Karelian Bear Dog. Karelian bear husky (photo, video, breed description) Finnish bear husky
(Karelian bear husky) is a northern hunting dog breed. It was bred as a universal breed for hunting various game: bears, moose, wild boars and others. But since it showed excellent working qualities in bear hunting and became famous for its courage in relation to this animal, in 1936 the breed received its name Karelian Bear Dog.
She also shows excellent results in hunting fur-bearing animals: squirrel, marten, badger. The Karelian bear husky is hardy and unpretentious, has an excellent sense of smell, a strong hunting instinct and unsurpassed orientation to the terrain. She must bark to notify of prey, grab the prey and not release it until the hunter approaches. Dogs have particularly strong jaws, from which it is almost impossible to escape.
The first breed standard was approved in 1945, and the first dogs in the breed were registered in 1946. Today she is proud and national treasure Finland.
People have learned to use her abilities not only for hunting clubfoot. In the USA and Canada, for example, this husky helps gamekeepers find problem bears that get used to going to the trash heap, where, unfortunately, unpleasant encounters with people occur. After the animal is rehabilitated, the dog drives it into the forest by barking and tries to forever discourage it from getting close to people. Thus, the rangers are trying to wean the bears from wandering through garbage dumps, exposing themselves and people to danger.
Description of the Karelian Bear Dog breed and FCI standard
In the photo, a Karelian bear dog stands in a side stance on the grass
- Origin: Finland.
- Purpose: for hunting moose and bears. Her task is to find the animal, give a signal by barking and hold the prey until the hunter arrives.
- FCI classification: Group 5. Spitz and primitive breeds; Section 2. Northern hunting dogs. With mandatory performance tests only in Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland).
- General Appearance: Medium sized and strongly built dog with thick coat. black and white color, erect ears and small, attentive eyes.
- Important proportions: The length of the body slightly exceeds the height at the withers. The depth of the chest is approximately half the height at the withers. The ratio between the muzzle and the skull is approximately 2:3. The length of the skull is equal to its width and depth.
- Behavior/Temperament: courageous, self-confident with a balanced character. She is never aggressive towards people, but she is capable of being aggressive with other dogs. The fighting spirit is highly developed.
- Head: Shaped like a blunt wedge.
- Skull: wide; When viewed from the front and in profile, slightly convex. Wide between ears. The frontal groove is barely noticeable. Brow ridges slightly pronounced.
- Stop (transition from forehead to muzzle): weakly expressed, rather protracted, gradually rising towards the skull.
- Lips: thin, tightly fitting, pigmented black.
Photo of Karelian Bear Dog close up
- Shoulder blades: sloping, muscular.
- Humerus: Slightly sloping, strong.
- Elbows: directed strictly back, located on a vertical line lowered from the top point of the shoulder blade.
- Forearms: Strong and vertical.
- Pasterns: medium length, slightly sloping.
- Forelegs: Closed, round, slightly tapering in front. The pads are elastic, side surfaces covered with thick hair. The claws are strong.
- Hips: wide, long, very muscular.
- Knees: directed straight forward, angles of average severity.
- Lower legs: long, muscular.
- Hocks located low with pronounced angles.
- Hocks: short, strong, vertical.
- Hind feet: Collected, slightly longer and less arched than the front feet. The pads are elastic. The claws are strong.
- Height at withers: Males 57 cm; Females 52 cm; deviations of ± 3 cm are allowed.
- Weight: Males 25 - 28 kg; Females 17 - 20 kg.
- Light frame
- Narrow skull
- Excessively prominent forehead
- Tapered muzzle
- Yellow eyes
- Soft or large floppy ears
- Neck pendant
- Too deep or barrel-shaped rib cage
- Straight or insufficiently curled tail
- Straight shoulders
- Straightened hocks and flat feet
- Dewclaws on hind legs
- Wavy coat
- Prevailing white color with black markings or the presence of so-called wolf hair
- Aggression towards people
- Overshot or undershot
- Belmo
- Ears drooping or with drooping tips
- A color other than that described in the standard.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral deviations disqualified.
P.S.: Males must have two apparently normal testes, fully descended into the scrotum.
The fur of the Karelian bear husky is black and white. The black coat may be matte or tinged brown with well-defined white markings on the head, neck, chest, belly and legs.
Personality of the Karelian Bear Dog
By nature, the Karelian Bear Dog is courageous, purposeful, efficient, responsible and very loyal. This true hunting breed is ideal for keeping by an experienced hunter who will be able to appreciate all the qualities.
Despite her vicious attitude towards the beast, she never shows aggression towards people. With the owner and members of the family in which he lives, he is a loving, affectionate, gentle, devoted friend and an excellent helper. He is wary and distrustful of strangers, but without aggression. Not suitable for keeping as a watchman, but will always report the arrival of a stranger or the approach of an animal.
In the photo there is a devoted look: Karelian bear dog
She is hardy, strong, physically developed, and easily adapts to any climatic conditions. She is not afraid of the cold at all. Despite the fact that the Karelian Bear Dog is small in size, it does not like confined spaces and will not be able to live permanently in a city apartment. She will feel much more comfortable outside in an enclosure, since she needs open space and freedom of movement.
When hunting, the Karelian bear husky is passionate, hardworking, and capable of accepting independent decisions, can go far after the animal (especially males), but always returns to the owner. Despite their innate anger towards game, when hunting they are careful, soberly assess the situation, try not to take risks (by the way, this ability saves the lives of many dogs, especially when hunting bear and wild boar) and work excellently on the scent.
Males are more stubborn and willful, always trying to dominate, especially over female half in the owner's family. This cunning man will pretend to be a good girl as long as it suits him, and then, as they say: “Look for the wind in the field,” he will run away and come when he wants. Bitches are calmer and more flexible. But in any case, the Karelian Bear Dog needs a patient owner with a firm and fair character.
This husky is not suitable for a family with children, because it will not tolerate an unceremonious attitude from children towards itself, it is too willful and independent and will not make a loving pet.
Does not get along well with other animals in the house, especially small animals that will be constantly hunted. Even if she is patient with other dogs in the family, she will not let anyone near her bowl.
They need early socialization and constant communication with animals from puppyhood. With a bear husky puppy, it is necessary to take a general training course (general training course). Seek help from an experienced dog handler who can teach your Karelian Bear Dog obedience. The owner must constantly show strength of character (cruelty and rough treatment - never), otherwise, as soon as a person allows weakness, the Karelian Bear Dog immediately tries to dominate.
Despite its stubborn and capricious nature, the bear husky is easy to train and easily remembers commands, as it has an excellent memory. At 6-7 months, a husky puppy is taught to hunt small animals: squirrel, marten. Upon reaching 1 year of age, he is taken to bear and wild boar baiting.
Interesting: Hunter dogs have one interesting ability: they know how to turn an animal on the hunter. This is a very interesting sight, the dog runs parallel to the animal (elk, deer), does not come close and only barks softly. The animal is not afraid and continues on its way, while the dog, meanwhile, slightly rounds its movement and the prey begins to turn towards the hunter. But the owners claim that this cannot be taught on purpose, it is an innate ability.
The Karelian Bear Dog is not fussy about grooming, the guard hair is hard and self-cleaning, the undercoat is dense, the coat does not smell like “dog”, and sheds. Shedding is profuse, occurring 2 times a year.
Brush 3-4 times a week with a wire brush or comb. Twice a month, comb the coat with a slicker brush in the direction of hair growth, this way you will quickly remove dead hair. During the molting period, Vienna-autumn, the coat will have to be combed out every day with a furminator (a fur removal tool that speeds up the molting process, does not damage the guard hair when combing out and gently pulls out dead undercoat).
Bathe as little as possible or as needed with shampoo for wire-haired breeds. In winter, the husky perfectly cleans its fur on the snow. She loves to frolic and tumble in it.
Examine your eyes and wipe them with chamomile decoction once a week to avoid souring. Wipe each eye with a separate soft piece of lint-free cloth. After washing the eyes, do not let the dog go outside until they are completely dry (especially in winter).
In the photo, a Karelian bear dog attacks a brown bear
Check the ears once a week, the inside auricle wipe with a damp cotton pad soaked in warm water. Healthy ear enjoyment pink color, without excess sulfur, unpleasant odor or liquid.
Trim the nails once a month with a nail clipper for large breeds.
Especially after hunting, inspect the paws for cuts and cracks. Treat the wounds with an antiseptic, and to avoid cracks, rub vegetable oil into the paw pads and add it to the diet at the rate of 1 teaspoon. per day.
Bear husky teeth do not need to be cleaned; they are not susceptible to the formation of caries and tartar.
Deworming carried out once every 3 months. Be sure to consult your veterinarian about the drug and dosage based on his weight and age.
Happy Karelian Bear Dog – photo
- Fleas cause severe itching, carry diseases from other individuals and can cause worms if the dog swallows them while biting them.
- Ixodid ticks are deadly carriers dangerous disease- piroplasmosis (babesiosis). Unfortunately, they are especially susceptible to attack by ticks, since they regularly visit the forest and run through dense bushes.
Symptoms of piroplasmosis:
- Lethargy, apathy
- Fever body
- Refusal to eat and drink
- Yellow squirrels eye
- Falls on hind legs
- Red-brown urine
If you notice the above symptoms, immediately seek help from a veterinarian, since the health and life of your pet depend on a correct diagnosis and timely drug treatment.
Walk: at least 2 times a day. Active, long walks with physical activity. Even if kept in an enclosure, regularly walk the Karelian Bear Dog; it needs human interaction. Hunting and going outdoors are a vital necessity for the Karelian Bear Dog.
Diet of the Karelian Bear Dog
The diet of the Karelian bear dog is selected to be high-calorie, balanced and quickly digestible. She has a strong digestive system And excellent health. They are not prone to allergies and can be kept on ready-made food or natural food, the main thing is not to mix these two types in one feeding.
For any type of diet, stick to simple rules, and your dog will be healthy and full of energy.
- For such an active and hardy breed, 50% of the diet should be meat.
- Ready-made feed choose only premium class
- Food is given fresh and warm (room temperature)
- Constant access to water
- The dog is always fed after walks
- The portion should be eaten within 20 minutes; if he refuses to eat, we hide the food until the next feeding
- Never give prohibited foods
- New products are gradually introduced into the diet
Useful products:
- Give meat (veal, poultry, rabbit) raw or scalded with boiling water. If you are afraid of helminth infection, freeze the meat for several days in the freezer.
- Turkey and chicken necks
- Vegetables and fruits
- Cereals (rice, buckwheat)
- Offal (liver, ventricles, tripe, heart)
- Fermented milk products(kefir, low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt without additives)
- Vegetable oil 1 tsp. per day (olive, flaxseed, sea buckthorn, etc.)
- sea fish boneless
- 1 tsp. honey once a week
Prohibited Products:
- Fatty meat (pork)
- Chocolate
- Fresh baked goods
- Smoked meats
- Spices
- Fried food
- Tubular bones birds
- river fish
- Seasonings
- Nuts
- Grape
Diseases of the Karelian Bear Dog
- Dysplasia hip joint
- Eye problems
The Karelian Bear Dog is initially a hunter, and then a faithful four-legged friend. Only an experienced, kind, intelligent dog breeder who knows how to strictly teach commands and explain that the owner’s word is a law that must be obeyed unquestioningly can cope with such a dog. This is necessary at least for security reasons.
Historians believe that the ancestors of the bear dog appeared on the territory of Finland and Karelia long before the first settlers, as evidenced by the folklore of this area. But for the first time they were documented only in late XIX century.
Breeding of the breed began in 1936. In May of the same year, it was presented at the Finnish exhibition, where the name and standard were approved. Problems associated with Soviet-Finnish war, almost deprived the world of four-legged hunters, but the breeders sounded the alarm in time and managed to maintain the popularity of the Karelians.
The Karelian Bear Dog standard was officially approved in 1946, after which the breed quickly began to gain popularity. Many representatives were taken to England, Sweden, Norway, Russia and Switzerland. Until now, throughout the world, except for Finland, the breed is considered rare and expensive.
It is worth adding that she - best choice for hunting any animal, which is why hunters in many countries pay fabulous sums for these dogs.
Appearance and standard
In the photo, the Karelian Bear Dog resembles a Russian-European Laika. She is medium size rectangular shape, with a strong muscular physique and well-developed bone structure.
The head is slightly elongated, with oval dark brown eyes, an alert and piercing gaze, a dark nose and erect middle ears, the sharp ends of which are directed to the sides.
