Karelian Bear Dog
卡累利阿熊犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Karelian Bear Dog is a Finnish hunting spitz bred to find and hold at bay elk and bear on its own, marking the game by barking. The FCI standard describes an eager, very independent hunter that nonetheless works co-operatively, balanced, courageous and persistent, very self-confident, possibly territorial toward other males but never aggressive toward people, and slightly reserved; the AKC warns that its fighting spirit surfaces around other dogs and can be hard to handle, and rates it 1/5 with young children. In Finland breeding stock must be hip-scored and eye-tested, with hereditary cataract, PRA and PHTVL/PHPV excluded from breeding.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 48–60cm |
| Weight | 20–22kg |
| Life expectancy | 11–13years |
| Breed group | AKC: fss FCI: 5 |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 45–90min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 3/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 1/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 5/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
In Finland both parents must have an official hip certificate before mating and a dog graded D may only be paired with an A-graded partner. Ask your breeder for the parents' hip results and your vet about hip screening.
Inherited eye conditions
The Finnish Kennel Club requires an eye examination certificate for both parents and will not register offspring of dogs with hereditary cataract, progressive retinal atrophy or PHTVL/PHPV (a developmental eye defect) at stages 2–6. Ask your breeder for the parents' eye certificates.
Behaviour
Eager, independent, never aggressive to people
The FCI standard describes an eager hunter that is very independent yet works co-operatively to game, marking it by barking, with sharp senses — especially smell — a very good sense of direction and a highly developed spirit for game; balanced, courageous and persistent, very self-confident, possibly territorial towards other males, never aggressive towards people, and slightly reserved.
A silent hunter whose fighting spirit surfaces around dogs
The AKC says the Karelian Bear Dog was bred to hunt large, aggressive game by itself, is a silent hunter that barks only once the game is stopped or treed, and tells an experienced hunter what it has found by the sound of its bark. Though it can show self-control around people, its fighting spirit surfaces around other dogs and can be difficult to handle — it loves a challenge and that spirit easily turns into aggression. The trait chart rates it 1/5 with young children and 5/5 for protective nature.
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 4/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Karelian Bear Dog
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Karelian Bear Dog (Working Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Karelian Bear Dog (standard no. 48, group 5)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Finnish Kennel Club — Karjalankarhukoira (Karelian Bear Dog)
Breed page of the kennel club of the breed's country of origin, including the PEVISA breeding health programme: compulsory hip and eye certificates for parents, restricted hip grades and the eye diseases that exclude a dog from breeding.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Karelian Bear Dog — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Karelian Bear Dog — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Karelian Bear Dog — FCI standard no. 48 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]FCI-Standard No. 48 — Karelian Bear Dog — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Karjalankarhukoira — breed page with PEVISA breeding health programme — Suomen Kennelliitto (Finnish Kennel Club) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.