In Northern Europe, there is a vast area of historical importance to Russia, Sweden and Finland. Known for its dense forests, numerous lakes dotted with islands, and a sparsely inhabited wilderness, the places is called Karelia, and the native inhabitants who do live there are known as the Karelian people.  The dogs they relied upon to help them survive in the taiga zone just below the tundra are thought to be the descendents of Viking Age spitz-type hunting dogs; to this day, the breed is famous for its courage in the face of large animals including bears, moose, and cougars.

Karelian Bear Dogs are remarkable. Putting their sheer determination aside, a Bear Dog can jump straight up in the air, climb a tree if it means giving them a better vantage point, turn on a dime at top speed, and work out how to open the door to their kennel. Unyielding bravery and the KBD’s instincts makes it uniquely suited for wilderness large predator protection, particularly bear management. Washington State’s Karelian Bear Dog Program has been successful in resolving conflicts between humans and cougar/bear in a non-lethal manner, as has the Wind River Bear Institute. Specially trained Bear Dogs are used in combination with aversive conditioning tools (barking and “menacing”) to teach bears to recognize and steer clear of human areas.  When a bear has been captured, it’s released in a remote area in what’s called a “hard release.” The Bear Dogs approach the bear while it’s still in a cage, all the while barking constantly. If the bear charges the door, these brave dogs stand their ground. Once released, beanbags are shot at the bear’s behind by wildlife officers, and blanks into the air to scare the bear off as the dogs give chase as a warning to never come back.  Whistles call the dogs back, otherwise they’d be inclined to keep chasing the bear until it trees.

Karelian Bear Dog by @turtlechelle13 which appears here with permission of the #AKC.