The coat is thick and straight, of medium length, with a dense and soft undercoat. Acceptable black color interspersed with matte shades, brown and white flowers. The tail is fluffy and long.
See also: Mudi (Hungarian Cattle Dog) dog breed
The bears' height is 48-61 cm, and their weight is from 16 to 29 kg. Bitches are significantly smaller than males.
Character
The Karelian bear husky is characterized by affection and devotion to its owner and family, but anger and aggression towards prey and other animals. Strives to demonstrate leadership qualities. For these reasons, it is difficult to get along with other pets, even other dogs.
By nature, it is a decisive, hardy and fearless animal with a keen sense of smell, relatively high intelligence and the ability to work independently. The Karelian is difficult to train, as she is often stubborn and does as she sees fit, and not as her owner orders. Extremely active and sociable, she requires early socialization and physical violence from people is strictly prohibited.
Besides hunting, she is strong in agility, search and rescue, and various types sports. Doesn't fit the role of "ordinary" pet“, because constant training is very important for her physical and mental health. The need to develop is acute and requires a lot of time and nerves of the owner.
Care and maintenance
Before you buy a Karelian Bear Dog puppy, make sure you can keep it. This is not a pet, it needs a spacious enclosure or large area in a private house with daily long walks.
Every day you need to clean your eyes and ears, comb out your fur with a special metal comb, and wash your paws after walks. Try to bathe as rarely as possible and only if the dog is extremely dirty. A healthy dog does not exude any unpleasant odors, which allows you to live with him in the same house without any problems.
You can feed the Karelian Bear Dog as follows: natural food, and premium dry food. With the first option, it is important to give a lot of proteins and fiber - meat, all kinds of cereals and vegetables. You can't feed your dog:
- sweets;
- soups;
- potatoes:
- pork;
- spicy, salty and smoked dishes.
See also: Black Russian Terrier – 140 pounds of elegance and dignity
Puppies eat 4 times a day, adults need 1-2 times.
Karelians have good health and high immunity. At proper care and frequent visits to the veterinarian can live from 9 to 15 years. Although no serious diseases transmitted along the genetic line or a tendency to “common” diseases have been identified, it is still worth vaccinating your dog almost every month in the first year, and once a year in subsequent years.
Price
Since the breed is very specific, puppies are quite expensive. On average, a small representative of the breed can be purchased for $1000-1500. The price is influenced by the reputation of the kennel, the pedigree of the dog and its compliance with standards.
Finnish nurseries are considered the best and most inexpensive, but since you will have to overpay for transporting the animal, in the end the amount will be the same as in Russia.
We do not recommend buying a Karelian bear dog secondhand, as you risk purchasing an inadequate animal with a violent and uncontrollable temperament. This is a difficult breed, so you should take your choice of puppy seriously.
Karelian Bear Dog - photo
Being one of the varieties of huskies, Karelian bear dog bred to help hunters find animals. This breed can well be called northern. It was developed in Finland more than 100 years ago.
The ancestors of the Karelian bear inhabited the northern forests from ancient times, long before people appeared there...
Having a characteristic strong bone structure and muscular body, the males of these black and white dogs can grow up to 54-60 cm, while more compact females can grow up to 48-53 cm.
The normal weight of dogs of this breed ranges from 20 to 25 kg. Quite light for such a height, isn’t it?
This is due to working qualities Karelian bear- her task is to run quickly and easily in order to drive the animal while hunting.
Photo 1. A typical representative of the Karelian bear dog
The head has the shape of a blunt wedge and is of medium size, proportional to the size of the body. On the head there are medium-sized ears set quite high, similar to the ears characteristic of huskies. The ears are rounded at the top.
Another external similarity between the Karelian bear and huskies (for example, with) is the curled tail, which must be fluffy.
In general, the size of the “Karelian” can hardly be called ideal from the point of view of proportions - the dog has a length that is slightly, but exceeds its height at the withers.
Karelian Bear Standard describes only one type of color of these dogs - black with white “inserts”, which should be located in certain places: the neck with inside, chest, tip of the tail and spots on the face that form the mask.
As an exception, the “wolf” type of color of dogs of this breed is allowed - in such dogs the predominant color should be white with black tan.
The life expectancy of such pets, if properly maintained, can be up to 15 years.
Personality of the Karelian Bear Dog
Personality of the Karelian Bear Dog will depend on training.
