Karelian Bear Dog vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

Karelian Bear Dog vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed ComparisonKarelian Bear Dog is originated from Finland but Flat-Coated Retriever is originated from United Kingdom. Both Karelian Bear Dog and Flat-Coated Retriever are having almost same height. Karelian Bear Dog may weigh 13 kg / 28 pounds lesser than Flat-Coated Retriever. Both Karelian Bear Dog and Flat-Coated Retriever has almost same life span. Both Karelian Bear Dog and Flat-Coated Retriever has same litter size. Both Karelian Bear Dog and Flat-Coated Retriever requires Moderate maintenance.

History

karelian bear dog - historyThe Karelian Bear Dog is a Finnish Spitz-type dog who is regarded as a national treasure in the country. They have always been noted for their hunting skills, and because the dog has been found in ancient Viking graves you can assume it is an ancient breed.

In fact the ancestry of the dog can be traced to neolithic times, when dogs followed human settlers to regions of Scandinavia and Europe.The American Kennel Club does not fully recognize the Karelian Bear Dog. It is however included in their Foundation Stock Service.

flat coated retriever - historyThe Flat-Coated Retriever traces its heritage to 19th century England. A popular gamekeepers’ dog, the actual descendants of the breed are not entirely known. Like so many well-established breeds, there are many lines of thought about the breed line. There is an unverified line of ancestry that includes the St. Johns Water Dog – an extinct breed from North America. Another story has Canadian sailors bringing their Newfoundlands to England and mixing them with Colliers and Setters. This story has more truth to it and it took 20 years to establish the final breed type.

The breed was originally a retriever with two purposes – to retrieve the hunters’ bounty on land and on water.

The Flat-Coated Retriever was then introduced to the United States as a gun dog. By 1873 it was a “stable type” and in 1915 the AKC recognized the breed. After this, their popularity grew quickly until the American public fell in love with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Then the Flat-Coated Retriever’s numbers and popularity fell. The irony was that both the Golden and the Labrador credited the Flat-Coated Retriever as an ancestor. The survival of the breed was questionable following World War Two. They were brought back by a specific breeding program in the 1960’s.

Breeders in the ‘60s made sure they bred for both show dogs and companion animals. The Flat-Coated Retriever survived and is less popular than other retrievers, but he has his fans. The breed is more popular in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States in part because of Best in Show wins at Crufts

Description

karelian bear dog puppy - descriptionStanding at between 54–60cm in height and weighing roughly 20–23 kg, the medium sized Karelian Bear Dog has a beautiful shiny coat. The outercoat is shortish, straight and dense and the undercoat is soft and thick.

The color of the coat is black with white markings. The dog has a bushy tail which curls in a circle over the back and the tail’s end is white. The ears of the dog are small and erect while the small eyes are intense.

Temperament:

It is best to have your Karelian Bear dog trained and socialized as he can tend to be aggressive towards other pets in the house, and even towards people he isn't familiar with. The owner of these dogs must be firm and fair with training as the Karelian is a strong-willed dog.

He is devoted to his human owners while being somewhat aloof and unfriendly with strangers. They are very territorial.

He is a very social dog and just loves spending time outdoors with his family. He is also good with children in the home as he is a playful dog.He is a dog who is going to require a lot of space to use up his energy. He needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation, as in the past he has always had a lot of work to do, and just loves being active. He is a confident, brave dog who takes his job as family protector seriously.

flat coated retriever puppy - descriptionThe Flat-Coated Retriever has a straight and strong topline with unique head, strong jaws, a long muzzle and small ears. His eyes are dark brown almonds with a friendly and intelligent expression. He has an arched neck and a moderately long tail. The Flat-Coated Retriever is more of an athlete, lighter and certainly more elegant than any other type or breed of retriever.

Characteristics

karelian bear dog dog - characteristicsYour energetic Karelian Bear Dog isn’t recommendeded for life in the city in a small garden. He needs a large garden or farm where he can run far and wide.

Exercising him will be an important part if you own one of these dogs. He is a social, friendly, active family pet who happens to make a good watchdog too.

Make sure you have your Karelian Bear Dog trained and socialized and he’ll make you a wonderful friend and pet.

Children friendliness

flat coated retriever dog - characteristicsThe Flat-Coated Retriever is great with children. Just be careful they don’t knock over small children in their enthusiasm.

Special talents

They are confident great family dogs. They are “thinking dogs” and need something to work for or they will work for themselves. They can be clowns.

Adaptability

They are adaptable although their size might preclude small locations without yards.

Learning ability

Smart, thinking all the time, they are very trainable. However, they are considered the “Peter Pan” of dogs – they never grow up.

Health Problems

karelian bear dog puppies - health problemsThe Karelian Bear Dog can reach 10 to 12 years of age with good care, but just like with other dog breeds, he can be prone to certain health problems such as eye and dental problems as well as hip dysplasia.

Many people don’t realize that dental problems are far more serious than what they imagine. An offensive breath can be the first warning sign of tooth decay with your canine friend.

There are other problems that can develop orally for your dog and these include inflammation of the gums, swollen gums and mouth tumors. You need to brush your pet’s teeth but also see to it that he goes for regular dental check-ups at the vet.

flat coated retriever puppies - health problemsFlat-Coated Retrievers have their share of health concerns from dysplasia to cancer. The breeds problems include:

  1. Hip Dysplasia – not very common
  2. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can result in blindness
  3. Glaucoma - an eye disease that can result in blindness
  4. Epilepsy – very rare but still seen
  5. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus) – fatal if not treated immediately

Cancers

Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Malignant Histiocytosis, and Fibrosarcoma. Studies show that about half of all Flat-Coated Retrievers die of cancer.

Caring The Pet

karelian bear dog dogs - caringThere are many people who just keep a dog for watchdog purposes and fail to make the pet a proper family member by meeting its physical and emotional needs.

Caring for a dog means providing nutritious food and clean drinking water, seeing that he has a warm, dry place to sleep, providing the dog with exercise and ensuring the dog is healthy and content.

Caring for a dog is a big responsibility, and you have to think carefully before you bring a dog into your home and life.

You need to be careful with the food you select for your pet. If you’re feeding him a commercially manufactured food, you need to make sure to read the label and make sure the top ingredients are meat and not meat by-products. If this is something you’ve never thought about, ask your veterinarian for food recommendations.

Speaking of veterinarians, make sure you have a reliable, reputable vet you can call on. At some time or other your pet may get sick and then you want to have the name of a reliable vet in your contacts list on your cell phone. Sometimes your pet can become suddenly sick where he will need immediate, emergency help from the vet.

Just like you look after yourself, you need to look after your pet by brushing him, checking him for fleas, ticks and worms and keeping an eye on his eyes, ears, teeth and general health.

Feeding the puppy

flat coated retriever dogs - caringHe will be a medium size dog. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day about a 1/8 cup of high-quality food. Feed a puppy food designed for medium size dogs or specifically for retrievers.

Feeding the adult

Feed 2 times a day about !/2 cups of dry food per meal. Do not overfeed. They have a tendency to be obese.

Points for Good Health

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid exercise before and after meals. The good news is dysplasia and epilepsy are rare in the breed.

Games and Exercises

They are very energetic and need good exercise. Long walks and a yard to run in. Remember they are hunting dogs and will chase to retrieve things so don’t let them off leash outside your yard. They will excel at agility, tracking. Rally, obedience, swimming, hunting, and jogging. They make great therapy dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Finland
United Kingdom
Height Male:
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
59 - 61 cm
23 - 25 inches
Height Female:
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
56 - 59 cm
22 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
8 - 10 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Karjalankarhukoira
Flatcoat, flatt, Flattie Flatte (Sweden)
Colors Available:
Black and White
liver and yellow (blonde, black
Coat:
Shortish and dense
double, glossy and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Sakhalin Husky vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Portuguese Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Puli vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. McNab vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Porcelaine vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Hokkaido vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Pumi vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Karelian Bear Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  10. Karelian Bear Dog vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  11. Karelian Bear Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  12. Karelian Bear Dog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  13. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  14. Karelian Bear Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  15. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  16. Karelian Bear Dog vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  17. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Karelian Bear Dog vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Karelian Bear Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  20. Karelian Bear Dog vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  21. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  22. Karelian Bear Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  23. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  24. Karelian Bear Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Karelian Bear Dog vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  26. French Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. Flat-Coated Retriever vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  28. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  29. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  30. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  31. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  32. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  36. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  37. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  38. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  39. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  40. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  41. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  42. Shikoku vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  43. Slovakian Hound vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  44. Small Munsterlander vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  45. Sussex Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  46. Kooikerhondje vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  47. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  48. West Siberian Laika vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  49. Wetterhoun vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  50. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds