Shiloh Shepherd vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison

The 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.

The Shiloh Shepherd is currently a hybrid that breeders are attempting to develop into a new breed. New York breeder, Tina Barber, out of Shiloh Shepherds kennel developed dogs when in 1974, she attempted to develop a German Shepherd line. She wanted a GSD that was more like the ones she remembered from her childhood.

Tina took her foundation stock out of the AKC and got the FIC (Federation of International Canines) to recognize the Shiloh Shepherd as a separate breed. The FIC is not the same as the FCI or Federation Cynoloquque Internationale. In 1991 the Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America was formed, and the shepherd was recognized by the American Rare Breed Association.

Official recordkeeping on the breed began in 1993. The computer system TCCP maintains breed records and the Shiloh Shepherd has at least 9 generations in the system. Tina Barber was president of the Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America and oversaw the international club as well. She was responsible for the breed. After her death in 2011, her daughter took her place in working with the breed.

The Shiloh and the German Shepherd were then crossed to develop the King Shepherd.

Standing 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.

Shiloh Shepherds are giant dogs, much larger than the usual German Shepherd Dog. The Shiloh had been bred to be a companion animal and not a guardian or herder. The Shiloh looks more like a wolf than either the German or the King Shepherd Dog. Their back is straighter than the GSD and they are larger, more stable and more intelligent. They were bred to show a complimentary balance between strength and elegance.

They have slightly domed, broad heads with a muzzle that gradually tapers, strong cheekbones and black lips. Their ears are triangles, well cupped and firm. The Shiloh Shepherds eyes are either brown or very dark. They have a straight back which is muscular and broad. Their chests deep and their tails plush, long and curved.

They have a very “heavy” appearance compared with other shepherds. They are well muscled in both the lower and upper thighs. Their coat is plush, and they have a dense undercoat. Their hair is harsh to the touch. There is both a smooth coat and a plush coat with the plush coat being more prevalent.

Your 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.

1.Children friendliness – yes, they are good with children. They are large however and have to be monitored with small children

2.Special talents - Speed and balance.

3.Adaptability good – they are large dogs and need space.

4.Learning ability good – intelligent and loves learning.

The 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.

The Shiloh Shepherd has some health issues to deal with. These include: They seem to have very sensitive stomachs and intestinal issues.

• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency – supplement with digestive enzymes.

• Bloat – gastric dilatca ation volvulus – twisted stomach or intestines. Needs immediate veterinary care.

• Small intestine bacterial overgrowth – diarrhea, difficulty absorbing nutrients, abdominal pain.

• Hip dysplasia – causes arthritis or lameness.
• Tumors – intestinal.

There 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.

1.Feeding the puppy -Due to the breed’s sensitive stomach and intestinal issues, it is important to feed the puppy a high quality large or extra-large breed of dog food. Feed at least 3 meals per day.

2.Feeding the adult- You will still want to feed a high quality large or extra-large breed dog food two times a day. However, if you feed the pup well and keep the intestinal issues under control, the adult should have an easier time.

3.Points for Good Health - Good eyesight and hearing.

4. Games and Exercises Be careful of the puppies’ exercise levels. Their bones grow slower than most so avoid a lot of jumping or strenuous exercise until they are adults. This means that even though they will be very good at agility or flyball and they will love playing them, do not start them when they are puppies. Wait until they are mature. The do well in herding trials, agility and search and rescue. Many make great therapy dogs.