SCRAPS Breed Profile KARELIAN BEAR DOG

Stats

Country of Origin: Finland Group: Use today: Companion and Big-Game Hunter Life Span: 10 to 12 years Color: This dog has a distinctive black and white coat; a copper tint is typical. Coat: The shorthaired all-weather coat consists of straight, stiff hair while the under-layer is soft and dense. Grooming: The all-weather coat is easy to care for, requiring little attention. Use a metal comb when the dog is shedding for easy removal of the lose hair from the undercoat. Like other Arctic dogs, the Karelian Bear Dog does not have doggie odor. This breed is an average shedder. Height: 19 - 23 inches Weight: 44 - 50 pounds

Profile

In Brief: The Karelian Bear Dog has a good shaped as a blunt wedge. The body is sturdy sense of humor. It is sensitive, independent, and the back is well developed. intelligent, skillful, tough on itself and energetic. It is very loyal to its owner's family and makes a Temperament: The Karelian Bear Dog has a good household companion when it has owners good sense of humor. It is sensitive, who know how to display leadership and the dog independent, intelligent, skillful, tough on itself is extensively trained. Owners must be capable and energetic. A robust, persistent, and powerful of handling this very forceful canine. This breed dog, it is willing to take on virtually any game has a small appetite for its size. Easy to care for animal. This dog is very loyal to its owner's coat, requiring little attention. family and makes a good household companion when it has owners who know how to display Description: The Karelian Bear Dog has small leadership and the dog is extensively trained. ears that are cocked and point outward slightly. This is not a breed for the casual pet owner; the They are lined with dense fur, reducing the risk Karelian Bear Dog is a hunter of unyielding of frostbite. The shorthaired all-weather coat bravery and determination. It will put a bear to consists of straight, stiff hair while the under- flight or attack it with great pugnacity. The true layer is soft and dense. The thighs are covered outdoors enthusiast and dedicated hunter can in thick hair. Like the Russo-European Laika, the look to this hard-working breed with delight and breed has a distinctive black and white coat, utter satisfaction. Owners must be capable of which is unusual for northern Spitz-type dogs. A handling this very forceful canine. An owner who copper tint is typical. Black speckles in the white understands canine behavior, how to are considered a fault. The dog should be communicate by displaying authority over the primarily black with white markings, which are dog, proper training and socialization are distinct and occur on the head, neck, chest, absolute musts. It may try to dominate other abdomen and legs. The jaws are immensely dogs and is perfectly willing to fight. Owners powerful. The tail is long. The small eyes show must communicate this is not an acceptable intense concentration. The tail curls over the behavior. This dog needs a handler with natural back in a typical Spitz arch. Robustly built, well- authority. The training should be very consistent boned and of moderate size, the Karelian Bear with both a firm hand and affection. This is not a Dog is slightly longer than he is tall. The head is breed for inexperienced dog owners. They are affectionate toward people and will announce both welcome and unwelcome visitors. Visitors Origins: The area once known as Karelia in the dog knows well will get an enthusiastic northern Europe has always been populated by welcome while strangers may be treated coldly. tough, big-game hunting canines. For a long This breed is very protective. They will protect time, similar dogs had been bred in Karelia for you with their life. The Karelian Bear Dog can hunting large game. These dogs were known to live with other household animals if they know have followed the first settlers to Finland where their place is in their pack (below all thousands of years ago. These early tribes of others) and if the training and socialization is people survived on what they could hunt, which properly handled. This breed has a small is why dogs that were hardy, brave and tough appetite for its size. important. The Karelian Bear Dog closely resembles the Russo-European Laika. It evolved Living Conditions: The Karelian Bear Dog is in the part of Finland claimed by the Soviet not recommended for apartment life. It should Union in the early part of the 20th century. The have acreage or a farm so it can run. These Karelian Bear Dog, which is more numerous animals do not like to be confined. They can be outside its own country than any of the Russian kept in an outdoor kennel as long as they get Laikas, is used by elk hunters throughout plenty of chances to run. Finland, Sweden and Norway. It was first exhibited at a dog show in Helsinki in 1936, but Exercise: The Karelian Bear Dog is a very after World War II the breed almost became energetic dog. It should be exercised with a extinct. All modern Karelians are traced back to brisk walk at least an hour each day. If you can forty dogs found and saved after the war. The Karelian Bear Dog was very popular toward the keep this dog well under control, it will enjoy turn of the century when it could be found in vast exercising by running alongside a bicycle. If it numbers. Its numbers declined in the 1960s, but does not get enough exercise it will become bored and may be destructive inside the house. its popularity has been on the rise and it is now Never let two Karelian Bear Dogs run together being bred in North America and many European countries. Among this avid hunter's free—for they will go hunting. Make sure your game are the buck, wild boar, hare and moose. yard is well-fenced so your Karelian Bear Dog He is also fearless enough to fight the wolf and does not take off on a hunting adventure. bear and therefore functioned as a protector by hunting these large wild animals. In his homeland of Finland, the dog is used mostly for elk and is the favored dog of native big-game hunters.

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