| Karelian Bear Dog
|
|
|
| Alternative names
|
| Kar(j)alankarhukoira
|
| Karelsk Bjornhond (Bjornhund)
|
|
| Country of origin
|
| Finland and Russia
|
| Classification and breed standards
|
|
|
The Karelian Beardog is a breed of dog that today is used more for hunting moose and deer than it is used for bear hunting, since bears have become rare in Finland.
Appearance
The dog should be in excellent physical condition. Males stand 54 to 60 cm (22 to 24 in.) at the withers and females 49 to 55 cm (19 to 22 in.). The breed's coat is black, white or black and white.
Temperament
The dog should be brave. It tends to be aggressive towards other dogs and is suspicious of strangers. These traits prevent it from becoming popular as a companion dog.
History
It was developed in the Karelia area around the border between Russia and Finland in the 1800s.
