St. John's Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison

St. John's Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed ComparisonSt. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada but Karelian Bear Dog is originated from Finland. St. John's Water Dog may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Karelian Bear Dog. St. John's Water Dog may weigh 18 kg / 40 pounds more than Karelian Bear Dog. Both St. John's Water Dog and Karelian Bear Dog has same life span. Both St. John's Water Dog and Karelian Bear Dog has almost same litter size. St. John's Water Dog requires Low maintenance. But Karelian Bear Dog requires Moderate maintenance

History

st john s water dog - historyThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Canada
Finland
Height Male:
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Height Female:
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
Karjalankarhukoira
Colors Available:
black
Black and White
Coat:
short, thick coats
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

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.

Characteristics

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

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.

Health Problems

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

-

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.

Caring The Pet

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. St. John's Water Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  2. St. John's Water Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  3. St. John's Water Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  4. St. John's Water Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  5. St. John's Water Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  6. St. John's Water Dog vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  7. St. John's Water Dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  8. St. John's Water Dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. St. John's Water Dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  10. St. John's Water Dog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  11. St. John's Water Dog vs Presa Canario - Breed Comparison
  12. St. John's Water Dog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  13. St. John's Water Dog vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. St. John's Water Dog vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  15. St. John's Water Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  16. St. John's Water Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  17. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  18. St. John's Water Dog vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  19. St. John's Water Dog vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  20. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  21. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  22. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  23. St. John's Water Dog vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  24. St. John's Water Dog vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. St. John's Water Dog vs Mackenzie River Husky - Breed Comparison
  26. Sakhalin Husky vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Portuguese Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Puli vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. McNab vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Porcelaine vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Hokkaido vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  32. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Pumi vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  34. Karelian Bear Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  35. Karelian Bear Dog vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  36. Karelian Bear Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Karelian Bear Dog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  38. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  39. Karelian Bear Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  40. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  41. Karelian Bear Dog vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  42. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Karelian Bear Dog vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Karelian Bear Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  45. Karelian Bear Dog vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  46. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  47. Karelian Bear Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  48. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  49. Karelian Bear Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Karelian Bear Dog vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds