Karelian Bear Dog

Dr_Zaius · 09-05-2008, 05:47 PM

I've done some researching here and on other websites, and speaking with people at pet stores. It seems that that breed, the Karelian Bear Dog, is the perfect breed for what I want to do. ( http://www.dogforums.com/2-general-d...ural-wild.html (Best Breed for Rural/Wild Alaska) for the full story

)

How should I go about training this animal? Basic commands don't seem like much of a problem, I'm helping with my sister's dogs and doing very well, but the specifics of owning a large, powerful breed that I would use for hunting sort of elude me.

How do you train a hunting dog, especially one that hunts as this one does? Thanks for any help and answers I can get, I really appreciate it. If there are any questions for me, or there is anything that needs to be specified, then let me know please

rosemaryninja · 09-05-2008, 09:47 PM

I strongly recommend talking to some breeders. They know more about their breed than anyone -- they'll be able to inform you best on whether this breed is a good fit for you, and if so, how it should be handled. Not to mention they might give you a hand in procuring the actual dog in the end.

alphadoginthehouse · 09-05-2008, 09:54 PM

Dr Z...I went to the website and they sound like really neat dogs. Too much for me to handle but I would love to see one, mainly because the name is so different.

French Ring · 09-05-2008, 11:28 PM

I think they are great working dogs, but honestly, I don't think they are suitable for pet owners. I think they are kinda similar to BC where they need a job to do, not exactly the same. Like Zimm suggested talk to some breeders and see what they say.

Dogstar · 09-06-2008, 12:58 AM

To be honest, I think they'd be very poorly suited for what you want. Although they CAN work bear, training them off leash is going to be a real challange.

There's an article about them in the AKC gazette from.. May, I think? I'd contact that breeder and talk to her. She's in Idaho, IIRC.

trumpetjock · 09-06-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogstar

To be honest, I think they'd be very poorly suited for what you want. Although they CAN work bear, training them off leash is going to be a real challange.

There's an article about them in the AKC gazette from.. May, I think? I'd contact that breeder and talk to her. She's in Idaho, IIRC.

I agree with this. I REALLY want you to find a dog that would work for you, I truly do. One of the big reasons is that your dream is the same type of dream I have of doing myself some day. I've made the suggestion already, but I'll make it again. Find an extremely well bred GSD, who is ready to perform work. A karelian bear dog may sound great now, but believe me, I specialize in primitive breeds, and you do NOT want a bear dog to be your off-leash companion. Not one bit. Primitive breeds tend to be a hybrid between wild and domesticated and most will take off on you in a hearbeat. Also, they tend to be very hard headed, which means that no type of physical discomfort will stop them from whatever their goal is.

Please, try to shy away from a bear dog, and move more towards a dog that has been specifcally bred for the last 100 years towards what you're looking for, like a working lines GSD.

edit -- I'm not even sure these are out there, but a "working lines" Rhodeshian ridgeback sounds like exactly what he's looking for. Anyone know if they exist?

Dr_Zaius · 09-12-2008, 05:11 PM

Sorry for the late reply!!

So the KBD isn't a good choice in the end?

What kind of GSD would work well? I know there are a few different types, but does the color variation matter much when it comes down to the dogs themselves? Also, are there specific places to get a working breed GSD?