September 16, 2025: 𝐏𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢’𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 – 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘! Today was nothing short of monumental. Pikki ran his first official moose trial of the season — and he earned a 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 (𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐕𝟏)! This achievement makes him the 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 to earn any working result — and he did it with the top prize right out of the gate. Had Pikki not been granted special permission to complete his Finnish Championship at the World Dog Show in August (without a working result), he would have earned it today — the traditional way. That path is considered the true mark of a Finnish Champion, and Pikki is now the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐁𝐃 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: • 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞: 115min • 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞: 1 cow + 2 calves • The judges were able to sneak up on Pikki and the moose on three different occasions to test for a shooting opportunity. Each time, the moose was scared off, and each time Pikki proved his persistence by following and stopping the moose successfully. • 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 4.7km • 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞: 300min • 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞: 258min • 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞: 415min • 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞: 77 points = HIRV1 Relentless, determined, and proving himself exactly as we hoped — Pikki showed today that he is every bit the moose dog he was bred to be. Enormous thanks go to Marko for piloting this day for us, to Anssi and Topi for judging, and to Toni as head judge for giving the official result. None of this would have been possible without your expertise and support. This is a day I will never forget.
September 8, 2025: 𝐏𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧! While we were flying home on Monday, Pikki was in the Finnish forests with Marko — and what a day they had! Pikki started off with a solid 5 km single track search, and then… the barking began. At first, Marko thought it might be a bear (one had been seen in the area), so two judges were called in, just in case the day could be converted into a bear trial. But after some time, it was clear that Pikki had locked onto a cow–calf moose pair, so the judges were released, and Pikki kept working. Marko made several attempts to call him off, but true to his stubborn nature, Pikki refused to leave his “new friends.” Even after trying to intercept at a road crossing, and even firing shots into the air to spook the moose, Pikki stayed with them — determined and relentless. Eventually, another dog entered the area trying to “steal” the bark, which caused the moose to break away. The other dog lost the track, but Pikki stuck with it, tracking them diligently until finally being called off and returning to Marko — happy and proud of the work he had done. Stats of the day: Total time out: 11 hours and 12 minutes Barking: 7 hours and 55 minutes Distance covered: 19.8 km This first bark was everything we could have hoped for — showing off the same grit and determination as both his parents. Stubborn, strong, and loyal to his game: 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠.
September 7, 2025: After 48 days abroad, we are finally headed home to Canada! Finland has been an amazing adventure — full of success, countless beautiful dogs, and wonderful time with friends old and new. In total, we drove 13,202 km across 5 countries … and every single one of our goals for this trip was met (most of them within the first three weeks!). Beni • Junior World Winner 2025 • Helsinki Circuit Junior Winner 2025 • CIB-J (International Junior Beauty Champion) • LT JCH, FI JCH • FI BOB ×4, FI BOS ×2, FI Jun BOB ×7, EE Jun BOB ×1, LT Jun BOB ×2 • J-BIS1, J-BISS1, J-BIS3 each in Finland • Group 2nd in Finland Total Shows: Finland ×7, Estonia ×1, Lithuania ×2 Outside the show ring: Barked at a machine bear, machine moose, live moose, and three live European brown bears all with incredible confidence at the young age of 9 months. Pikki • Vice World Winner 2025 (Res-CACIB Winner) • Helsinki Circuit Winner 2025 • CIE (International Beauty Champion) • LT CH, FI CH • BISS-2 in Finland • FI BOB x2, LT BOB ×1, LT BOS ×1, EE BOS ×1 Total Shows: Finland ×4, Estonia ×1, Lithuania ×2 Outside the show ring: Barked at a machine bear, machine moose, live moose, and three live European brown bears. Pikki also completed his Finnish mental test with a score of 254/300 (the highest in breed history) and earned a 3+ in nerves — another first for the breed! Pam • CIE • EE BOB ×1, LT BOB ×1, LT BOS ×1 • Group 3rd in Estonia (Pam will also earn her LT CH once she finishes her Canadian CH!) Total Shows: Estonia ×1, Lithuania ×2 Brace (Pikki & Beni) • Best Brace in Breed at the World Dog Show • Best Brace in Breed at the Circuit Show • Brace Best in Show 2 in Estonia • Best Brace in Breed in Lithuania x2 On top of all this, Pikki is staying behind with his breeder Marko to spend the hunting season working moose in the Finnish forests. We’ll miss him dearly, but can’t wait to hear about his adventures — and reunite with him in a few months. None of this would have been possible without our amazing friends. We owe so many thanks to those who hosted us, fed us, traveled with us, and stayed up late talking “dogs.” Endless thanks also go to the many judges who gave us the honor of showing under them — it was a true pleasure to be recognized and awarded so highly. And finally, our “team” grew by one during this trip, when Maria and Teemu welcomed their beautiful little girl into the world (a month earlier than expected!) — just in time for us to meet her before heading home. Congratulations to the new parents and their family. This trip has been unforgettable, and we are so grateful for the memories, experiences, and milestones made. Until next time, Finland — kiitos!
September 7, 2025: Another great day here in Finland Today in Espoo — our very last show of the trip — Beni once again shined, taking Best Junior in Breed and Best of Breed! This whole journey has been filled with so many beautiful dogs and wonderful people. It’s been such a joy to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones along the way. September 7, 2025 Espoo, NAT Judge: Reino Korpela - 1662 dogs, 244 breeds - 13 rings - 10 groups - 5 Karelian Bear Dogs Beni: JUN EXC1, CQ, BOB Junior, BOB. Critique: 52cm. Color 8/2. Excellent proportions and breed type. Beautiful bitch's head. Sufficiently dark eyes. Good ears. Elegant neck. Spacious chest. Good topline, as well as the hindquarters. Suitable limb bone and angulations. Bear black, rich coat. Good tail set. Unidirectional movements. Calm demeanor What an incredible way to finish off our time in the Finnish show rings. We couldn’t be more proud of this young girl and all she’s accomplished on this trip.
September 6, 2025: Today in Seinäjoki, Finland, our girl Beni was the youngest Karelian Bear Dog entered — and she shined! She went Best Junior in Breed and Best of Breed September 6, 2025 Seinäjoki, GS Judge: Jari Fors - 564 dogs, 92 breeds - 7 rings - 4 groups - 13 Karelian Bear Dogs Beni: JUN EXC1, CQ, BOB Junior, BOB. Critique: 50 cm. 10 months. Black and white, 8/2. Slightly larger than average. Excellent proportions and type. Beautiful head, medium brown eyes. Excellent neck. Excellent overall body and limb structure. Model tail. Good coat. Very light, flexible movement. Good appearance and presentation. Calm temperament. I'm so proud of how this young girl continues to impress both in type and temperament We’ve got just one more show tomorrow, and then it’s time to head back home to Canada.
August 29, 2025: Pikki’s first run in the forest this season with Marko was a success! He worked for a total of 3 hours and covered 15 km tracking a single moose. The moose was spotted crossing the road but never stopped moving — still, Pikki stayed determined and persistent, following the trail the entire way. A fantastic start to his hunting season — exactly the kind of drive and focus we love to see in him. Proud of this team already!
August 26, 2025: Today was a bittersweet day We handed Pikki over to his breeder, Marko, where he’ll spend the hunting season in Central Finland running the forests and barking at moose. This is such an incredible opportunity for him to do what he was bred for, and I know he’ll thrive in the forest. While we’ll miss him dearly at home, we wish Pikki and Marko the very best of luck this season. I’ll be following along from afar on the GPS system, as I do each year, and can’t wait to both watch and hear about all their adventures. I plan to be back in Finland in early December to bring Pikki back home to Canada once again Good luck out there, and stay safe!
August 24, 2025: Another weekend of showing with 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢! Yesterday we were in Kouvola where she was Best Junior and Best Opposite Overall. Today in Heinola she went even further, taking Best Junior, Best of Breed, and then placing Best in Show Junior 3! 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐊𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐚, 𝐍𝐀𝐓 Judge: Tuula Savolainen - 1534 dogs, 234 breeds - 18 rings - 10 groups - 5 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢: JUN EXC1, CQ, BOB Junior, BOS. No finals. 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞: 9 months. Excellent proportions. Good posture. Beautiful, strong head with good lines. Medium brown eyes. Large, well-set ears. Sufficient forechest. Straight upper arms. Good hindquarters. Good low hocks. In the process of shedding. Undercoat bear black. Black white 7/3. Good tail. Paws could be tighter. Unidirectional back and forth movement, effective step in lateral movement. Pleasant behavior. Still puppy-like overall appearance. ---------------------------- 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐚, 𝐍𝐀𝐓 Judge: Anneli Pukkila - 1611 dogs, 233 breeds - 20 rings - 10 groups - 4 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢: JUN EXC1, CQ, JCAC, BOB Junior, BOB. 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝐁𝐈𝐒𝟑 under Maarit Hassinen 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞: 53 cm. Ideal size, excellent type, suitable body, good limb bone. Excellent front, balanced angulation. Correctly shaped head, slightly light eyes, good ears. Beautiful neck, good topline. Moves with excellent carriage and stride, good from all directions. Excellent coat quality, color 7/3. Excellent overall appearance that is presented nicely. Calm temperament. I'm so proud of how this young girl continues to shine both in and out of the ring! A huge thank you to the judges Tuula Savolainen, Anneli Pukkila, and Maarit Hassinen for their thoughtful evaluations, as well as to the Kouvola and Heinola show clubs for hosting such well-run events. We’re grateful for the opportunity to show our dogs in such wonderful company
August 17, 2025: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 & 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝐧𝐝 & 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰! After driving over 1900 km this weekend from our Sweden trip back to Finland, we made it to the Kannonkoski Dog Show — and what a day it was for our girl Beni! 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 August 17, 2025 Kannonkoski, GS Judge: Sakari Poti - 510 dogs, 96 breeds - 8 rings - 4 groups - 3 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢: JUN EXC1, CQ, CAC, BOB Junior, BOB. 53 cm 7/3. Medium size, excellent proportions. Beautifully shaped head. Dark eyes. Excellent body and limb structure, Good coat and tail. Light, straight step. Calm temperament. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! Beni then went on to win the following under judge Maarit Hassinen: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝐧𝐝 from ~30 dogs 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰! from ~30 dogs With these wins, Beni has now taken every certificate she possibly can during this trip — the rest of the shows will be just for fun and experience. A huge thank you to the Kannonkoski show team, and to our judges today Sakari Poti and Maarit Hassinen for recognizing our girl.
