Fun The Karelian Bear Dog Facts For Kids

The Karelian bear dog is a cute medium-sized black dog with a dense coat.

They are essentially bred to hunt huge, large animals. The Karelian bear dog history dates back to a long time ago when humans used to use them for hunting and protection, the owners often used them for protection against animals such as bears.

They are known to be silent yet extraordinary hunters, selectively barking at their game.

The Karelian bear dog trains and works under experienced hunters and therefore becomes a sharp animal who can communicate the scene or whatever it needs to communicate to its master. They are known to be very balanced, brave, courageous, intelligent, and persistent.

They are a very self-confident breed of dogs and are aggressive from time to time however they are not known to be aggressive towards people.

The Karelian bear dog is extremely reserved and likes its space.

The black and white Karelian bear dog has an energy and spirit that is way above a normal average dog and due to its energetic nature, sometimes it might be difficult to handle.

This energy, if it is not used properly or directed in the right way, can make the Karelian bear dog extremely aggressive since the Karelian bear dog is known to challenge, run around, and be active.

Not being able to compete with the physical demands of the Karelian bear dog can make it troublesome and it needs to train and exercise to utilize its energy.

Read on to learn more about this dog breed. For more relatable content, check out these articles on the mini Labradoodle and French Brittany.

Karelian Bear Dog Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Karelian Bear Dog?

The Karelian bear dog is a breed of dog.

What class of animal does a Karelian Bear Dog belong to?

The Karelian bear dog, like all other dog breeds, is a mammal.

How many Karelian Bear Dogs are there in the world?

There is no exact number as to how many Karelian bear dogs exist in the world.

Where does a Karelian Bear Dog live?

A Karelian bear dog is a domesticated pet and therefore lives around farms, and in houses, mainly under the supervision of a hunter or a trainer, or an owner of some sort.

What is a Karelian Bear Dog's habitat?

A Karelian bear dog's habitat lies with its owner in a house. This includes farmland or a park where the owners can take the Karelian bear dogs to exercise.

Who do Karelian Bear Dogs live with?

Karelian bear dogs live with people but are aggressive with other animals in general. That said, they can still learn to live with them if trained.

How long does a Karelian Bear Dog live?

A Karelian bear dog lives for 11-13 years in its complete lifetime. Giving your dog a healthy life can increase its lifespan.

How do they reproduce?

There is not much information concerning their reproduction but they reproduce like normal dogs. Finding a companion for Karelian bear dogs can be hard due to their personality.

This breed is purebred and so a male and female Karelian bear dog are bred together. After mating, the female will go through a gestation period and then give birth to a litter of four to eight Karelian bear dog puppies.

What is their conservation status?

The Karelian bear dogs at some point were almost extinct however the availability in Finland is quite high now.

Karelian Bear Dog Fun Facts

What do Karelian Bear Dogs look like?

The Karelian bear dog breed comes in black and white markings. This breed has an outer coat of stiffer hairs and a soft, thick undercoat.

Their nose, mouth, and underside of the coat are white, while the head, ears, and most of the back coat are black or dark brown. They have a strong build and a long nose. Their ears are triangular and prick upward.

How cute are they?

Karelian bear dogs are very cute looking with their black with white markings. If you care for them and make them exercise they will be amazing with children and are known to be very intelligent as well.

How do they communicate?

Karelian bear dogs communicate through barking. The hunters train them to stop their prey or game and bark in a certain way to communicate with them. They need a lot of socialization and to connect with you and other animals as they were bred to be more aggressive for hunting.

How big is a Karelian Bear Dog?

The Karelian bear dog size is 21-24 in long, 19-22 in (48-55 cm) in height, and the Karelian bear dog weight is 44-50 lb. They are used as hunting and protection dogs and therefore are stronger and bigger than the average dog.

How fast can a Karelian Bear Dog run?

There is no particular speed mentioned, however taking into account that these are hunting dogs, these dog breeds in Finland would be pretty fast.

How much does a Karelian Bear Dog weigh?

The weight of a Karelian bear dog is between 44-50 lb.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the genders of this breed, although male dogs, in general, are called dogs, and females are called bitches.

What would you call a baby Karelian Bear Dog?

