KARELIAN BEAR DOG: THE BIG GAME HUNTER 

I wouldn't recommend coming on a property with KBD. I have one. They're good with people they know and they are the ultimate alarm system. Nothing can get within 2 -3+ acres without her going off. If there is any kind of wildlife game over.

Hahahahaha I was just thinking the same

Best dog I’ve ever owned, but he was very protective.

@@ezo4 So they are not good if you have goats, chickens, etc then?

@@gardeningmaster5304 ah no that would be lunch and snacks. I have had friend up in Alaska that had two and he would hold a ham in one hand and chicken in the other and if he took them off line there gone for days. They are hunters

Yo! I was married to a Finn. He was gregarious, but only towards women.

Sarah Gray now way

Tuko that’s a badass name

But he says this dog barks more than his west siberian laika. And Finns don't talk 😅

That, and the reputation for having your hands sewn in your pockets !

This looks like an Akita

More or less all nordic hunting or herding spitzes have this shape. Norwegian elkhound grey or black, Swedish elkhound grey or white, Hälleforshund, Finnish spitz, laika, Swedish vallhund, Icelandic sheepdog, laponian herder and Finnish lapphund just to mention a few. This is true for many asian spitzes as well, especially for those that have formerly been hunting dogs like kishu ken, shiba inu and akita.

@@Nibs333 no , no it doesn’t

? lol most do..... kangal, gampr, sarabi.....

Ever see a jämthund? They often get killed by wolfs partly because they look like an invading wolf, which wouldn't happen with one of these.

Hahahahahaha! True saying, mate!

Ian Goodnow what if he has just as much cats?

Cats 🤡

@@fastum000 Nah fam you lagging. Cats are the homies

The Washington State wildlife department has a team of Karelians to chase bears out of campgrounds and residential areas. Very effective! There is a YT video about them, which you can search.

I agree, Karelians in action is amazing. Animal control in Banff and Canmore use them to deal with bears and other large animals coming too close to campsites and towns. Scares the shit out of the bears and usually keeps them from coming back and needing to be put down.

Malovane - I wonder if they've been tried with polar bears. That would be something to see.

@@diane9247 it would, especially because a polar bear hasn't seen a dog in its life nor would it expect 2 of such abumals to charge it, it might take off actually

@@diane9247 They use them on the north slope Alaska oilfields for chasing off bears and also den detection.

That's cool thanks for the story. I want one

I am wondering about shedding and grooming... Can you tell me how much your KBD sheds? Also, what is your grooming/bathing routine with him?

So more or less similar to the Akita

@@wgdetective7034 He has two big coat blowouts in spring and fall, plus lighter shedding in between. It's not quite as heavy as a husky. I think he has a couple of baths a year and is a yelping little girl about having nails trimmed. (He's my son's family's dog, not mine.) He is an introvert in the dog world, the breed is often compared to cats. He never jumps up or demands attention. 😊

@@lovefunkrockmusic Hmmm, maybe, but the little I know about Akitas makes me think they're more assertive with their people than this particular dog.

Thanks! :)

They're pretty different IMHO. The KBD is a much more energetic breed, smaller than an AA, barks more, and has a useable predatory instinct while the AA is larger, quieter, and lacks any real usable working qualities nowadays (IMHO). I've seen a small handful of AAs who can work, but they're hard to find.

ive owned akitas for years and i definitely agree that the working class AA is virtually non existent in today's world. My current akita though, shes something else. Something strange happened to her genetically, shes about 62 lbs and the most athletic thing you will ever see, can put a border collie to shame with how fast she can change direction. Barks up a storm, hair line trigger prey drive, and protective. Reminds me of a dogo argentino in temperament. While shes obviously just a freak of nature i really wish i could instill her temperament in the general AA population (minus the barking) would possibly bring them back to the breeds former glory.

I was at a dog show in Japan and most every Akita was white! Though not the breed for me, the darker colored ones look much better, to me.

I look at the dogs in the same way someone collects cars. Obviously treating them as part of the family instead of property but if you can afford to maintain them and keep them healthy, the more the better! lol

Poteluz

But no schipperke

My grandfather is from Finland. My KBD is named Sisu.

breeds like karelians should be raw fed... they are used to being in the woods and hunting...this breed surely didn't develop with dog food or dinner scraps

Amidat like today's dogs 😔

One of their primary traditional dog foods was human shit. And prey they caught themselves in the woods and non-human offal and dried fish like pike and trout.

TheSNOTTBALL na he doing a lot of good for education

A single require a lot of time and attention. His dogs require Uber time and attention.

Yep

I haven't seen presa or corso. Would love to know why Brad has chosen not to keep them. That would make an interesting video!

Matt he must have those also.. we will Probaly see videos next week

I think he had said before that he owns 17 different breeds.

I've owned several Cane Corso in the past, but none now. I've never owned a Presa.

Why not a presa? To dog aggressive? also, ever owned a kangal?

You Tuber Hahaha Hahaha 😂😂😂

Maybe owns hooked on phonics.

@rekkt That is not what I have heard on information on this channel in videos like "DIANE JESSUP WORKING AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER ." That woman knows a lot more than this guy about the breed.

I know many of these lovely dogs...even owned one called "Boy" years ago... you see i live in Finland.