The breed is classified as a hunting breed. This is why it is appreciated by shooting enthusiasts all over the world.
When a dog drives an animal, it turns into a merciless and fearless hunter, ready to face death, but under no circumstances let go of the prey before the owner arrives.
The manifestation of instincts of this kind in this dog can also happen during a walk on a leash, when representatives of other breeds of dogs or - even worse - cats run past every now and then.
Photo 2. The Karelian Bear Dog must be brought up strictly Starting a fight or participating in it is in the order of things for the Karelian Bear Dog.
To rid himself of this kind of problem, the dog owner must initially raise a representative of this breed in a strict (but not cruel) manner, in order to remain the main and indisputable authority for him throughout his life.
Only a Karelian bear raised in a Spartan manner will obediently suppress the instincts of the hunter and wild ancestors in itself where it is absolutely not necessary to show this.
Right well behaved dog This breed will love and unquestioningly obey its owner in any situation.
If she suddenly misbehaves or disobeys, then the punishment should be proportionate to the offense.
At the same time, cruelty cannot be shown in the training and education of such dogs. Dogs can remember such things forever, and in the future the owner will not even know why the pet refuses to carry out this or that command.
Along with its belligerent nature, this larger-than-average dog is very confident in itself and its abilities. Connected with this is the desire of the Karelian bear to demonstrate its superiority and behave defiantly.
Herein lies one of the main difficulties in raising such dogs - the owner must always remain in charge last word so that the dog restrains all his impulses and knows his place.
Among huskies, this is the best hunting breed, which has earned attention and high marks from hunters all over the world.
They cope with their hunting mission regardless of the time of year and weather conditions, show great zeal in baiting the animal, endurance and strength of the dog’s spirit.
Features of keeping a Karelian bear dog
Dogs of this breed, whose ancestors lived freely in the northern forests, love space and regular long walks.
The Karelian bear cat can show remarkable independence in such matters, going for walks even without the owner’s knowledge.
This dog is not suitable for apartment living. The limited space is depressing for these pets, and they may begin to show aggression, become restless and nervous.
Photo 3. Karelian bear - a typical northern animal Regular practice of commands and a constant reminder of “who’s boss” when raising such a four-legged friend are also mandatory.
These dogs have a coarse coat and are prone to shedding. You should regularly work on the condition of the coat and your pet.
But it is better to take them hunting alone. Here even friendship and education are powerless against instincts.
Such dogs eat little. And they don’t show any special nutritional demands, easily coping with both food “from the master’s table” and specially balanced ones for dogs.
Karelian Bear Dogs are characterized by their lack of restraint and temper towards strangers. Most often this manifests itself in the absence of the owner nearby. Therefore, it is not recommended to have such dogs in families with small children.
History of the Karelian Bear Dog breed
The Karelian Bear Dog descended from other Siberian hunting breeds that once came to Russia with the Finns. Even then (in early XIX century) she could begin her march across the expanses of Russia...
Alas, the first representatives of Arkhangelsk Laikas (the supposed ancestors of the “Karelians”) brought from Finland did not take root, and therefore the formation of the breed we are talking about took a slightly different path.
Photo 4. The Karelian Bear Dog will fearlessly rush at a bear The breed was bred in Finland itself at the beginning of the 20th century, and already in 1934 the first kennel of Karelian bear dogs was formed and opened.
A year later, international cynological associations officially recognized this breed.
At the end of the 1930s, the first standard of the Karelian Bear Dog was supposed to be recognized, but the second one began world war mixed up all the plans of dog breeders...
The first standard of the breed was published only in 1946, when it almost disappeared.
The war “decimated” the populations of many dog breeds, and the “Karelians” had a particularly hard time.
About forty purebred individuals who remained alive at the end of the war gave rise to all modern hereditary lines of the Karelian Bear Dog.
Prices for Karelian Bear Dog puppies
Once you decide to buy such a dog, you should evaluate your financial capabilities.
Photo 5. The Karelian Bear Dog will be a wonderful friend to its owner Despite the popularity of this breed's hunting qualities, it is not as widespread as many other hunting dog breeds.
Because of this prices for Karelian Bear Dog puppies quite high, but not exorbitant - a purebred baby can be purchased for around $1,500.
Considering the exchange rate of the American currency at the time of writing, in rubles it will be quite expensive...