August 16, 2025: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢 Little Beni had a big day today — and for just 9 months old, she blew us away with her drive and confidence. 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 The enclosure housed 3 European brown bears (the equivalent of North American grizzlies). The moment Beni saw them, she launched straight into barking — full-on, without hesitation. She barked steadily for several minutes, showing strong instincts. Being still a puppy, she got briefly distracted by some food scraps on the ground and decided to sneak in a little snack break … but once she finished breakfast, she jumped right back into barking with intensity. She even had a cheeky little “argument” with one of the bears over the food (see the video!) — fearless girl! 𝐀̈𝐥𝐠𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐀̈𝐥𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 At the moose park, Beni once again barked immediately upon sight of Dooris, the one-year-old moose, and she kept it up for her entire session. Her focus was incredible for her age. And the best part? Her recall was absolutely perfect with both the bears and the moose — she came straight back to me every single time I called, before turning right around and heading back to work. This level of control is incredibly hard to achieve in a working dog, especially one so young. For just 9 months old, Beni is showing all the right qualities to grow into a serious working dog. We’re so excited to see her development continue. Huge Thank You to Junsele Bear Park and Älgunds Älgpark, and to Henrik Meijer for helping us organize this incredible opportunity. Also endless thanks to Maria for joining us on this trip to Sweden and to Marko, Pikki's breeder. See the video on FB or Instagram!
August 16, 2025: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢 Today was an incredible day for Pikki, as we spent time working him with both European brown bears and moose here in Sweden. 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 Pikki worked with 3 European brown bears (the equivalent of North American grizzlies) in the enclosure. He approached with confidence, moving right up near the fence without hesitation. After a moment to settle, he locked in — and barked steadily for several minutes, showing a strong and focused response. 𝐀̈𝐥𝐠𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐀̈𝐥𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 Later in the day, Pikki worked with Dooris, a one-year-old moose. He showed a textbook approach — coming in softly, starting with a calmer bark to avoid startling the moose, and then building intensity. This steady style is exactly what we like to see, as it often helps keep the moose engaged rather than running away. Before long, he and Dooris were fully interacting — complete with several kicks and lots of barking. A solid and impressive performance all around! We’re so proud of how Pikki handled today’s challenges — his confidence, steadiness, and maturity really shone through and now he is ready for the working season ahead. Huge Thank You to Junsele Bear Park and Älgunds Älgpark, and to Henrik Meijer for helping us organize this incredible opportunity. Also endless thanks to Maria for joining us on this trip to Sweden and to Marko, Pikki's breeder. See the video on FB or Instagram!
August 14, 2025: Pikki’s Mental Test Results! On Sunday, Pikki took the Finnish Kennel Club’s Luonnetesti (mental test) — an assessment designed to evaluate a dog’s temperament, nerve strength, reactions under stress, and suitability for breeding and working roles. You can read more about the test here: https://www.kennelliitto.fi/.../koiran-luonne.../luonnetesti Why do we do this test? The Luonnetesti places dogs in a series of controlled scenarios to see how they react — not to “pass” or “fail,” but to better understand their mental makeup. It evaluates things like: • Calmness under pressure • Social behaviour with people • Reaction to sudden sounds or surprises • Ability to recover from stress • Overall stability and work suitability • Reaction to gunshots This information helps breeders make informed decisions to preserve the breed’s working ability and mental soundness, while also giving owners valuable insight. And the results? Absolutely historic! Pikki not only handled it like a champ — he earned a 3+ score in the ‘nerves’ category, which is the highest possible rating! This score is extremely rare across all breeds, and in fact, it was only the second time in our judge’s entire career that he has awarded it. To top it off: First Karelian Bear Dog ever to achieve a 3+ in ‘nerves’ Final score: 254/300 — the highest score the breed has ever achieved to date After the test, while going over the results, the judge smiled and said: “He is an EXEMPLARY dog!” We couldn’t be more proud of Pikki — not just for his success in the show ring, but for proving himself to be a truly exceptional representative of the breed in both mind and body. I can not Thank Marko enough for allowing Pikki to be a part of our lives - he is a dog that has exceeded ALL of my expectations and he makes our lives better every single day. No test was needed for us to know he is the best dog out there!
August 9, 2025: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲! We went into today with zero expectations — just here to soak in the atmosphere, be part of the experience, and enjoy showing alongside the very best Karelian Bear Dogs. But our dogs had other plans… 𝐏𝐈𝐊𝐊𝐈 Against incredible competition, Pikki placed 2nd in his class of 8 champion males, then went on to win the CAC and Res-CACIB! With this, he became a 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧! And as far as I know, the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐁𝐃 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈 Then came Beni… our first home-bred KBD to step into a Finnish Show ring. She won her entire class of 7 junior females, went on to be Best Female overall (from 29 females!), AND Best Junior overall. With today’s results, she has earned her 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 AND completed her 𝐂𝐈𝐁-𝐉 (International Junior Championship) — making her the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐰𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧-𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐁𝐃 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐈𝐁-𝐉! I’m still in disbelief at what has happened today. What was meant to be just a day of participation turned into a milestone moment in our kennel’s history — and for North American Karelian Bear Dogs. So proud of our amazing dogs, and so grateful to everyone who has supported us on this journey. Endless thanks go to todays judge Saija Juutilainen, the show committee, as well as Marko and Maria! See below for today's stats and critiques: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢, 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 Judge: Saija Juutilainen - 15720 dogs, 398 breeds - 98 rings - 10 groups - 54 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐏𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢: CH EXC2, CAC, Res-CACIB. 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧! Critique: 3 years. A male with good body and bone, that has good lines for the breed. Balanced angulations. Strong paws, low hocks, beautiful expression. Fitting skull part. Slightly long ears. Good bite and muzzle. Excellent firm topline. Excellent shape of tail. Well angulated front. 9/1. Fine clear colors. Good coat quality. Moves wih good attitude, very parallel. Enough drive from the side. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢: JUN EXC1, CAC-J, CACIB-J, CAC, BOB Junior, BOS Overall. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐂𝐈𝐁-𝐉 (𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧) Critique: 9 months. A junior with good body and beautiful lines. Good bone strenght for a young female. Good paws and hocks. Already excellent front. Beautiful female head and expression. Good bite. Strong muzzle and firm ears. Good neck line and shape of tail. 8/2. Clear whites, a little bit of bear brown. In good coat. Moves exemplary. Stable enough front, very beautiful outline. Correct presence of a bear dog. Brace (Pikki & Beni): 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝
August 7, 2025: What a day at the 2025 WDS Circuit Specialty in Helsinki! Today’s show was nothing short of incredible — and a day I will never forget! I had no expectations to win anything today, but rather be apart of the experience. Then both of the dogs shocked me by doing incredibly well, even with each placing in the BIS/Junior BIS ring. I'm so incredibly proud of them both August 7, 2025 Helsinki, 𝐖𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐳 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 Judge: Reino Korpela - 67 dogs; 3 SPJ breeds. Total dogs entered in the Circuit is 8131. - 18 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐏𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢: CH EXC1, CQ, BM1, BOB. 𝐇𝐞𝐂𝐖-𝟐𝟓. 𝐁𝐈𝐒-𝟐 Critique: 58 cm. 9/1. Excellent breed type and proportions. Handsome head. Sufficiently dark eyes. Suitable neck and chest. Good topline, as well as the rear. Correctly angulated limbs. Good coat and tail. Straight, sufficiently long movements. Balanced behavior 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢: JUN EXC1, CQ, CAC-J, Res-CAC, BB3, BOB Junior. 𝐇𝐞𝐂𝐉𝐖-𝟐𝟓. 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐈𝐒-𝟏 under judge Angela Cavill. Critique: 53cm. 8/2. Excellent proportions and breed type. Beautiful head. Good eyes and ears. Suitable neck and chest. Good topline and rear. Medium strong limbs, good angulations. Good coat and tail. Balanced movements and behavior Brace (Pikki & Beni): 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 Endless thanks go to our judges Reino Korpela and Angela Cavill as well as the SPJ and show organizers. Finally, as always, I owe all of this to our amazing breeders and mentors - Marko and Maria - for without them we wouldn't have Pikki or Beni.
August 5, 2025: Goodbye Estonia, hello Finland! After an incredible time showing in the Baltics, we’re heading back to Finland today — for the 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, followed by the 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲! We’re so excited to reconnect with friends, meet fellow Karelian Bear Dog lovers, and be part of such a historic event for the breed — right in its homeland. With 60 KBDs entered, it’s a privilege to stand among the best and represent our kennel with Pikki and his daughter Beni. Let the next chapter of this adventure begin — we’re ready!
August 3, 2025: 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮, 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐘! August 3, 2025 Imavere, Estonia, Int show Judge: Rafael Garcia, Spain - 739 dogs, 177 breeds - 10 rings - 10 groups - 5 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐏𝐀𝐌 - Postitien Pamela Open EXC1, CQ, BB1, CAC, CACIB, BOB. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 #𝟑! 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐂𝐈𝐄)! Critique - Excellent female with feminine expression, excellent type and proportion, correctly set neck, excellent body, correct angulations, moves well & typical. 𝐏𝐈𝐊𝐊𝐈 - Joenrannan Pikki CH EXC1, CQ, BM1, CAC, CACIB, BOS. 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐂𝐈𝐄)! Critique - Excellent type, masculine, strong body, excellent neck, excellent angulation front and rear, excellent coat quality, very good tail set, temperament okay. 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈 - KarelianHaus Benina JUN EXC1, CQ, CAC-J, CACIB-J, BB2, BOB Junior. 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝟖 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟑𝟒 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨. Critique - Feminine, very good type, correct proportion, excellent expression, correct pigmentation, very good neck, excellent angulation and top line, moves well, good temperament. 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 - Pikki / Beni Judge: Marjatta Pylvänäinen- Suorsa, Finland 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝟐! The biggest thank you and congratulations to our breeders Maria, Marko, and Jukka. Also a huge thank you to the organizers and judges for a great day. We’ve loved our time in the baltics and will absolutely be back one day again! For now we rest and spend quality time with the dogs and return to Finland on Tuesday. Then begin the World Dog Show circuit on Thursday!
August 2, 2025: 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐢, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚! We had another incredible day in the ring! August 2, 2025 – Druskininkai, Lithuania International Show Judge: Kornelija Butrimova, Lithuania - 1012 dogs entered, 192 breeds - 12 rings - 10 groups - 3 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈 - KarelianHaus Benina JUN EXC1, CAC-J, CACIB-J, BOB Junior. 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐂𝐇! 𝐏𝐈𝐊𝐊𝐈 - Joenrannan Pikki CH EXC1, BM1, CAC, N-CAC, CACIB, BOB 𝐏𝐀𝐌 - Postitien Pamela Open EXC1, BB1, CAC, N-CAC, CACIB, BOS. With these certificates Pam will also become a Lithuanian Champion, but only after moving to Canada and getting her Canadian Championship. No finals or brace today. A huge thank you to the organizers and judges for a great day. We’ve loved our time in Lithuania — but now we drive to Estonia for a show there tomorrow!
