a coat of straight, stiff guard hairs and a fine, soft, thick undercoat. Temperament Karelian Bear Dogs are naturally aggressive towards other animals. They typically require deliberate socialization or acculturation with anything the owner is around often. They are very affectionate with their owners, but can be aggressive towards strangers. Proper socialization and training is necessary due to their aggressive disposition. Karelian Bear Dogs are very territorial and will alert their handler to the presence of any strangers or other animals nearby that they do not know. They are silent but tenacious hunters and alert their handler only when they have the prey at bay. They will keep prey cornered there by barking in a very high, fast bark and running back and forth or around the animal until their handler comes and dispatches it. Karelian Bear Dogs have been known to hold an animal at bay for a very long time. If a bear tries to leave, the dog will nip at it on the backside and otherwise aggravate it to keep it from running away. They do not always have to hunt with their master, as they can be trained to work with other people. However, they are prone to separation anxiety due to their very social nature. It is very rare for a Karelian Bear Dog to bite a human, but it may kill another animal if it feels threatened or hungry. They are very social hunting dogs that prefer an outdoor environment, and need plenty of space to run free and get sufficient exercise. In addition, they need a lot of mental and physical stimulation, as this working breed is used to having a job to do. These traits tend to prevent the breed from becoming popular companion dogs. Related breeds Finnish Spitz Norrbottenspets Russo-European Laika See also Dogs portal List of dog breeds Combai German Shepherd Notes External links Karelian Bear Dog non-lethal bear control, Washington USA Viking Dog Breeds Alaska Science Forum on Bear Dogs Protection from Bears Karelian Bear Dog Information by Finnish Spitz Club Dog breeds originating in Finland FCI breeds Hunting dogs Spitz breeds