Video about the Karelian Bear Dog:
The Karelian Bear Dog is one of the Laika breeds. The Finns call it quite difficult for the Russian language - Karjarlankarhukoira. The formation of this breed involved the ancient Finnish breed and the descendants of Arkhangelsk Laikas, brought by hunters to Karelia.
This is a big spitz thanks to a wonderful instinct, designed to search for the beast. It was bred in Finland a hundred years ago, but the ancient ancestors of this breed were found in the northern forests even before man came there. The Karelian bear dog is characterized by courage, some stubbornness and excitability.
When hunting, she maintains close contact with the hunter and does not run far when pursuing an animal. In Finland, they primarily hunt wild boar and moose. The bear has become a rarity in Finland. It is not recommended to use this dog for other purposes (guard, etc.).
This dog has a strong, muscular build. In males, the height at the withers is 54-60 cm, in females it is slightly less: 48-53 cm. Her weight reaches 23 kg.
Its height is less than the length of the body, and the muscles on the back and croup are highly developed. Her fluffy thick tail is curled into a steep ring. There are also bob-tailed dogs (4-5 centimeters) or generally tailless dogs. The number of such puppies is 10-15%. The standard allows bobtail.
The head is shaped like a blunt wedge. Ears erect triangular shape and with rounded tops. Karelians are characterized by tense and thin lips. Their eyes are small and brown.
The coat has straight and hard guard hairs and a thick fluffy undercoat. The color of the Karelian Bear Dog is usually black, matte, preferably with a bronze tint. There are often sharply demarcated white patches on the chest, neck, head, paws and tip of the tail. Wool longer on the neck and back.
White color with black markings, speckled or wolf color is also acceptable.
Character
In relation to production, this is very aggressive dog. She will not allow the discovered animal to leave until the owner arrives. TO strangers the dog is distrustful and reserved. She is gentle with her family and devoted to her owner.
Representatives of this breed are aggressive towards other dogs and often get into fights. Therefore, they hunt alone.
This best hunter Among the huskies: the most decisive, courageous and stubborn. This is an unpretentious and hardy dog, capable of working in any weather.
However, her character is not simple and this is associated with difficulties of maintenance. You need to communicate strictly with the Karelian dog so that only the owner has the last word.
You cannot yell at or punish a dog unless its offense is serious.
The Karelian Laika always strives to take a leading place and is prone to defiant and demonstrative behavior.
This is a self-sufficient and independent dog, capable of going for a walk. She does not like to be confined, and to be balanced she requires plenty of space to run around and the ability to hunt.
When walking a Karelian dog, you have to keep it on a leash, since it can calmly, forgetting about its owner, go hunting for cats or other living creatures.
Only an experienced dog breeder, strict and good at teaching commands, can handle such a dog.
Only consistent training and hard training help to cope with the hunting instincts of representatives of this breed. However, the severity of treatment of the dog should not turn into cruelty, otherwise it will respond with aggression.
Care and maintenance
This dog is kept only in an outdoor enclosure, preferably outside the city. To care for the coat, you need a metal comb, which is used to comb out the loose hair every day.
One of the pleasant features for owners is that this breed does not have strong odor and eats quite little for his size.
Health
This is usually very healthy dog, if she has the opportunity to walk for a long time and regularly hunt. They live up to 10-15 years, and
So, despite the undeniable advantages of all these breeds, the laurels of the best belong to an unremarkable in appearance, black and white dog with a fluffy tail curled into a ring. The ideal hunter bears the proud name of the Karelian bear dog and from time immemorial has been used by Finnish trappers to hunt large animals - bears or seasoned moose.
History of the breed
Despite the fact that the breed was officially recognized only in 1946, in Karelia, starting from the 12th century, strong fluffy dogs, capable of pulling a sled with luggage or taking part in tracking forest game. The hero of Finnish folk tales is often accompanied by a faithful four-legged friend, capable of performing breathtaking feats just like his owner.
One of the legends says that the ancestor of the Karelian Bear Dog was the ancient bear god, the totem animal of Finnish mythology. It is from him that modern huskies have retained their black coat color with a brownish tint and a white shirtfront on their chest. Another confirmation that representatives of this breed are only half dogs is the birth of unusual, bob-tailed puppies in litters. The stump of such babies is ideally similar to a bear's tail and is a sign of belonging to the divine animal family.
