Breed Comparison: Icelandic Sheepdog Versus Karelian Bear Dog

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Icelandic Sheepdog Versus Karelian Bear Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Icelandic Sheepdog 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 Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Icelandic Sheepdog 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 Icelandic Sheepdog 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Icelandic Sheepdog 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 Icelandic Sheepdog or the Karelian Bear Dog.

Icelandic Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog: Overview

Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are similar in size. The Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Icelandic Sheepdog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Icelandic Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Icelandic Sheepdog 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog

Factor Icelandic Sheepdog Karelian Bear Dog
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Life Span 14 to 15 years 10 to 13 years
Height 16 to 18 inchestall at the shoulder 19 to 24 inches
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Weight 20 to 30 pounds 44 to 50 pounds
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 14.5 years 11.5 years
Price Range No Data $1400 – $1400
Average Price No Data $1350
Temperament Score 100.0 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Icelandic Sheepdog 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 the Icelandic Sheepdog is 68 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Karelian Bear Dog is 66 out of 125.

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

    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 Icelandic Sheepdog 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 Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog

    Below is a list of where the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are most different:

  • Icelandic Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Karelian Bear Dogs are very easy to groom.
  • Icelandic Sheepdogs are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Karelian Bear Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog

    The Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are most similar:

  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog are very playful.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Icelandic Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog.

    Icelandic Sheepdogs weigh 20 to 30 pounds when fully grown. Icelandic Sheepdogs are 16 to 18 inchestall at the shoulder 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.

    Lifespan of Icelandic Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog

    The lifespan of Icelandic Sheepdogs is between 14 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Icelandic Sheepdogs is 14.5 years.

    The lifespan of Karelian Bear Dogs is between 10 to 13 years. The average lifespan of Karelian Bear Dogs is 11.5 years.

    Icelandic Sheepdogs live longer than Karelian Bear Dogs.

    Temperament of the Icelandic Sheepdog Versus the Karelian Bear Dog

    The Icelandic Sheepdog has the same temperament score as the Karelian Bear Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Icelandic Sheepdog is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Karelian Bear Dog is 100.0 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Icelandic Sheepdog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Karelian Bear Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog by measuring the temperaments of 10 Icelandic Sheepdogs and 3 Karelian Bear Dogs.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Icelandic Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Icelandic Sheepdogs do not like to be left alone.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Icelandic Sheepdogs shed more than Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Karelian Bear Dogs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Icelandic Sheepdog or the Karelian Bear Dog

    Icelandic Sheepdogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Icelandic Sheepdog or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Does the Icelandic Sheepdog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs 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.

    Do Icelandic Sheepdogs Bark and Howl? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Can Icelandic Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Karelian Bear Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Icelandic Sheepdog vs. Karelian Bear Dog

    Icelandic Sheepdogs 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.

    Can Icelandic Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Icelandic Sheepdog or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs do not get along well with other dogs.

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

    Are Icelandic Sheepdogs good family dogs? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs 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 Icelandic Sheepdogs and Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Icelandic Sheepdog Easier to Train than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs are fairly easy to train.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are not easy to train.

    Is the Icelandic Sheepdog Better for Apartment Owners than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Icelandic Sheepdog or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Icelandic Sheepdogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Icelandic Sheepdog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Icelandic Sheepdog 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 Icelandic Sheepdog:

  • Kai Ken (78 percent match with Icelandic Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Karelian Bear Dog vs Kai Ken.
  • Scottish Deerhound (75 percent match with Icelandic Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Karelian Bear Dog vs Scottish Deerhound.

    • 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 Icelandic Sheepdog vs Mountain Cur.
  • Treeing Walker Coonhound (76 percent match with Karelian Bear Dog). Here is our comparison of the Icelandic Sheepdog vs Treeing Walker Coonhound.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Icelandic Sheepdog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Icelandic Sheepdog versus Goldendoodle     Icelandic Sheepdog versus English Cocker Spaniel     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Samoyed     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Norwich Terrier     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Cocker Spaniel     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Australian Shepherd     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Chorkie     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Briard     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Catahoula Bulldog     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Norfolk Terrier     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Beaglier     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Bordoodle     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Schipperke     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Vizsla     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Puggle     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Rottweiler     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Clumber Spaniel     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Spinone Italiano     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Whippet     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Chorkie     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Cairn Terrier     Icelandic Sheepdog versus Newfoundland     

    Karelian Bear Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Karelian Bear Dog versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Karelian Bear Dog versus Toy Fox Terrier     Karelian Bear Dog versus Manchester Terrier     Karelian Bear Dog versus Shih Tzu     Karelian Bear Dog versus Spanish Mastiff     Karelian Bear Dog versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Karelian Bear Dog versus Lancashire Heeler     Karelian Bear Dog versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Karelian Bear Dog versus Weimaraner     Karelian Bear Dog versus Carolina Dog     Karelian Bear Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel     Karelian Bear Dog versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Karelian Bear Dog versus Scottish Terrier     Karelian Bear Dog versus Golden Retriever     Karelian Bear Dog versus Pomeranian     Karelian Bear Dog versus Siberian Husky     Karelian Bear Dog versus Cesky Terrier     Karelian Bear Dog versus Bouvier des Flandres     Karelian Bear Dog versus Azawakh     Karelian Bear Dog versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Karelian Bear Dog versus Portuguese Pointer     Karelian Bear Dog versus Lancashire Heeler     Karelian Bear Dog versus Dogo Argentino     Karelian Bear Dog versus Standard Poodle     Karelian Bear Dog versus Akita     

    Conclusion: Icelandic Sheepdog 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 Icelandic Sheepdog and the Karelian Bear Dog better suits you and your family.