August 1, 2025: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐢, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭! We kicked off the weekend at the Druskininkai International Dog Show and we had an incredible day in the ring! August 1, 2025 – Druskininkai, Lithuania International Show Judge: Ekarat Sangkunakup, Thailand - 1011 dogs entered, 193 breeds - 12 rings - 10 groups - 3 Karelian Bear Dogs 𝐏𝐀𝐌 - Postitien Pamela Open EXC1, BB1, CAC, N-CAC, CACIB, BOB. Made the cut to the Top 6 in FCI Group 5 out of more than 50 dogs! 𝐏𝐈𝐊𝐊𝐈 - Joenrannan Pikki CH EXC1, BM1, CAC, N-CAC, CACIB, BOS, Lithuanian CH! 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈 - KarelianHaus Benina JUN EXC1, CAC-J, CACIB-J, BOB Junior 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 (Pikki & Beni) These two made their debut in the brace class, and I'm thrilled with how well they did — a solid performance and a sweet moment running alongside father and daughter in the ring together for the first time A huge thank you to the organizers and judges for a great day. We’re loving our time in the Baltics so far — more to come this weekend!
July 29, 2025: Beni’s First Encounter with Köpi & Grizzly! Today it was Beni’s turn to visit Köpi & Grizzly, Finland’s machine moose and bear training park — and she impressed us from start to finish! This was her first time seeing both the moose and the bear, and for a young female, she showed excellent natural instinct and confidence. With Köpi (the moose), Beni barked steadily and with purpose for several minutes, working both from the front and the back — showing versatility and awareness beyond her age. She did eventually take a break due to the heat, but came right back to it, proving her determination and focus. With Grizzly (the machine bear), she maintained her composure and barked confidently, while keeping a safe and thoughtful distance — exactly what we want to see in a future working bear dog. Her caution shows excellent judgement, helping prevent injury while still doing her job. We’re incredibly happy with what we saw today — she’s got all the right tools and is off to a fantastic start on her journey as a working dog.
July 29, 2025: Today we took Pikki to visit Köpi & Grizzly, Finland’s machine moose and bear training park — and he did super well! This was Pikki’s second time meeting Köpi (the moose), and he showed great confidence and control, barking with purpose and ease — exactly what we love to see in a working Karelian. Then came the real test: Grizzly, the machine European brown bear — and Pikki’s first ever brown bear introduction. And… let’s just say he took the job a little too seriously! He launched into full working mode — biting at the bear’s legs and hide with such intensity that he was actually removed from the park for being too aggressive, in order to prevent damage to the equipment. While it’s not every day your dog gets removed from the bear park, we’re proud of his instinct, intensity, and courage. It’s clear he’s got the grit for the job. This marks his first-ever encounter with a European brown bear — which is comparable in behaviour to our North American grizzly — and we couldn’t have asked for a clearer natural response. Next step for Pikki is to visit the live moose and bear parks in Sweden next month.
July 28, 2025: We are beyond excited to officially welcome Postitien Pamela — “Pam” — to our kennel! Pam is a stunning 3-year-old Karelian Bear Dog, fully health tested, and shown in Finland. I’ve known this special girl since she was just 7 weeks old, and it’s truly an honour to now have her join our pack. A heartfelt thank you to my dear friend Maria for entrusting me with Pam — your care and dedication to her mean the world to me. Pam will be making the trip home with us this summer, and we’re so excited about what the future holds for her — in the ring, in the field, and hopefully as part of our breeding program. Welcome to the family, Pam! Read more about Pam here: https://www.karelianhaus.com/postitien-pamela.html
July 27, 2025: Day 2 in the Finnish rings — and another great result for Pikki! Today we showed at the Kalajoki International Dog Show, and Pikki kept the momentum going by earning himself another CACIB! July 27, 2025 – Kalajoki INT Show Judge: Hannele Jokisilta - 1762 dogs entered, 244 breeds - 13 rings - 10 groups - 10 Karelian Bear Dogs — 7 males, 3 females Pikki: Ch1 Excellent, CQ, BM2, CACIB Critique: 59 cm, larger than average size, impressive overall appearance. Sufficiently strong male head, slightly large ears. Suitable angulations and bone, good body. Correct quality coat, color 8/2, excellently behaved and presented male. Slightly loose front movements, otherwise good.
July 26, 2025: Off to a great start at our first show in Finland! Today marked the beginning of our show tour here in Finland, and Pikki kicked things off with a solid performance, even with the shocking heat wave of 29 degrees running through the area! See the show stats and Pikki's Critique below: July 26, 2025, Pori INT Judge: Lars Widén (Sweden) - 2170 dogs entered, 261 breeds - 14 rings - 10 groups - 10 Karelian Bear Dogs Pikki - Ch Excellent, CQ, BM1, CAC, CACIB, BOB: 59 cm. Very beautiful head. Well placed ears. Sufficiently dark eyes. Strong back. Good neck. Tail tightly curled. Excellent chest. Well-laid shoulder. Sufficiently angled all around. Good color and coat; 90-10. A nice way to begin our time in the Finnish rings — and our first show ever without my close friend and mentor Maria, so bitter sweet. Today was an exciting milestone — this was the last CAC Pikki needed toward his Finnish Championship! Now all that’s left is a working result… Many congratulations to Kuurasuon Hippu and her owner for being BOS today!
July 25, 2025: We’ve landed in Helsinki! After a long journey, we’re officially in Finland — the dogs are safe, happy, and ready to roll! We spent our first day taking it easy, soaking up the Finnish summer, and enjoying a refreshing swim in the sea — the perfect way to shake off the travel and settle in. We’re so excited to hit the ground running and make the most of the next two months here. Let the adventure begin!
July 23, 2025: Finland Bound! Flights booked, bags packed, dogs ready — and our excitement is higher than ever! This trip has been over three years in the making, and it’s finally happening!! Kyle and I are heading to Finland for the next two months, and words can not describe how thrilled we are to be returning to a country we both love so deeply — reconnecting with friends, dogs, and the incredible Nordic outdoors. This time, we’re travelling with two special Karelian Bear Dogs: Joenrannan Pikki — our amazing boy, and KarelianHaus Benina “Beni” — his youngest daughter, making her international debut! We’ve packed so much into this adventure, including: Dog shows all across Finland — including the World Dog Show in Helsinki, where we’ll be showing alongside 50+ KBDs! A weekend tour through the Baltics — yes, for more shows! A mental test for Pikki (Beni is a bit too young this time). Visits to both the machine moose & machine bear parks. A visit to the live moose park and live bear park in Sweden. Real moose work in the Finnish forests. Lots of time catching up with good friends. Exploring the wilds of Finland through van life and camping, thanks to the amazing “Everyman’s Right” (Jokamiehenoikeudet). And... picking up an exciting new addition to our kennel — more on that very soon! We’ll be sharing updates throughout the trip here on Facebook and over on Instagram, so come along for the ride — it’s going to be one to remember!
July 12, 2025: Earlier this week we had Pikki and Vila in for their 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 x-rays, and got super results - both came back 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑 (SP0)! This is a test that can only be done after the age of 2 years and checks for any spondylosis growths along the entire thoracic and lumbar spine. I have been personally keeping spine stats on the breed for several years and the results are as follows: SP - 65.3% normal, 𝟯𝟰.𝟳% 𝐚𝐛𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥, total dogs tested 98. LTV - 59.7% normal, 𝟰𝟬.𝟯% 𝐚𝐛𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥, total dogs tested 124. VA - 83.3% normal, 𝟭𝟲.𝟳% 𝐚𝐛𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥, total dogs tested 96. **The only dogs used in the calculations are ones officially evaluated in Finland and in their public database. **Last updated July 1, 2025. The KBD is a breed that commonly has spinal problems which is why we diligently test for vertebral anomalies, LTV, and spondylosis. Pikki - Joenrannan Pikki, imported from Finland Vila - Frostwald Cruella De Vil, imported from Finland. All their tests, including all official reports, can be found on our website.
July 1, 2025: We spent the weekend in Cold Lake having fun with friends and running around the ring. Beni had the following success: - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 5/5 shows - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 Thanks to judge Heather Brennan This marks the end of Beni’s puppy “career”, at just 8 months and 2 days of age. We had one day trip and 3 weekends of showing with the following success: - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 at her one and only baby puppy show - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 x 7 - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 x 3 - 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 x 1 - 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝐧𝐝 - 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝟒𝐭𝐡 - 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 earned in 2 days! - 21 points towards her 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. Only 20 points are needed but we have not yet met the minimum age requirement of 1 year so this will be completed later. Many thanks to all of the judges we have shown to and to our friends for the continued support. Also thank you to Maria and Marko for sending us Pikki and Vila for without either of you we wouldn’t have Beni at all. 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐈𝐒 𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐈𝐆 𝐁𝐁𝐏𝐈𝐆 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐇 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐚
June 24, 2025: Earlier this month, Evie and Alma went on a business trip to the Canadian Rockies to assist with the 𝐆𝟕 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 in Kananaskis, Alberta. They were an integral part of the Canadian Bear Safety Authority (CBSA) team, led by John Clarke and Christy Pool. Working alongside Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services, Alberta Conservation, and other dedicated agencies, their role focused on helping ensure the safety of both people and wildlife during the event. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬: 𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚 "𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐞" – owned by us, handled by the CBSA team, and bred by Maija & Rauno Ahola of Rohmoivan kennel in Finland. 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐚 "𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐚" – owned/bred by us and handled by the CBSA team. 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐚 "𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚" – owned/handled by John Clarke & Christy Pool, bred/co-owned by us. 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐚 "𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐚" – owned/handled by John Clarke & Christy Pool, bred by Windriver kennel in the USA. 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐚 – owned/handled by John Clarke & Christy Pool, from RCMP and A Better Chance Animal Rescue Each of the dogs had at least one opportunity to work bears, along with other wildlife, and everyone did a fantastic job! A huge thank-you to John and Christy for the excellent care of our girls, and to the entire CBSA team for a job well done!
June 24, 2025: Our local home show was this past weekend and the girls did super well! KarelianHaus Benina “Beni” was entered in all 8 shows and had the following results: - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 6/8 shows - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐱𝟐 Thanks to judges Susan Quesnel and Nancy Popovich. - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰!! Thanks to judge Susan Quesnel - She also made the cut in a very competitive working group We received many beautiful compliments throughout the weekend from judges and spectators. As usual it was lovely meeting up with our dog show friends and look forward to our next weekend out!
June 24, 2025: Our local home show was this past weekend and the girls did super well! Frostwald Cruella De Vil “Vila” was entered in all 8 shows and had the following results: - 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝 2/8 shows gaining her 2 more points towards her Canadian Championship We received many beautiful compliments throughout the weekend from judges and spectators. As usual it was lovely meeting up with our dog show friends and look forward to our next weekend out!
May 21, 2025: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝!!!! We are now back home from the FSJ 2025 dog show and it was one for the records! Our girls earned the following: 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚 - Best of breed at 4/4 shows she was entered in - 11 points total (2, 2, 2, 5) - Group 1st in a tough working group under judge Gail Forsythe - Finished her Canadian GCH making her the 2nd KBD in history to do so 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢 - Best of breed at 4/8 shows, winner’s female in 1/8 shows, and select in 3/8 shows - 21 points total (2, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4) - Group 2nd under judge Ron Mahon - Group 4th under judge Richard Paquette - Best puppy in show x2 under judges Ron Mahon and Grant Townsend - Reserve best puppy in show under judge Barbara Heal - Best puppy in group x4 - Finished her Canadian CH in just 2 days! Also, the youngest KBD to ever earn this title in history! - 100% owner/breeder handled 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐚 - Won winners female in 6/8 shows she was entered in - Earned 3 more points towards her Canadian Championship, bringing her halfway there. As always, I give many thanks to the judges who awarded our dogs so highly and to our friends and family for all the support and help with the girls. It was also nice to see another KBD in the ring that wasn’t owned by us and wish her well on her journey. We had a lovely weekend camping with friends/family and look forward to the next show we will attend in late June.
