Karelsk bjørnehund er en fryktløs og selvstendig finsk jaktrase avlet for å konfrontere storvilt med bemerkelsesverdig mot.
Hvordan pelsen til en Karelsk bjørnhund er bygget opp, og hva det betyr for stellet.
Kritisk: En Karelsk bjørnhund bør ikke klippes helt ned.
Underullen holder varmen ute like godt som kulden, og dekkpelsen skjermer huden mot sol og insektbitt. Klipper man av hele pelsen, forsvinner begge deler. Den vokser ofte ut flekkvis, myk eller i en annen farge, og hos noen dyr kommer dekkhåret aldri skikkelig tilbake. Børst ut underullen i stedet for å klippe den bort.
Til informasjon: En Karelsk bjørnhund slipper underullen i kraftige perioder.
Underullen løsner i kraftige perioder over noen uker. En underullsrive, eller et bad fulgt av grundig føning, får den ut langt raskere enn daglig børsting. Å klippe ned pelsen er ingen snarvei her.
A few of the Karelsk bjørnhund profiles members have added to United Pet Club.
The Karelian Bear Dog is a medium-sized Finnish hunting breed, fearless and independent, developed to track and bay large game including bear and moose.
The Karelian Bear Dog is a medium-sized spitz-type dog from Finland. It was developed to hunt large and aggressive game, and it carries the physical toughness and nerve that work demands. The breed stands square and muscular, with a dense black-and-white coat and a tightly curled tail typical of northern spitz dogs.
This is a working dog first. Its instinct is to find big game, hold it at bay, and bark to signal the hunter. That same drive shows up at home as a high level of alertness, strong territorial behavior, and a will of its own. The Karelian Bear Dog forms a close bond with one person or a small family group and tends to be reserved with strangers.
Owners describe the breed as bold, energetic, and self-directed. It is not a dog that lives to please. It thinks and acts on its own, which suits the field but asks a lot of a household. Daily physical activity and a clear, consistent handler are not optional.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Finland |
| Size | Medium |
| Lifespan | 11 to 13 years |
| Group / role | Spitz-type hunting dog (big game) |
| Good with | Bonded family; reserved with strangers; often dog-aggressive |
This breed fits an active, experienced owner who can provide a job, daily exercise, and firm leadership. It does well with people who hunt, hike, or train regularly. It is a poor match for first-time owners, apartment living without an outlet, or homes with other dogs and small pets, given its strong prey drive and tendency toward same-sex dog aggression.
The Karelian Bear Dog comes from the forested Karelia region between Finland and Russia, where spitz-type dogs were used for centuries to hunt large game before the modern breed was standardized in Finland in the 1930s.
The breed takes its name from Karelia, a forested region straddling the border of Finland and Russia. Northern hunters there relied on tough spitz-type dogs to track and confront large game such as bear, moose, and wild boar. These dogs needed independence, a loud carrying bark, and the nerve to face dangerous quarry alone until the hunter arrived.
The modern Karelian Bear Dog was developed from these regional hunting dogs in the early twentieth century. Finnish breeders worked to fix the type during the 1930s, and the Finnish Kennel Club recognized the breed in that decade. The aim was a reliable big-game dog with consistent appearance and working ability.
The Second World War nearly wiped out the breeding stock. Numbers fell sharply, and the breed was rebuilt afterward from a small group of surviving dogs. This narrow founding base shaped the population that exists today.
The Karelian Bear Dog remains a working hunter in its homeland and is widely regarded as a national dog of Finland. Outside Finland it is used in wildlife management, including programs that use the dogs to haze bears away from people and property.
The Karelian Bear Dog is a sturdy, medium-sized spitz with a dense black coat marked by white, a curled tail, and erect ears.
