high; they point slightly outward. The tail is set high and curled tightly over the back into a full circle. The expression is one of alert readiness and intelligent intensity. The Karelian Bear Dog was traditionally used to hunt moose and elk as well as bear. Today it participates in tests of bear and moose hunting ability before it is approved for breeding. It is also used to hunt wild boar. The breed was originally developed in the Karelia region of northwestern Russia which is now Finland. Dogs of its type followed nomadic tribal settlers into the region over 1,000 years ago. It was developed primarily from the Komi dog, using cross-breeding with the Ladoga Carelia, Olonet's Carelia and Russian Carelia. Early representatives of the breed had coats of red, gray or black with white. They were later the hunting dogs of Russian and Finnish peasantry. Due to the extreme weather of the region, and to the fact that they were challenged to hunt large game like lynx, bear, wolf and wild boar, only the strongest of the breed survived to breed; consequently a superbly resilient dog was developed. Over time, selective breeding favored the black/white combination to make the modern Karelian Bear Dog we see today. The Karelian Bear Dog was formally introduced to the public in a show in Helsinki in 1936. In 1945 a breed standard was written, and in 1946 the Finnish Kennel Club recognized the breed. But the second world war had almost destroyed the breed's population. Several years after the war, 40 remaining pure representatives of the breed were located, and these dogs are the foundation of all Karelian Bear Dogs in existence today. The Karelian Bear Dog is now bred in Europe and North America both to be a house pet and a hunting dog. It has been accepted by the American Kennel Club as a stock foundation service breed, pending full recognition in the future.The Karelian Bear Dog, having as it does a careful breeding history, is relatively free of inherited disorders. Individuals can live upwards of 12 years with good care. This dog is very hardy and is happy to be outdoors in daytime in the winter. However, it is essential that it is confined within a sturdy fence; its hunting instincts are very strong and it will want to go off on a hunt if allowed. This breed is highly active, and should have daily vigorous physical activity such as a good run or a long brisk walk. It is ideally suited for the outdoor enthusiast owner who will include the dog in physical activity. This is not a breed for apartment life; even when exercised regularly, it will tend to become frustrated with too little space and can become destructive. When walked, it should be leashed unless being used for a hunt; if not leashed its instinct will nevertheless be to wander off to look for something to hunt. This breed is not given to barking without reason. However it is very efficient as a watchdog in alerting the owner to trouble, and it is furthermore an excellent guard dog. The Karelian Bear Dog is so courageous and protective, that it will fight a bear to the death to defend its human pack. The coat of the KBD requires little care. It is not prone to matting, and is resistant to water, dirt and debris. It should be thoroughly brushed occasionally to eliminate any parasites and to keep skin healthy. It is a moderate shedder; brushing will diminish seasonal shedding, which may be heavier. Baths are necessary only rarely.The Karelian Bear Dog is an extremely strong-minded, courageous, determined dog. Because of this it is not a breed recommended for the amateur dog handler. Early obedience training is essential. This dog is naturally dominant by nature, and should be socialized often and early to accept other canines; without this training it can become habitually dog aggressive, and will fight other dominant dogs for status if given opportunity.The Karelian Bear Dog is affectionate with family, and is aloof toward strangers to the point of coldness. Caution and common sense should be used when introducing the dog to an unfamiliar visitor. The familiar visitor will however commonly be greeted with great enthusiasm. The Karelian Bear Dog can do well with children with whom it is brought up. However, it may not be patient with rough handling by a youngster. Older children are recommended for this breed. For the dog person looking to own a unique, intelligent, hardy dog suited to outdoor pursuits, who is willing, pleased and able to offer consistent training, the Karelian Bear Dog can be an absolute joy to own.

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