Karelian Bear Dog

Karelian Bear Dog

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Karelian Bear Dog

Brief Historical Summary: The Komi dog, also called the dog of Zyrians, is considered to be the origin of the breed. However, the basic stock dogs originated from the Lagoda’s Karelia, Olonets and Russian Karelia, where they were used for all different types of game hunting. The breeding was started in 1936 with the goal to create a sturdy dog which barks at big game. Then it was agreed that the name of the breed is Karelian Bear Dog. The first standard was established in 1945. The first dogs were registered in 1946. Today the breed is common in Finland.
Facial Region
Body
Limbs
Forequarters:
Hindquarters:
Gait/Movement: Light, effortless, covering a lot of ground. Changes easily from trot to gallop, which is the most natural gait. The legs move parallel.

Coat
Size and Weight:
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on its ability to perform its traditional work.
•    Light in bone.
•    Narrow skull.
•    Strongly bulging forehead.
•    Snipey muzzle.
•    Missing teeth (excluding the PM1 and M3).
•    Yellow eyes.
•    Soft or bat ears.
•    Dewlap.
•    Too deep or barrel-shaped ribcage.
•    Upright shoulders.
•    Insufficiently angulated hocks and flat feet.
•    Predominantly white colour with black markings or some so-called wolf hair.
•    Heavy ticking in white areas.
•    Wavy coat.
•    Straight or insufficiently curved tail.
Very Serious Faults:
•    Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
•    Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
•    Overshot or undershot mouth.
•    Blue eyes.
•    Ears hanging or semi-drop.
NB
•    Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
•    Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.