Moscow Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison

Moscow Water Dog is originated from Russia but Karelian Bear Dog is originated from Finland. Moscow Water Dog may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Karelian Bear Dog. Moscow Water Dog may weigh 32 kg / 71 pounds more than Karelian Bear Dog. Both Moscow Water Dog and Karelian Bear Dog has same life span. Moscow Water Dog may have more litter size than Karelian Bear Dog. Both Moscow Water Dog and Karelian Bear Dog requires Moderate maintenance.

History

The Moscow Water Dog was developed in the Soviet Union around the same time as other classic Soviet dogs. The Moscow Watchdog and the Black Russian Terrier are a couple of these other dogs. The Water Dog came from crossing the Caucasian Oytcharka with the Newfoundland. The breed is known by many names including the Vodolaz which means “diver of deep Water”. The Moscow Water Dog was only bred in the Russian state’s Red Star Kennels as working dogs for the military.

Following the second World War, most of the working dogs had been destroyed during the war. Not enough dogs could be imported to begin a breeding program for any working breed. So, the Soviet Red Star Kennels began to create several working breeds. Included in this group with the Moscow Water Dog, were the Moscow Newfoundland, the Moscow Great Dane, the Black Russian Terrier, and the Brudasty Hound.

The only really successful breed coming from this program is the Russian Black Terrier. All the rest are either extinct or found only in Russia today. The Moscow Water Dog was supposed to be a life saver/water rescue dog, but the dogs they developed were too aggressive, and the program was scrapped. It seemed that the cross had bred a dog that had too much of the working water dog traits and not enough of the rescue dog traits. The military breeders tried to pass the dogs off as a Russian Newfoundland and sell it to the non-military.

These non-military owners of the few “Russian Newfoundland”, did not try to change the dogs through breeding. Instead over time they bred the Russian Newfoundland with pure bred Newfoundlands almost eliminating the “Russian” portion of the breed. By the early 1980’s the stock had been so diluted with the pure Newfoundland that the Russian Newfoundland was basically extinct.

The Red Army kennel had other breeds with some of the genes of this breed in their lines. This included the Brudasty Hound, the Moscow Great Dane, the Caucasian Oycharka, the Moscow Watchdog and the Russian Black Terrier. The Russian Navy was unhappy with the situation and never again let the army developed the Navy’s waterdog.

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:
Russia
Finland
Height Male:
66 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Height Female:
64 - 74 cm
25 - 30 inches
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 55 kg
99 - 122 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
20 - 23 kg
44 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 12
4 - 8
Size:
Giant dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Moscow River Dog, Московский Водолаз, Moscow Vodolaz, Moskovsky Vodolaz, • Russian Newfoundland,Moscow Diver, Vodolaz, Moscow Retriever,
Karjalankarhukoira
Colors Available:
dark brown to black, black
Black and White
Coat:
double coat
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Aggressive, Alert, Courageous, Intelligent
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Description

The Moscow Water Dog was intelligent, vigilant, an excellent swimmer, and great in artic waters. However, he was too aggressive and instead of saving the swimmer, they would attack them. The Moscow Water Dog is a tall, balanced and powerful dog. They have a wide muzzle and a square head like the Newfoundland. Their eyes are dark and small while the ears are triangular. The nose and lips are black. He has webbed feet of course and a hanging tail.

The coat on the Moscow Water Dog was of course waterproof and double. The top coat is very dense, straight and soft. It is usually a dark brown with some black and white.

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

Children friendliness

yes

Special talents

Swimming and stamina

Adaptability

Yes but needed some land. Better in countryside.

Learning ability

This is an intelligent dog, but he could not be trained out of his aggressiveness.

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

Because the breed was around for such a short period there is not a lot of documentation or information regarding genetic or propensity health issues. There are however a few issues that just his heritage and Newfoundland blood would lend itself to.

  • Tendency toward obesity. Do not free feed.
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – could lead to arthritis.
  • Bloat or gastric torsion – could be fatal.
  • Cardiovascular issues.
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Hypothyroidism

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 the puppy

Required high quality food made specifically for large or giant puppies. Feed 3-4 times a day a total of 21/2 -3 cups.

Feeding the adult

Required high quality food made for large or giant dog breeds. Feed twice a day a total of 2 cups.

Games and Exercises

The Moscow Water Dog did not need a high level of exercise, but they did have a lot of stamina. They loved to swim. Not overly active – more of a couch potato.

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. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Spanish Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. St. Bernard vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Moscow Water Dog vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Moscow Water Dog vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Moscow Water Dog vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Moscow Water Dog vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  8. Moscow Water Dog vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  9. Moscow Water Dog vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  10. Moscow Water Dog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  11. Moscow Water Dog vs Moscow Watchdog - Breed Comparison
  12. Moscow Water Dog vs Kars Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. Moscow Water Dog vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  14. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Mountain Burmese vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Nebolish Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Scottish Deerhound vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Shiloh Shepherd vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Moscow Water Dog vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  20. Moscow Water Dog vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  21. Sakhalin Husky vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Portuguese Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  23. Puli vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  24. McNab vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  25. Porcelaine vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. Hokkaido vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Pumi vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Karelian Bear Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  30. Karelian Bear Dog vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  31. Karelian Bear Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  32. Karelian Bear Dog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  33. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  34. Karelian Bear Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  35. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  36. Karelian Bear Dog vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  37. Karelian Bear Dog vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  38. Karelian Bear Dog vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Karelian Bear Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  40. Karelian Bear Dog vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  41. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  42. Karelian Bear Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  43. Karelian Bear Dog vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  44. Karelian Bear Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Karelian Bear Dog vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds