Curly-Coated Retriever versus Karelian Bear Dog. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Karelian Bear Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Karelian Bear Dog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Karelian Bear Dog

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Karelian Bear Dog: Overview

Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are similar in size. The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Karelian Bear Dog belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Karelian Bear Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Karelian Bear Dog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Karelian Bear Dog
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 19 to 24 inches
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 1/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 44 to 50 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 10 to 13 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 11.5 years
Price Range No Data $1400 – $1400
Average Price No Data $1350
Temperament Score 91.7 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Karelian Bear Dog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Karelian Bear Dog is 66 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Curly-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Karelian Bear Dog. So, you should get the Curly-Coated Retriever!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with other dogs. However, Karelian Bear Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Karelian Bear Dogs weigh 44 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Karelian Bear Dogs are 19 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Karelian Bear Dog

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Karelian Bear Dogs shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Karelian Bear Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Karelian Bear Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Karelian Bear Dog

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Karelian Bear Dogs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Karelian Bear Dogs get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Karelian Bear Dogs have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Karelian Bear Dog vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Karelian Bear Dog vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Karelian Bear Dog vs Irish Setter.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Karelian Bear Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Karelian Bear Dog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Karelian Bear Dog:

  • Mountain Cur (77 percent match with Karelian Bear Dog). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Mountain Cur.
  • Treeing Walker Coonhound (76 percent match with Karelian Bear Dog). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Treeing Walker Coonhound.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Karelian Bear Dog compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Karelian Bear Dog to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Pointer     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Vizsla     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Miniature Pinscher     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Sealyham Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Cesky Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Plott     

    Karelian Bear Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Karelian Bear Dog versus Azawakh     Karelian Bear Dog versus Coton de Tulear     Karelian Bear Dog versus Chorkie     Karelian Bear Dog versus Hovawart     Karelian Bear Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Karelian Bear Dog versus Mastiff     Karelian Bear Dog versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Karelian Bear Dog versus Silky Terrier     Karelian Bear Dog versus Beagle     Karelian Bear Dog versus Akita     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Karelian Bear Dog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Karelian Bear Dog better suits you and your family.