Karelian Bear Dog puppies

About the Karelian Bear Dog

The Karelian Bear Dog was developed in Finland and the Karelian region to hunt large game, holding moose or bear at bay and barking until the hunter arrives. It weighs 20 to 22.2 kg and stands 48 to 60 cm, black with sharp white markings and a dense medium double coat built for a hard winter. It is bold, independent and completely single minded once it has found game, aloof with strangers, and often unwilling to share space with unfamiliar dogs.

This is a working dog that needs hours of genuine activity and something to point it at. Grooming is weekly brushing with an occasional bath, plus regular nail trimming, since the nails grow fast. Fencing has to be serious. It is rated at the bottom of the scale for living with children, which is worth taking at face value: it suits an experienced adult household, and any contact with children needs close supervision and thorough socialisation. The mistake is buying one on looks and then having no outlet for it.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Karelian Bear Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist examination
• Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination

From Karelian Bear Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/karelian-bear-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Karelian Bear Dog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Karelian Bear Dog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20 to 22.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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