Kristina Maria Holmberg thats great, beautiful breed

+Kristina - Yes, they are beautiful and easy to have around. My son has a very sweet male. We live in Oregon, USA.

Daughter Of Christ Born Again into new life - Yak are awesome, and if bottle raised and properly socialized they're a lot like dogs... only they can kill you really easily.

So you rate them highly then to protect the family, as a natural trait. If so that’s a real plus. Similar in looks to an Akita but maybe less aggressive towards strangers by nature? We want our dogs to protect but not go crazy.

@@2greeksandacamera they can be quite protective of property and family. 100% not scared of anything. I would say as long as YOU make sure they are socialized, you should get a protector that not completely insane.

We Finns are broud of our suomenpystykorva too, beautiful small dog.

They work alone or in pairs, and the actual kill is made by the human hunter. The dog(s) locate the bear, pin it down and call the human to the spot, while herding the bear and preventing it from leaving. The dog is faster than the bear, so the bear never gets a bite, but the dog keeps nipping at the bear, making it mad. It's like a mongoose and a snake - the mongoose is too fast for the snake. Or you have two dogs dancing around bear, as the bear spins around to try to get the dog that bit it, the other dog takes a bite. They keep doing this until their human arrives, guided by their barking, and shoots the bear.

We’re looking for just that in a dog this size - to have natural protection instincts. Glad to hear this from you.

Boondocking Bugbees which one? I know there’s aspen valley and the breeder in Kettle Falls. We want to get one within the year. We’re building a house deep in bear/cougar country

I have gotten my Karelian from aspen valley bear dogs in kettle falls wa. I own property on the Clarkfork river in western Montana. These dogs have never had a problem moving bears , cougars moose etc. To say there is no decent breeding of Karelians in the US is joke. Shows me he’s pandering to someone in Finland or he is to lazy to see what’s in front of his face in this country. I mean look at the wind river institute in Florence, mt.

I know the people in kettle falls, they’re personal friends. Great facility, great trainers.

American Akita has never been a working breed let alone a hunting dog......Japanese has been

A KBD would def run off bears, but they're a true predator and would probably become an issue around your stock. Perhaps consider an LGD breed instead, like a Kangal, Anatolian, Central Asian Shepherd, or even a Great Pyrenees.

Thank you you for sharing your knowledge!

I have owned a KBD for the last 7 years. Its the most awesome animal I have ever owned, yet not without its interaction problems. Keep in Mind KBD's are a primative species. they are called this because they are still 100% fully wolf as well as 100% fully dog, so they cannot be classed as either but as "primative species". You will have to deal with the wolf aspect of them and provide a firm, loving, worthy Alpha leadership. These dogs will test you in alpha leadrship and even deliberatly attack you to see how you will respond, as in able to defend yourself without causing them harm. You might bleed in that process. Just accept is as part and parcel of owning one as one day the bleeding will stop and they will settle down to fully accepting your alpha leadership without challenging it. If you have dogs thats a plus as the KBD will observe your dogs as you being their alpha leader and settle in much faster. if you have no dogs for them to follow pack mentality and your alpha lely out of the blueadership, well I myself went thro a 2 year period of bleeding almost daily in them testing me. DO NOT underestimate a KBD, they are highly intelligent and like a wolf if you upset them will not respond immediately but wil like a wolf plan on how to get you. Usually it will be at a time where there is nothing to hide behind, climb up and in an open area with nowhere to run, and they will explode on you on the turn of a dime and completely out of the blue. be prepared for it. I resolved this by turning their attack into a game buy playing with them by trying to grab their feet while in a play mode. it helped to dispell their agression and it showed them you did not fear and your alpha leadership was of the kind where you were strong enough to take an attack and find it interesting enough to simply play with them. they are not recommended for the general dog owner or trainer unless your prepared to learn about wolf behavior and apply that knowledge to them in handling them. They do socialise very well and now after much socialization my KBD is an absolute love slut who will whine at strangers to come pet him., socialising and petting him is in no way assuming alpha leadership so please nobody steal a KBD thinking they are big love sluts for petting, you assume leadership and you will have to prove your self worthy or you face a nightmare. I would recommend getting one, but be prepared to bleed in the process, show firm leadership, firm love for them and that you are tougher than them by deflecting any test they throw at you without harming them. always reaffirm your love to them and commitment to them, this helps them settle in .

Hi Alan, great write up and I couldn't agree more. I've bled plenty with my female, Meka, attacking with aggression. They are wolf like and do attack in the open where there is nowhere to run, definitely not for the timid dog owner. I agree, playing through her attack was key and she has a great deal of respect for me and our bond is stronger than I've had with any other breed I've had. That is a true benefit of the KBD, the bond grows over a longer period of time and you feel an intense connection. They are an intense breed. Recently we purchased a male KBD to work with our female. Her mentoring him has been a delight to watch as they are both growing very close. They will work as a team and appear to love to work together to patrol our property. The challenge will be when he reaches about 7 months when his teenage years set in and we will be challenged. I expect to bleed again and will love every minute of it.

Trapper Weasel - Black Bear, cougar

Mainly Elk in Finland.

KP Taskinen Moose not Elk

Peter Szasz I'm coming so I can play with his yaks!!! YAAS