Karelian Bear Dog vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison

Karelian Bear Dog vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed ComparisonBlack Russian Terrier is originated from Russia but Karelian Bear Dog is originated from Finland. Black Russian Terrier may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Karelian Bear Dog. Black Russian Terrier may weigh 37 kg / 82 pounds more than Karelian Bear Dog. Both Black Russian Terrier and Karelian Bear Dog has almost same life span. Black Russian Terrier may have more litter size than Karelian Bear Dog. Black Russian Terrier requires High Maintenance. But Karelian Bear Dog requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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Russia
Finland
Height Male:
72 - 76 cm
28 - 30 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Height Female:
68 - 72 cm
26 - 29 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 12
4 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
BRT Russian Black Terrier • Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier • Chornyi • Terrier Noir Russe • Russian Bear Schnauzer • Black Terrier • Tchiorny Terrier
Karjalankarhukoira
Colors Available:
black only
Black and White
Coat:
Rough and thick, slightly waved
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

black russian terrierDuring the cold war, the Soviet Union developed the Black Russian Terrier as a working military dog. During the early 1950’s, the Red Star Kennel developed this breed and in 2004 by the American Kennel Club. The Black Russian Terrier is not really a terrier at all, but a mid-sized working dog used for hunting and guarding or as a pet. The Red Star Kennel is thought to have developed the BRT using a wide variety of breeds – as many as seventeen – including breeds like the Newfoundland, the Rottweiler, the Caucasian Shepard Dog and a Giant Shepard and an Airedale. So, you can see the wide variety and several more breeds were added. The Red Star Kennel in Moscow was owned by the state and they developed the BRT for specific working conditions and not for appearance. They did not really care how it looked except that it had to be black. In 1957 the state allowed a few puppies to be sold to non-military breeders. These breeders began to breed the Black Russian Terrier for appearance as well as function.

As these breeders worked with the dogs, they spread the breed throughout Russia and into Finland, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Germany. From there they spread to Australia, Canada and the United States. The breed standard was developed in 1958 and by 1996 an updated version of the standard was developed to reflect the dog we see today. In 1996 the United Kingdom also got their first introduction to the breed. They are still rare outside of Russian or previous Soviet Union states.

karelian bear dogThe 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.

Description

black russian terrier puppy - descriptionA little larger than a mid-sized dog, the Black Russian Terrier is strong, powerful, stable and alert. His head is block shaped and has a broad skull. The muzzle is square with a beard and mustache. A black, large nose and full black lips are matched with powerful and large jaws. He has a scissor bite and his ears should be triangles with rounded apexes. They have very large paws that are bear-like in appearance with thick black pads. They are also covered with hair. Their legs are muscular, powerful and strong. They have a cropped tail.

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

black russian terrier dog - characteristicsThe Black Russian Terrier is a working dog and he is confident, calm, self-assured and confident. He is responsive and intelligent, protective and fearless, loyal and aloof. He is not welcoming to strangers. If socialized well, he is enough of an independent thinker to be able to decide on his own who or what poses a threat to his family and what doesn’t. They get bored quickly because they are so smart. Keep him stimulated. These are strong, athletic dogs who will love to run with you, jog along side your bike, hike the mountain or just walk with you. Whatever your form of exercise is, the Black Russian Terrier can adapt to it. They also have a strong prey drive so don’t trust them with animals they do not know. They are ok with cats and dogs that they grow up with. They love to play with kids but be careful they don’t unintentionally knock the little ones down.

The Black Russian Terrier matures later than other dogs. Treat the puppy the way you want the adult dog to be. If you don’t want a large dog on your bed don’t let the puppy sleep on the bed. He will soon be a large, powerful and strong dog with a mind of his own and you will not be able to keep him off the bed.

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

black russian terrier puppies - health problemsThis is a healthy breed who faces some of the same issues other large dogs face such as dysplasia in the elbows and hips. Then they also face their own hereditary diseases such as Juvenile laryngeal paralysis, hyperuricosuria and polyneuropathy. They are also susceptible to heart disease, eye diseases, allergies, Panosteitis and hypertropic osteodystrophy. Let’s look at the major hereditary disease that are not so common.

Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis

This occurs when the larynx arytenoid cartilages stop working and don’t operate so then the adjoining muscles don’t work either and the dog cannot swallow without the possible damage to the airway and the cannot breathe properly during exercise or while panting.

Hyperuricosuria

This is a condition that can occur in people and animals. This condition can lead to kidney or bladder stones as there is too much uric acid in their urine.

Polyneuropathy

Like any form of neuropathy, in this disease many different nerves are damaged, and this can cause weak reflexes and tremors. There are effective treatments however.

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

Feeding

black russian terrier dogs - caringThis is a large, working dog that needs healthy nutrition. Feed once or twice a day but do not overfeed. Don’t let your Black Russian Terrier get overweight. Proper nutrition for puppies is critical given the nutrionally based diseases discussed below.

Health issues

  1. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) – Watch out for this in your puppy. Like other large, puppies that grow fast the Black Russian Terrier is susceptible to this bone disease.
  2. Panosteitis (Wandering Lameness) – Again an issue for puppies of larger breeds as a nutritional issue causes an abrupt lameness at 6-8 months of age.
  3. Heart Disease – Cardiomyopathy, Mitral Valve Dysplasia and Aortic Stenosis
  4. Eye Diseases – Conjunctivitis, entropion and ectropion.
  5. Allergies – Food, contact and inhalant. Hot spots and fungal infections of the beard and ears.

Exercise and games

This is a high energy dog that needs to work. He doesn’t just want to work, he needs to work. So, find him a job and one that includes a lot of exercise. He needs consistent and firm training but will respond well and excel in Obedience Trials. They are good at Schutzhund and agility. They need plenty of exercise and will be unhappy and destructive without enough and a job. He needs to burn off that energy.

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

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  4. Black Russian Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Black Russian Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Black Russian Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Black Russian Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Black Russian Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Black Russian Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Black Russian Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Black Russian Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  13. Black Russian Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Black Russian Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
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  16. Black Russian Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Black Russian Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
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  25. Black Russian Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Karelian Bear Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Karelian Bear Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Karelian Bear Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Karelian Bear Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Karelian Bear Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Karelian Bear Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Karelian Bear Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Karelian Bear Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Karelian Bear Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Karelian Bear Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Karelian Bear Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Karelian Bear Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Karelian Bear Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Karelian Bear Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Karelian Bear Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Karelian Bear Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Karelian Bear Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Karelian Bear Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Karelian Bear Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Karelian Bear Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Karelian Bear Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Karelian Bear Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Karelian Bear Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Karelian Bear Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison