Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Bernedoodle - Breed Comparison

The Karelo Finnish Laika is a Spitz type hunting dog from the Karelia area of Russia.Some people say the dog developed in Sweden. The dog is from a group of ‘Laika’ breeds and has that typical Spitz-type look – the sharpish face, the erect ears and the tail which curls over the back.

This attractive dog was developed as a hunting dog, and has a thick, weatherproof coat.The Karelo-Finnish Laika breed developed because people wanted a smaller sized hunting dog that could cope well with the weather, and these Laika dogs matched well.

The breed is ancient – centuries old, and after dying out in numbers during the second world war, the breed was revived when Russians imported Finnish Spitzes from Finland and bred them. The dog is similar to the Finnish Spitz, and in 2006 the Finnish Kennel Club and Russian Kennel Federation included the Karelo-Finnish Laika as a Finnish Spitz breed.

The Bernedoodle is a hybrid cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Standard Poodle. They have been around for many, many years but the first official” cross between the two breeds came from Sherry Rupke out of SwissRidge Kennels. The first Bernedoodle were achieved in 2003. She now has an entire breeding program for this hybrid.

A bernedoodle or a first generation is a cross between a purebred a purebred Poodle and a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. This is a 50/50 mix. This mix is a very low shedding dog and though no dog is hypoallergenic, the Bernedoodle is as close as it gets. If the cross is true between two purebred dogs, the new breed will have the calm, sweet demeanor of the Bernese Mountain Dog and the intelligent, goofy, playfulness of the Poodle. At the same time the Bernedoodle is a hybrid so there will not be two exactly alike.

With purebred dogs you get a lot of consistency from one dog to another. Not so with the Bernedoodle. Each one will be a little different. Sometimes a hybrid dog can be healthier than their parents. Other times there can be health issues with hybrid. It is all about the breeder and if they breed for the right health traits.

If the breeder is conscientious enough the pup will have the best characteristics of both original breeds. Therefore, the Bernedoodle is happy, smart, playful, friendly and social. Sometimes the breeding doesn’t go as planned and you can end up with a Bernedoodle with the stubbornness of the Bernese or the hyper activity of the poodle. As a new cross breed, the Bernedoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club because it is a hybrid. They are recognized by the International Designer Canine Registry, The American Canine Hybrid Club, The Designer Dogs Kennel Club.

With his wolf-like appearance, the Karelo Finnish Laika is a sharp, intelligent dog and is the smallest Laika in Russia used for hunting. He stands at about 38–48 cm in height and weighs about 11 - 14 kg.

His coat is a reddish color and the fur is fairly long and coarse with a dense, soft undercoat. He looks like a red fox with his sharp, bright face, his erect ears, black nose and bushy tail which curls over the back.

Temperament:

The Karelo-Finnish Laika is a sweet dog with a quiet character. Whenever you suggest a game for him, he throws his docile side to the wind and becomes highly energetic and animated. He is an active dog and loves nothing more than a game with his human family members.

He is mistrustful of strangers, he tends to bark easily and he is territorial and all these characteristic go towards making him a good watchdog. He is quite prepared to live peacefully alongside other dogs in the home, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He makes a great friend and pet for families and is more than ready to be loving and loyal to his human family.

Since the Bernedoodle is a hybrid and not an AKC recognized breed, there is no set-in stone breed standard. There are three sizes of Bernedoodles and at least three generations. All of these should be strong boned dogs with powerful and compact bodies. They have log ears, button eyes and a triangle shaped muzzle. The tail is long and bushy, and the coat is medium to long.

There is no standard color, but the most common color is black and white or tri like the Bernese Mountain Dog. They can also be black and brown, sable or merle. The coat is wavy or curly like the poodle.

The Karelo Finnish Laika is such an energetic dog, full of life and he promises to make an affectionate family dog.

He is a fairly low maintenance dog too and not prone to getting sick easily. Treat this attractive Laika dog like he deserves and you’ll find that he makes a splendid pet.

This is a very social dog that needs to be with people. If you don’t have a lot of time for a dog, then this is not the one for you. He is gentle, calm and affectionate. He is intelligent and sometimes stubborn. They need to be socialized early in life and they will be great with kids and other small animals. They tend to be very playful. Toys and minis have more energy, more stubbornness and more of the poodle divaness.

Apart from his good looks, the Karelo-Finnish Laika happens to be a pretty healthy breed and there are no known hereditary health problems with him. Diseases which can affect any dog -

Hip Dysplasia:

Many large breeds are prone to hip dysplasia. In hip dysplasia, joint problems cause arthritis and pain and eventually lameness. These days, when buying a puppy, people ask breeders about whether the parents were screened for hip dysplasia.

Obesity:

Any dog fed the wrong diet and who isn’t exercised can become overweight. Obesity in dogs is linked to many health problems in dogs. If you’re in doubt about your pet, consult with your vet on the best food for him.

Cancer:

Many dogs are at risk for certain types of cancer, including lymphoma which is cancer of the lymph nodes. When you are brushing your pet, check him for any unusual lumps so that you can catch cancer early.

Heart Conditions:

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is where the chambers of the heart are stretched out and don't pump blood properly. Sometimes it can go undetected for a while until the dog becomes seriously ill, requiring emergency medical attention. Medications can regulate heart rhythm but there is no cure.

Because the breed is so new and bred pure so far, there is not a lot of information about their health or their life span. Even as they seem to have less issues than their parents – the Bernese cancer issue for example does not seem to plague the Bernedoodle. However, that does not mean they don’t have issues. They are still prone to some serious issues.

Skin issues, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eye issues are prevalent in this new breed. They have a tendency toward hot spots and sometimes allergies. Asks a reputable breeder if they have tested the parents and the puppies for dysplasia and eye issues.

The Karelo-Finnish Laika is a most attractive looking dog and his thick, double coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from dust, grass and burrs. He sheds throughout the year so this brushing will keep the loose dog hair under control.

Diet:

Watch your Karelo-Finnish Laika’s diet as a lean, mean dog can live longer than one who is overfed. Dogs which are overweight are likely to develop joint problems and heart disease.

The quality of food you feed your pet is hugely important. Popping chocolates and peanuts into his mouth because you love him so much will be toxic for him. Apart from his top quality dry kibble, add in some cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as a tasty treat and mix in a little bit of raw meat also when you can.

Exercise:

Exercise for your Karelo Finnish Laika is a key component to prolonging his life, and he absolutely loves games, walks and action all the way. It will keep him in shape, keep him happy and prolong his life.

Feeding

Since the Bernedoodle comes in three different sizes, there will be three different feeding regimens. No matter the size of your dog, feed them quality food twice a day. The standard is a big dog and should be fed as such but the toy and mini will eat a lot less. You can pretty much feed a standard Bernedoodle the same thing you feed a Bernese Mountain Dog. The Bernedoodle is a picky eater and you may have to change up their food at times to keep them interested.

Health issues

Again, these are healthy dogs because the cross breed is so young. There are not a lot of genetic issues. As mentioned previously hip dysplasia, eye issues, elbow dysplasia and skin issues are possible.

Exercise and games

This is a calm, not over active dog. They do not share the high energy level of the poodle but rather carry the calm, gentle energy of the Bernese. The toy and mini varieties tend to have a faster motor than the standard. They need daily walks no matter what their size is. They will need your attention regularly.