The breed of dogs Karelian bear is one of the varieties of Spitz. It was bred in the late 19th - early 20th century. It is also often called the Karelian bear husky. This breed is used to track large animals during hunting. She has incredible endurance, has a pronounced indicative, as well as hunting instinct. In terms of maintenance and care, the animal is unpretentious. With a Karelian bear dog they go to a wild boar, an elk and even a bear.
How did the breed appear?
The ancestors of these dogs are considered Karelian huskies, who lived on the territory of Finland and the Karelian Peninsula even before a person’s foot entered these lands. The first information about Karelian bear dogs appeared at the end of the 19th century, however, they were engaged in direct breeding only in 1935. It was during this period that a nursery was created in Finland.
During the Second World War, the number of these animals decreased significantly, which put the breed on the brink of extinction. But thanks to caring people, it was possible to save this variety of hunting dogs. The official recognition of the standards of the Karelian bear dog was in 1945. Registration of the first representatives of the breed that meet the standards took place a year later.
Description of the Karelian bear dog
These animals have a strong, muscular body. The muscles of the back and back of the trunk are very developed. At the withers, the height of the males reaches 54-60 cm, the females are slightly lower - 48-53 cm. The average weight of a dog is about 23 kg.
Most members of the breed have a thick fluffy tail, which the animal folds into a ring. However, short-tailed or completely tailless individuals are found. The number of puppies having this feature is approximately 10-15% of the total. Those dogs in which the tail process reaches 4-5 cm are considered cudy-tail. This feature is allowed by the standard, although it is undesirable.
The shape of the head resembles a dull wedge. Ears are erect, slightly rounded at the top, have a triangular shape. A Karelian bear dog has small brown eyes.
In appearance, this breed has certain similarities with the Russian-European Laika. The coat is straight, stiff. The undercoat is fluffy and thick. On the back and neck the length of the coat is longer.
By standards, thoroughbred dogs have a matte black color with a slight tint of bronze. On the limbs, head, tail, as well as the cervical and thoracic regions, there may be white spots that have clear boundaries. The standard also allows the option of a white color with black marks.
Character
Karelian bear dog is quite aggressive towards other animals. Chasing the prey and discovering it, she will do everything possible to prevent the beast from leaving. The dog is very loyal to the owners, but to the strangers it shows distrust, although it is restrained from aggression.
The animal does not get along well with its brethren and often gets involved in fights, so most often they go hunting alone with them.
These dogs are fearless, hardy and unpretentious. Their behavior can be defiant and demonstrative, as they strive to always occupy leading positions.
Due to the complexity of the character, certain problems arise in its content. The owner must remember that his word should remain last. To curb the temper of the shrew is quite difficult, therefore, in communication you need to be strict so that the pet knows who is in charge. However, shouting, let alone punishing the animal for small pranks, is not worth it, otherwise the dog will hold a grudge.
Since Karelian bear huskies are hunting, they should have enough space where they can run around. Independence and independence are one of the main characteristics of the dog’s character. Left unattended, she is able to go for a walk wherever she wants. You need to walk your pet exclusively on a leash: when he sees a cat or a dog, he headlong rushes off to hunt, forgetting about the existence of the owner.
If there are no skills in handling dogs of this kind, you should not start a Karelian bear like. The owner must be an experienced dog breeder who is able to teach the pet teams. Severity of treatment, intensive consecutive training and training will help to cope with the complex nature of the animal.
Remember! You can not cross the line of cruelty, as the dog respond to such treatment with aggressive behavior.
Care and maintenance rules
Keeping such dogs in the apartment is highly undesirable. It is recommended to keep Karelian bear huskies in the aviary. Hair care is carried out using a metal comb. During molting, it is advisable to comb out the pet daily.
Interestingly, these dogs do not have a specific unpleasant odor, which is characteristic of many representatives of other breeds. Another advantage is that the pet eats very little for its size.
Life span
On average, the life expectancy of Karelian bear dogs is up to 15 years. These animals have good health. The main factors affecting life expectancy are:
- the right diet;
- the ability to lead an active lifestyle;
- regular health monitoring by a veterinarian;
- proper care;
- vaccinations against various diseases.
Puppy cost
Since Karelian bear huskies are considered a rare breed, the cost of puppies is quite high. On average, a small pet can cost $ 1,300.