Questions and Answers about the Karelian Bear Dog

Do I have to train them to run bear?

The instinct to move bear is in them from when they are very young. Many of our puppy owners have told us how protective their puppies are from the time they are quite young. One told us that their eight week old puppy was barking and growling at their door when there was a bear in their yard.
Many Montana and Alaska owners use our dogs to move bears from their yards and property. One Alaskan owner told us that his dog saved his life from Grizzly Bears three times that he knows about.

I am having a hard time finding any information on the web about these dogs?

This is a rare breed and so there is not a lot of information about them. Keep looking on the Internet as new information comes out all the time.
This breed is very devoted to their homes and very loyal to their people. They are wonderful hunters and also excellent companions.

Questions and Answers about the Karelian Bear Dog

I would like to know more on the karelian breed as far as using them for bear hunting. If you have any links to information on training, maintenance, etc?

This is an excellent site that tells about hunting with Karelian Bear Dogs.
http://www.everythinghusky.com/dogswestsibe.html

Do I need to keep them penned up like regular hound dogs?

Most of our dogs are penned just because of their investment and to protect them from accident. However, if you have country space they do very well free also. They set their territory around their place and then they stay in that home area. They might like to go adventuring if they have a chance but they then return home.
Most places do not have space for free roaming dogs, and the dogs are safer confined. A remote collar can be used to set up an invisible fence to contain the dog in the area of the owners choosing.

Will they travel long distances on a hunt?

This is a very hardy breed and they will hunt as long as the owner wants them too. Also they are pretty good at pulling a sled for quite a distance.

I live in the mountains so can they handle rough terrain on a hunt?

We also live in the mountains and the dogs handle rough terrain and extreme cold with no problems. They are a tough Northern Breed of dog.

Karelian Bear Dog protects owner from brown bears!

A man, Hugh Bevan, wrote to me from Sitka, Alaska and said I could pass on his comments about the Karelian Bear Dog that he owns.
Hugh said that he owned a 20 month old purebred Karelain Bear Dog male.
"We live on a brown bear island in S.E. Alaska. "Dillon" is a working dog whose job is to let me know where the grizzly bears are hiding. One weekend, we were fishing for salmon in a local river, and we ran into four brown bears that day and Dillon let me know in advance where they were each time. So far he has not shown a tendency to engage a grizzly and that is a good thing. He signals by body language and barking where the bear is located so we have time to get our rifles off of our shoulders."
"I have owned Labs, Chesapeakes, and one terrific mutt, but Dillon is the best ever, I predict. He is an amazing athlete."

For every minute you are angry...

For every minute you are angry,

You lost sixty seconds of

Happiness.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Karelian Bear Dogs

The Karelian Bear Dogs are rare worldwide, and there are not many even in the United States. The Karelian Bear Dogs are a rare, and unique animal, orginating in the areas of Russia, Finland, and Siberia. They are considered a National Treasure in Russia and Finland, and were not exported to other countries until just a few years ago.
The Karelian Bear Dog was bred for hunting both large and small game. As their name indictates they were used for hunting bear, and also elk. In our nation, they are used in our National Parks to move the bears away from campgrounds and other people populated areas. The dogs are serving people by protecting them in such a manner.
The Karelian Bear Dogs protect their humans from any preditors. For people who like to hike in the woods or mountains, these dogs are especially excellent. They are brave, courageous, obedient, and protective to their death, yet the Karelian Bear Dog is gentle and loving to their family. The dog is friendly to anyone approaching them unless they mean harm to the master. And they seem to know the difference. Karelian Bear Dogs are extremely intelligent and excell in obedience training and tracking. They are deeply devoted, especially to one person, who they give their heart, but they are still loving to the whole family. The Karelian Bear Dog craves human attention and they do not stray from the house, but stay faithfully close to home. They are a dog that takes a gentle hand in training because they are such an intelligent and sensitive breed. Our young daugther hooks her Karelian to her sled and the dog pulls her endlessly. She stops when commanded, but runs back to cover her young friend with doggy kisses. Such is the Karelian Bear Dog, brave and courageous, but sweet and loving.(written by Nancy Reishus)