Karelian Bear Dog

American Rare Breed Association

FCI-Standard N° 48 / 12. 03. 1999 / GB

KARELIAN BEAR DOG

(Karjalankarhukoira) 

TRANSLATION : Finnish Kennel Club.

ORIGIN : Finland.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 12.03.1999.

UTILIZATION : A dog mainly for elk and bear hunting, holds the game at bay.  Eager hunter; very independent, yet works cooperatively to game, marking game by barking.  The senses, especially of scent, are keen, thus the breed is suitable for big game hunting.  Very good sense of direction.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 5 Spitz and primitive types. Section 2 Nordic Hunting Dogs. Working trial only for the nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland).

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 Ladoga’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.  The first standard was established in 1945.  The first dogs were registred in 1946.  Today the breed is common in Finland.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium sized, robust conformation, strong, only slightly longer than the height at the withers, with dense coat and pricked ears.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The length of the body is only slightly longer than the height at the withers.  The depth of the body is about the half of the height at the withers.  The ratio between muzzle and skull is approximately 2 : 3.  The length of the skull is about the same as its breadth and depth.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Balanced, slightly reserved, courageous and persistent.  Very self-confident, may be aggressive towards other dogs, but never towards people.  Highly developed fighting spirit.

HEAD : Viewed from the front triangular in shape.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Broad; viewed from the front and in profile slightly convex.  Broadest between the ears.  The frontal furrow is barely visible.  The superciliary ridges are only slightly developed.

Stop : Not very pronounced, rather long, arched gradually towards the skull.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Large, black in colour.

Muzzle : Deep, tapering only slightly towards the nose.  The nasal bridge is straight.

Lips : Rather thin and tight.

Jaws/Teeth : The jaws are very strong. The teeth are well developed and symmetrical; normal dentition.  Tight scissor bite.

Cheeks : The zygomatic arches are strong.

Eyes : Rathers small, slightly oval.  Brown of different shades, never yellow.  The expression is alert and fiery.

Ears : Erect, set rather high, medium sized with slightly rounded tips.

NECK : Muscular; of medium length, arched and covered with profuse hair.  Without dewlap.

BODY :

Withers : Clearly defined, especially in males, less defined in bitches.

Back : Straight and muscular.

Loin : Short and muscular.

Croup : Broad, strong and slightly sloping.

Chest : Spacious, not very broad, rather long, reaching approximately to the elbows.  The ribs are slightly arched; the forechest clearly visible, yet not very broad.

Lower line : Slightly tucked up.

TAIL : High set, of medium length, curved over the back, the tip of the tail touching the body on either side or on the back. A  natural bobtail is permitted.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

General appearance : Strong with strong bone.  Viewed from the front straight and parallel.  The upper arm and the shoulder blade are equal in length, the forearm is slightly longer.

Shoulders : Relatively oblique, muscular.

Upper arm : Slightly oblique and strong.

Elbows : Pointing straight backwards, placed on the vertical line drawn from the highest point of the shoulder blade.

Forearm : Strong and vertical.

Metacarpus(Pastern) : Of medium length, slightly oblique. 

Fore feet : Tight, well arched, roundish and pointing forward.  Pads springy, the sides covered with dense hair.

HINDQUARTERS :

General appearance : Strong and muscular, viewed from behind straight and parallel. The front line of the hind limb is evenly arched.

Upper thigh : Broad and long with strong muscles.

Stifle : Pointing forward, medium angulation. 

Second thigh : Long and muscular.

Hock : Low; angulation clearly visible.

Metatarsus : Short, strong and vertical.

Hindfeet : Tight, slightly longer and less arched than the front feet.  Pads springy, the sides covered with dense hair.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Light, ground covering and effortless.  Changes easily from trot to gallop, which is the most natural style of movement.  The legs move parallel.

SKIN : Tight overall without wrinkles.

COAT

HAIR : Outer coat harsh and straight.  On the neck, back and backside of the upper thighs longer than elsewhere.  The undercoat is soft and dense.

COLOUR : Black, may be dull or shaded with brown.  Most individuals have clearly defined white markings on the head, neck, chest, belly and the legs.

SIZE AND WEIGHT  :

Height at withers : Ideal height for males 57 cm, Ideal height for females 52 cm. With a tolerance of ± 3 cm.

Weight : Males 25 - 28 kg, Bitches 17 - 20 kg.

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.

Light in bone.

Narrow skull.

Strongly bulging forehead.

Snipey muzzle.

Yellow eyes.

Soft or bat ears.

Dewlap.

Too deep or barrel shaped ribcage.

Straight or insufficiently curved tail.

Straight shoulders.

Straight hocks and flat feet.

Dewclaws on hindlegs.

Wavy coat.

Predominantly white colour with black markings or some so called wolf hair.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

Aggressiveness towards people.

Overshot or undershot mouth.

Wall eye.

Ears hanging or with drooping tips.

Other colours than allowed in the standard.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.