May 19, 2025: Just when I thought our weekend couldn't get any better!! Today our girl Evita got to play in the ring and took BOB at both shows. Her win this morning gave her all she needed to complete her 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩! Then to top it all off, under judge Gail Forsythe, she went on to take 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏! This makes Evita the second KBD in history to earn a Canadian GCH and the first of all of our dogs to earn a group first. I am forever thankful to all the judges who have awarded Evita so highly here in Canada as well as overseas, Evita's breeders Maija & Rauno for allowing her to move across the pond, my good friend and mentor Maria for always being there for us, my husband Kyle for the endless support, and all of our extended dog show friends and family. Without each and every one of you we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are today. Showing Evita has been such a true joy in my life over these past few years and she has taught me SO much. I could not be more proud of my #1 girl and there is NO better place to be than at the end of her lead flying around that ring. A bitter sweet ending to her having the most amazing day is that we are now hanging up her show lead - she has accomplished more than I could have ever imagined her to do and now she can enjoy being the best little grandma to our younger girls while they have their time to shine. So I now pronounce our girl: 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂.𝐈.𝐄 𝐂𝐀 𝐂𝐇 𝐂𝐀 𝐆𝐂𝐇 𝐄𝐄 𝐂𝐇 𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐇 𝐅𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐂𝐱𝟑 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐖𝐖'𝟐𝟎 𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐂𝐆𝐍 𝐑𝐍 𝐕𝐍 𝐄𝐓𝐃 𝐒𝐃𝐃𝐀-𝐒, 𝐒𝐏 *pending CKC approval
May 17, 2025: This girl is on 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄!!!! At just 3 weeks old we all knew Beni was going to be a special puppy, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect this!! We have been at the Fort St. John dog show for the past couple days. Yesterday Beni took 2x BOB over two mature females (her mother Vila, and another imported KBD not owned by us). She then finished the day off winning RBPIS (reserve best puppy in show) under judge Barbara Heal. Then today under judge Ron Mahon our little Beni took BOB again, followed by a group 2, and BPIS (best puppy in show)!! So many thanks go to our judges thus far for seeing this incredibly special girl. Also many thanks go to Vila and Pikki's breeders Maria and Marko for allowing them to come home with us from Finland, for without them Beni and her siblings would never have been born. Finally, I give many thanks to our friends and dog show family for the continual support and encouragement! So to wrap this all up I'd like to announce our little spicy banana, my little Bam Bam, and the best little girl..... 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐇 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐚 *pending CKC approval *I believe this makes Beni the youngest KBD to earn a Can CH at just 6 months and 18 days old. *I also believe Beni is the quickest KBD to have earned her Canadian Championship with just 2 days of showing! **I am not 100% certain on either of these facts but will confirm with the CKC. This is just the tip of the iceberg for our Beni as we have BIG things planned for her, so stay tuned!!
May 14, 2025: Last week we had Alma in for the remainder of her health testing and her results could 𝐧𝐨𝐭 have been better!! 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐇𝐈𝐏: L-0.27 R-0.23 No OA 𝐇𝐢𝐩𝐬 (FKC equivalent): A/A 𝐄𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐰𝐬: Normal (0/0) 𝐋𝐓𝐕: Normal (LTV0) 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞: Normal (VA0) 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐂𝐃: Normal (unaffected/unaffected) 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐜: Normal 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬: Normal 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Full Dentition 𝐏𝐫𝐜𝐝-𝐏𝐑𝐀, 𝐇𝐏𝐏, 𝐂𝐃, 𝐏𝐃, 𝐌𝐃𝐑𝟏 - Clear/Non-carrier Feel free to look at her webpage, where 𝐀𝐋𝐋 of her health certificates are publicly posted under her "Documents". https://www.karelianhaus.com/karelianhausalma.html Alma's parents are: 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: C.I.E CA CH EE CH ES CH FI CACx3 ViceWW'20 Rohmoivan Evita CGN RN VN ETD SDDA-S, SP 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: BPIS MBPIG Multi Group Placing CA CH CA GCH FI JCH FI BIS-J4 FI CACIB-J FI CACIB Joenrannan Pikki
April 27, 2025: Yesterday was a breeders dream health testing day for us! We took 5 dogs to get their eyes tested and had the following results: - Rohmoivan Evita “Evita” 5.5 years old, 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 (Eyes look great for her age!) - Joenrannan Pikki “Pikki” almost 3 years old, 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥. Previous mRD is totally gone! - Frostwald Cruella De Vil “Vila” 2 years old, 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥. - KarelianHaus Alma “Alma” 1 year old, 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥. Previous superficial opacity/scar gone. - KarelianHaus Benina “Beni” 5 months old, 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹.