The Karelian Bear Dog is slightly longer than it is tall, with a strong, well-boned body built for endurance in cold forest terrain. The head is wedge-shaped, the ears stand erect, and the tail curls over the back in the spitz pattern. The overall impression is of a compact, powerful working dog rather than a refined show animal.
| Trait | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | Males about 54 to 60 cm; females about 49 to 55 cm at the withers |
| Weight | About 20 to 23 kg |
| Coat | Double coat: straight, stiff outer coat over a soft dense undercoat |
| Colors | Black, often with a brownish cast, marked with white |
| Eyes | Small, brown, alert expression |
The defining color is black, frequently with a brownish tint, broken by clear white markings on the head, neck, chest, belly, and legs. The double coat gives strong insulation against cold and wet, with a harsh weather-resistant outer layer and a thick undercoat. The coat sheds seasonally and does not require trimming or clipping. White patches that cover large portions of the body, or solid coloring without markings, fall outside the typical pattern.
The Karelian Bear Dog is courageous, independent, and intensely alert, deeply loyal to its family but reserved with strangers and frequently aggressive toward other dogs.
The Karelian Bear Dog is bold and fearless by design. Bred to face animals far larger than itself, it does not back down easily and reacts fast to anything it reads as a threat. With its own family it is affectionate and loyal, and it bonds closely with the people it trusts.
With strangers the breed is watchful and aloof. It makes a natural guard and alarm dog, barking at unfamiliar people and unusual activity. Early and ongoing socialization helps it tell genuine threats from normal life, but it will never be an indiscriminately friendly dog.
The largest behavioral challenge is interaction with other animals. Prey drive is high, which makes the breed risky around cats, livestock, and small pets. Many individuals are aggressive toward other dogs, especially of the same sex, and may not tolerate canine housemates. Around children in its own family it can be gentle, though its size, energy, and independence call for supervision.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection (with family) | 4 |
| Energy | 5 |
| Trainability | 2 |
| Vocalness | 4 |
| Shedding | 4 |
The Karelian Bear Dog needs heavy daily exercise, a secure outdoor space, and a job to do; grooming is straightforward thanks to the self-cleaning double coat.
The breed suits a rural or semi-rural home with space and a strong fence. The thick coat handles cold and wet well, so outdoor time in winter is no problem, but the dog still needs to live in close contact with its family. Apartments and homes with other dogs or small pets are generally unsuitable.
The Karelian Bear Dog does well on a complete, protein-forward diet sized to its high activity level, divided into two daily meals to support its working metabolism.
Feed a complete and balanced diet formulated for an active medium-sized dog. Protein and fat support the muscle and stamina the breed uses in the field, so working or hunting dogs need more calories during active seasons and less during quiet months. Adjust portions to keep the dog lean, with ribs easy to feel but not see. Always provide fresh water, especially after exercise.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (2 to 6 months) | Per product guideline, growth formula | 3 to 4 |
| Young dog (6 to 12 months) | Per product guideline | 2 to 3 |
| Adult | About 250 to 350 g dry food, adjusted to activity | 2 |
| Senior / less active | Reduced calories to prevent weight gain | 2 |
Keep treats to about ten percent of daily calories so the working diet stays balanced. A dog on a complete commercial food usually needs no supplements. Discuss joint or skin supplements with a veterinarian before adding them, particularly for older or heavily worked dogs.
The Karelian Bear Dog is generally hardy with a lifespan of 11 to 13 years, though the small founding population means responsible breeding and routine screening matter.
The Karelian Bear Dog is a robust, working breed with relatively few inherited problems and a typical lifespan of 11 to 13 years. The population was rebuilt from a small number of dogs after the Second World War, so a limited gene pool is a real consideration, and reputable breeders screen their stock and aim to maintain genetic diversity. Most health problems in the breed are the common orthopedic and eye conditions seen across active medium-sized dogs.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | Stiffness, limping, reluctance to jump | Screen breeding dogs; keep weight controlled |
| Elbow dysplasia | Foreleg lameness, especially when young | Heritable; screening recommended |
| Eye disorders | Cloudiness, vision loss, bumping into objects | Periodic eye checks for breeding stock |
| Patellar luxation | Skipping gait, intermittent hind-leg lameness | Often managed; severe cases may need surgery |
Training a Karelian Bear Dog takes early socialization, consistency, and patience because the breed is intelligent but independent and not naturally eager to obey.
The Karelian Bear Dog is intelligent and quick to learn, but it is independent and bred to make decisions without a handler. That combination makes it a demanding student. It responds best to a confident, consistent owner who sets clear rules and earns the dog's respect. Harsh handling backfires and damages trust. Early, broad socialization is the single most important investment, given the breed's reserve with strangers and its drive toward other animals. Recall is a known weak point: once on a scent, many dogs tune out, so off-lead freedom should be limited to secure areas.
Breeding the Karelian Bear Dog calls for health-screened parents and attention to genetic diversity, with litters of around four to six puppies after a typical canine gestation.
Responsible breeding of the Karelian Bear Dog centers on temperament, working ability, and health. Because the breed was rebuilt from a small post-war population, maintaining genetic diversity is a priority, and breeders weigh pedigrees carefully to avoid concentrating the limited gene pool. Parents should be screened for hip, elbow, and eye problems and should show the stable, courageous temperament the breed is known for.
Females reach sexual maturity in the first year, but breeders generally wait until a dog is physically mature and has cleared health screening before mating. Gestation runs about 63 days, the standard length for dogs. Litters tend to be moderate in size. Because the breed can be sharp toward other dogs and intensely protective, raising puppies includes careful, early socialization so the young dogs grow into manageable adults. Puppies should stay with the dam and litter until about eight weeks to learn normal canine behavior.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | Around 6 to 12 months |
| Recommended breeding age | Physically mature, after health clearances |
| Gestation | About 63 days |
| Litter size | Typically 4 to 6 puppies |
| Weaning / homing age | Around 8 weeks |
Gratis profil for hele hundelivet til din Karelsk bjørnhund hos United Pet Club, med chipen registrert uten kostnad og ingen fornyelser.
Skriv inn navnet på din Karelsk bjørnhund, fødselsdato og et godt bilde, legg til telefonnummeret ditt og lagre. Ferdig: en gratis oppføring som varer livet ut og tar imot chipnummeret når du har det. Hunderegistreringen venter ikke på noen.
Femten sifre uten register er bare sifre. Koble nummeret til din Karelsk bjørnhund mot telefonen din hos United Pet Club: gratis registrering som aldri utløper, alle chipmerker, kostnadsfrie endringer. Chipregistrering først, konto etterpå, ferdig.
Opprett en gratis konto hos United Pet Club, skriv inn opplysningene om din Karelsk bjørnhund med et bilde og lagre. Profilen er gratis hele hundelivet, og DyreID-innmelding hos veterinæren er et eget spor.
Skriv det 15-sifrede nummeret inn i gratis-kontoen med adresse og telefonnummer. Livstidsplanen godtar alle merker og krever aldri betaling for endringer.
Nei, noe lovkrav finnes ikke, men de fleste hunder chippes likevel. Verdien ligger i en oppdatert oppføring bak nummeret, og den er gratis hos United Pet Club.
Null kroner. Gratis livstidsplan dekker profil, chipregistrering og alle endringer, uten fornyelser.
Common questions about the Karelian Bear Dog cover its size, temperament, care demands, lifespan, suitability as a pet, and availability.
It is a medium-sized breed. Males stand about 54 to 60 cm at the withers and females about 49 to 55 cm, with most adults weighing roughly 20 to 23 kg.
It is courageous, independent, energetic, and alert. The breed bonds closely with its family but stays reserved with strangers and is often aggressive toward other dogs and small animals.
Grooming is simple, but the breed is demanding overall. It needs one to two hours of vigorous exercise daily, a secure fence, firm and consistent training, and a job to channel its hunting drive.
The typical lifespan is 11 to 13 years. The breed is generally hardy, with hip, elbow, and eye conditions being the main health concerns to screen for.
It can be devoted to its own family, including children it is raised with, but it suits experienced, active owners in rural homes. It is a poor fit for first-time owners, apartments, or households with other pets.
Yes. The breed is naturally watchful, territorial, and vocal, which makes it an effective alarm and guard dog, though that same alertness requires steady socialization.
They are common in Finland, where the breed originated and is widely kept, but far less common elsewhere, so availability outside the Nordic region can be limited.
