My Karelian Heritage & Karelian Bear Dogs
Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia) is the area of Karelia one side of my family is from going back as far as records go. Karjala--a land of rich forests and placid lakes that now encompasses Eastern Finland and Western Russia. Growing up as a Finnish American in the United States, it was important to my dad that I and my siblings maintain our cultural ties to Finland. One of the ways we chose to do this was by getting two Karelian Bear Dogs, the national dog of Finland.
Because there were no authorized breeders in the US at the time, we flew each of them in from Canada at 12 weeks old and picked them up from Las Vegas International Airport. We got our dogs in 2013 and 2014, and our male KBD (Thor) unfortunately passed away in 2022 from rattlesnake venom complications while receiving care at a veterinary clinic. I was living in New York at the time and hadn't seen him since my winter break, so it was difficult for me. I wasn't expecting it. Our female KBD (Saami) is vivacious and healthy but seemed to suffer some depression after her BFF died, which was so sad to watch.
Me with Thor as a puppy, 2013
I spent countless hours with these two dogs as a child and teenager, going for drives, walks, hikes, and just hanging out in the shade together during the summer. I always look forward to spending time with Saami when I visit my family in Utah.
About the Breed
Karelian Bear Dogs as a breed were developed in Karelia for hunting large game like bears (of course), moose, and wild boar. They're used by the U.S. National Parks system to help manage the bear and mountain lion populations. They have an average lifespan of 10-14 years and are a healthy breed with few genetic issues. Personality-wise, Karelian Bear Dogs are independent, brave, risk-seeking, loyal, protective, and next-level intelligent.
1. 24/7 Hunters
Karelian Bear Dogs can't switch off their urge to hunt. We had chickens for a few years and ended up having to get rid of them because the dogs wouldn't stop trying to kill and eat them. They'd sit outside the chicken run for hours a day figuring out new ways to break in. Because they were bred to hunt large predators, they're naturally brave, and will take risks that other dogs might not. Our dogs successfully hunted and killed rattlesnakes on our property multiple times that were a danger to us (actively coiled and ready to attack, right next to our house). But because of their high prey drive, they are not always the best fit for households with other pets. Our dogs also got injured sometimes from animals they'd fight with, as pictured below. Thor was taken to the vet and given stitches and medicine for this.
Thor with a grisly wound sustained on one of his adventures
2. High Space Requirements
Karelian Bear Dogs need space to run and play every day, and are NOT suited for apartment living. It wouldn't be fair to them to keep them confined to an apartment, no matter how frequently they're going out for walks. Our dogs ran around on our mountain land all day, took frequent dips in the river during the summer to cool down, and went on additional hikes and walks with us several times a week. They need tons of exercise and mental stimulation, and if they don't get it, it'll lead to behavioral issues. We used the Garmin Tracking & Training collar and handheld system to enable them to run around freely during the day while staying within the area they were supposed to. I've included the links below so you can check it out if you're interested! It's worked really well for us and has given the dogs the freedom they need.
Garmin Tracking & Training Collar
Garmin Tracking & Training Bundle (handheld included)
3. Escape Artists
Karelian Bear Dogs are difficult to contain. We had a large indoor-outdoor heated enclosure for them to sleep in at night which was surrounded by a 5 foot high chain link fence. They hated being in the enclosure at night because they could hear and smell all the nocturnal animals, like skunks and raccoons, and wanted to get out to hunt them. First, they dug under the chain link fence. When we fixed it so they couldn't do that anymore, they started jumping over it. We didn't think this would happen because it seemed way too high, but I saw happen it with my eyes. It was startling.
We were at a bit of a loss for what to do at this point, so we started hooking them up to long cables within the enclosure that would allow them to move around a lot but prevent them from jumping the fence. The female KBD figured out how to unhook the cable from her collar. We had to switch to a different type of closure so she couldn't do that anymore. After Thor died, she became less interested in solo nighttime hunting escapades, so it hasn't been as big of an issue recently.
Thor at the vet in his Garmin tracking collar
4. Territorial
Karelian Bear Dogs are territorial. They don't like other animals, including other dogs, on what they feel is their turf. Our dogs were good friends with our neighbor's dog who they knew since they were puppies, but it seemed like they accepted her because they viewed her as part of the pack. It was a hit or miss with cats--our dogs were/are buddies with our family cats Jasmine (RIP) and Pandora, and our female KBD has a feral cat who's been her best friend for years that she shares food with and sleeps next to every night. However, they've tried to attack feral cats before who have wandered into their zone (there are lots of feral cats in Northern Utah--people don't spay and neuter and often dump their pets in random fields if they don't want them anymore).
They can be good with children, but they're not the best with children. If the goal is to have a normal family dog that's great with kids, a golden retriever or lab would be a better choice. Our dogs were great with us as kids and really bonded with the whole family. Early socialization is super important with whatever animals they're regularly in contact with (this didn't work for the chickens though), but in general, the breed is never aggressive towards humans.
5. High-Maintenance Hair
Karelian Bear Dogs need lots of grooming. Their coat is double-layered with a dense gray undercoat and straight, glossy black overcoat. In the harsh Finnish or Northern Utah winters, this helps them stay cozy in the icy winters. However, they shed in the spring and summer, making it necessary for them to be thoroughly brushed several times weekly and professionally groomed regularly. Their undercoat sheds off in thick, fluffy chunks of fur. This brush in a size large is what we use to groom them at home when that starts to happen!
Our dogs also got dirty quickly because of the amount of time they spent outside in and out of water, dirt, and grassy fields, making trips to the groomer and washes even more of a necessity.
Saami on her way to the groomer!
Conclusion
Karelian Bear Dogs are best suited to households with experienced, prepared, well-researched dog owners who live in cold climates with access to plenty of outdoor space. They're especially good working companions to hunters. I absolutely love Karelian Bear Dogs and don't think I'd own any other breed despite the high level of commitment required of owners. My husband also loves Karelian Bear Dogs--he didn't grow up with any pets, so he feels really connected them. Having them helps me stay close to Finland and lets me share that with him too.
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