If we leave mythology aside, it will be clear that the origin of the Karelian bear dogs is nothing mystical. Their ancestors were local aboriginal dogs, to whom the blood of Arkhangelsk huskies came here from the Russian North. By the way, such dogs are also in the pedigree of the Russian-European Laika, which the Karelian is so similar to.
In 1934, the first breed club was formed in Finland, and documents for recognition were submitted to the FSI. Everything was prevented by the war, which treated representatives of this breed quite cruelly. Suffice it to say that in 1945 there were only 40 Karelian bear dogs left alive.
However, enthusiasts got down to business again, and hunters from many countries finally saw the outstanding working qualities of animals. Already in 1946, the breed was officially included in the register of the international canine organization and today remains the most popular and widespread among huskies.
Character and working qualities
Do you think the Karelian bear dog is considered the best hunter's assistant in vain? According to experts, no other breed has such anger and rage towards the beast, allowing it to be held for a long time before the person arrives. Hunters say that these dogs would rather die than let a bear or wolf go and therefore, alas, the mortality rate of representatives of this breed during hunting is quite high.
Another distinctive quality of the Karelian dog is high excitability. Instantly involved in the process of baiting and pursuing the animal, such a dog is ideal for hunting - security and watchdog service, as a rule, is beyond their capabilities.
The best pastime for such a pet is hunting in the forest together with its beloved owner. Unlike other breeds of huskies, which prefer to take a bear in a pack, the Karelian dog does not tolerate other tribesmen near it and is happy with constant fights with other members of the hunting pack.
In everyday life, these huskies require a strict, but fair and equal attitude. Despite its independent character, the bear dog selflessly loves its owner and treats the rest of the family with tenderness. When raising a pet of this breed, it is strictly forbidden to use physical punishment, unless, of course, we are talking about a serious offense. Communication with the husky should be firm, but without excessive cruelty. It is necessary to engage in training and socialization of the Karelian bear. Otherwise, by the year you will get an uncontrollable choleric person, ready to tear all living things to shreds.
Active character and excess vital energy require special regime life for these dogs. If a pet of this breed is not involved in hunting, it needs to be provided with a long walk with the opportunity to run without a leash somewhere in the fields, away from civilization. Even unharmed Karelian dogs cannot live without the endless expanses and smells of the forest.
When releasing a Karelian bear dog to frolic in the wild, do not forget to hang an address tag with the owner’s contact information on its collar. Insufficiently trained animals of this breed are often carried away by the pursuit of a forest animal or a domestic cat.
In addition to outstanding working qualities, the main advantage of representatives of this breed is considered to be truly good health. According to veterinarians and breed specialists, Karelian bear dogs do not have any, and they rarely suffer from common canine diseases.
The main problem with these huskies is considered to be and, which are extremely difficult to find in thick fur.
The total life expectancy of a Karelian dog is 12-15 years, but only under the condition of active and, preferably, regular hunting trips. Greenhouse conditions and physical inactivity have a detrimental effect on them, causing dogs to get sick and grow old early.
Created for a free forest life, these amazing animals prefer to spend time in enclosures rather than on a soft sofa, so it is advisable to keep Karelian bear dogs outside or on an unheated veranda. And, of course, a real mockery would be an attempt to force an animal to live in a small apartment, taking it out only for short walks.
The dog's thick coat with a dense, as if stuffed, undercoat requires careful care. It is better to do this with a long-toothed iron comb, carefully combing the hair in the direction of growth.
Despite the fact that the dog's guard hair is not too long, the period causes a lot of problems for owners. Karelian dogs shed the bulk of their fur at the beginning of spring, forcing their owners to remove whole mountains of warm fluff. Fortunately, the rest of the time, fur does not cause much concern to people.
There is another pleasant bonus that awaits the owners of the Karelian Bear Dog: these huskies have virtually no odor, even if they are quite rare.
Breeders of this amazing breed claim that those who have interacted with Karelian bear dogs at least once do not remain indifferent to the piercing gaze of bright, intelligent eyes and the stunning charisma of these mystical animals. Leaving a mark in the hearts of those with whom fate brings them together, Karelian huskies carry within themselves a trace of the powerful ancient force that nature has endowed them with.