A baby Karelian bear dog is usually called a puppy.

What do they eat?

Depending upon the location the Karelian bear dog is fed accordingly, if the owner lives around the regions where hunting is prevalent then they would be given small game or animals such as squirrels, hares, chickens, and so on. However, in a normal household, they need good protein and fats along with good quality dog food.

They also eat canned food. The Karelian bear dog diet should be devised for a medium-sized dog with high energy levels and exercise requirements.

Are they slobbery?

No, Karelian bear dogs are not slobbery. They might look like scary dog breeds, but they are very cute.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, Karelian bear dogs would be good pets. Other than the Karelian bear dog temperament that needs good training to be under control, they need grooming and care and special exercise as they grow up.

Karelian bear dog training is extremely important if they are your pets. They are intelligent, loyal, loving, and pretty intense, but can be wonderful companions.

Did you know...

Karelian bear dogs are extremely strong. They are dogs that look like bears and this dog breed can tackle and fend off a full-grown dangerous bear!

Getting Your Own Karelian Bear Dog

The average price of a Karelian bear dog in the United States of America is between USD 1400-1700, this is if you buy a puppy. They are excellent family dogs, full of health and their love for children would not be a hindrance.

They are of average weight and a good height and therefore they should are not too big.

Training concerning socialization as a puppy is important as these pets need some training by their owners to adjust to their new environment as well. You can train them with positive reinforcement and treats.

Karelian bear dogs are known to be extremely healthy and hygienic dogs if the owner takes them to exercise and shows care toward them. However, some genetic conditions affect the health of this purebred.

These dogs due to their high energy and activity are prone to conditions such as hip dysplasia, and also several eye problems. Therefore especially when they are a puppy, regular vet checks are needed.

They are moderate shedders and need weekly brushing to be well-maintained. Bathe as and when needed as they are not a smelly breed. Their nails will need regular cutting as they grow fast.

The Importance Of Karelian Bear Dogs In Finland

The Karelian dog is one of the most common dogs in Finland, however, it is one of the most important as well. This dog originated from the ‘komi’ dog.

The Karelian bear dog is known as a stock dog as well. These were the dogs that were imported from different places in the world and trained and prepared for hunting due to their strength, bravery, and intelligence. They originated from places such as Ladoga Karelia, Olonets Karelia, and East Karelia.

Initially, the breeding of these hunting dogs started before the year 1948. The hunters or the owners wanted to prepare these dogs to be sturdy and intelligent to aid them in capturing their game.

Simple training such as how to bark at their game and how to communicate to their owners about the game that is in front of them was taught to them.

Specifically, the Karelian bear dog was used to hunt small fur animals such as squirrels, martens, and so on.

Other than the Karelian bear dog there is another animal that is used for this purpose, that is hunting. The name of this animal is the Norwegian elkhound, which was also meant to hunt the moose, lynx, wolves, and even the dangerous Eurasian brown bear.

One of the important traits of the Karelian bear dog was its capability to fend off an attack from the largest and most dangerous predators that a normal dog could not fend off.

They are so strong and sturdy that if trained and fed well, they can take on a full-grown bear.

In hunting, if two of the Karelian bear dogs were taken, both of these dogs separate themselves and when they see a game animal or they see a danger that they might not be able to fend off themselves, they have a special signal that they used to bark to each other.

Another method that these dogs used while hunting was that one of these dogs would purposely bark in front of the bear and lure it towards them to enable their owner or hunter to go for the kill, therefore this animal was and is quite intelligent.

The Karelian dog is also known to be extremely loyal and can save its master or owner from any attack that befalls it.

It is used as an excellent pet to guard the house because as cute it looks, the more dangerous it is for strangers or predators with its scary dog look.

These dogs are also used famously for ‘bear control’ in places such as Yosemite and Glacier national parks and are also used in the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In the year 2004, looking at how efficient and intelligent these dogs were, the Japanese decided to hire a couple of them as in the year 2006 there were a lot of bear attacks in a place called Karuizawa, which is a very famous resort town.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Australian Shepherd Lab mix facts, and Czechoslovakian wolfdog interesting facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Karelian bear dog coloring pages.