April 5, 2025: Our little Beni had the best day yesterday! We went down to Red Deer for a quick day trip and she got to compete in her very first baby puppy show (mine too!). She was so well loved by everyone she met and even took Best Baby Puppy in Group, many thanks to judge Doug Gaudin. Beni is my very first home bred KBD to enter a show ring and I am so excited for her future, big thing's are coming. KarelianHaus Benina "Beni", 5 months old
October 30, 2024: Yesterday we welcomed the arrival of our B litter! We have 7 new additions; 1 male and 6 females All pups and mom are doing well. Many thanks go to everyone who has helped us get to this point we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the support of each and every one of you. Special thanks go to Maria and Marko for allowing Vila and Pikki to come live with us in Canada. If you'd like to see more about this litter, please visit our website here. https://www.karelianhaus.com/litterb.html If you'd like to be considered for one of our puppies, please reach out via email or DM.
September 9, 2024: Evita got some mail recently! She is now officially the first dog in our kennel to earn her C.I.E title. Many Thanks go to Maija and Rauno for breeding this incredible dog and for allowing her to move to the other side of the pond to be with us. Also endless thanks go to Maria, for always being there for us, without you this achievement wouldn't have been possible. For those that don't know a C.I.E is an international beauty title awarded after a dog earns 4 CACIB's from 3 or more FCI countries. There also must be 366 or more days between the first and the last CACIB. Evita completed the requirements in two trips overseas with CACIB's from the following countries: - Finland in 2022 under judge Annukka Paloheimo - Estonia in 2022 under judge Stiklius Valentinas - Spain in 2022 under judge Rafael Garcia - Finland in 2023 under judge Matti Palojärvi Thank you to the judges for seeing our beautiful girl in large lineups of KBD's. C.I.E CA CH EE CH ES CH FI CACx3 ViceWW'20 Rohmoivan Evita CGN RN VN ETD SDDA-S, SP
June 21-23, 2024: Grande Prairie Regional Kennel Club
Show #1, judge Lynda Saranchuk: Pikki BOB, Vila BOS Show #2, judge Mel Saranchuk: Pikki BOB, Evita BOS
Show #3, judge Darle Heck: Pikki BOB, Evita BOS. Group 4th placement with Pikki
Show #4, judge Heather Brennan: Evita BOB, Pikki BOS Evita shortlisted in a large, challenging working group Show #5, judge Tempest Deptuch: Pikki BOB, Evita BOS Group 4th placement with Pikki - Finishing Canadian Grand Championship!
Show #6, judge Richard Paquette: Pikki BOB, Evita BOS
May 17-20, 2024: Fort St. John and District Kennel Club
Show #1, judge David Denis: Pikki BOB, Vila BOS Show #2, judge Kathleen Anderson-Wulff: Pikki BOB, Vila BOS
Show #5, judge Ainslie Mills: Pikki BOB, Vila BOS
Show #6, judge Marilyn O'Neill: Vila BOB, Pikki BOS
Show #7, judge Patricia Taylor: Pikki BOB, Vila BOS
Show #8, judge Maribel Sy: Pikki BOB, Vila BOS
May 7, 2024: Frostwald Cruella De Vil "Vila" recently went for her health clearances and we’re happy to announce she passed every test. Results were: Pennhip – L-0.29 R-0.26 No OA Eyes – normal Elbows - Normal (0/0) LTV - LTV1 (shortened L7) Spine - Normal (VA0) Shoulder OCD - Normal Cardiac - Normal Patella - Normal Thank you goes to Maria for breeding such a wonderful girl and for allowing her to move across the pond to live with us! Our next step for Vila is to play in the show ring this spring/summer :D
March 3, 2024: They're here! Our first litter, the "A" litter!
On March 1st we welcomed 4 perfect little ones into the family; 3 males and 1 female. 💙💙💙🩷
Everyone has gained weight in their first few hours on the outside. Mom and pups are all doing very well. 💕🐾
Endless thanks go to everyone who has helped us get to this point we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the support of those around us. 🥰 Special thanks go to Maija, Rauno, Marko, and Maria for allowing Evita and Pikki to come live with us in Canada. 🇨🇦🇫🇮
Father: BPIS MBPIG Multi Group Placing CA CH FI JCH BIS-J4 FI CACIB-J FI CACIB Joenrannan Pikki Mother: C.I.E CA CH EE CH ES CH FI CACx3 ViceWW'20 Rohmoivan Evita CGN RN VN ETD SDDA-S, SP
For more information on this litter please click here
February 1, 2024: We have BIG news!!! 🐾💕🐾
After years of planning and a lot of patience we are expecting our first litter! The little ones are expected in early March.
If you'd like to see more about this litter, please the "Litter A" page above.
If you'd like to be considered for one of our puppies, please reach out via email or DM.
October 21, 2023: Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined today to go like this! At the Seinäjoki international dog show, with 13 KBD's in the ring our girl Evita gets her final CACIB and our boy Pikki gets his first CACIB. To top it all off Evita was best of breed and Pikki was best opposite! This is the end of Evita's hunt for CACIB's as she has just finished her C.I.E title, making her the first KBD in all of North America to get this title. For those that don't know a C.I.E is an international beauty title awarded after a dog earns 4 CACIB's from 3 or more FCI countries. There also must be 366 or more days between the first and the last CACIB. See the show stats and their individual critiques below:
Oct 21, 2023 Seinäjoki, INT Judge: Matti Palojärvi -4067 dogs, 286 breeds -30 rings -10 groups -13 Karelian Bear Dogs
Pikki: CH EXC1, CQ, BM1, CACIB, BOS 57cm ideal size. Excellent proportions. Exemplary head, excellent body and head. Color 8/2. Good coat and tail. Flexible movement. Calm demeanor.
Evita: CH EXC1, CQ, BB1, CACIB, BOB 54 cm. Color 7/3. Correct proportions. Exemplary head. Large, well-positioned ears, compact body, good limb bones and angulations. Good coat and tail. Flexible movement, excellent character.
October 13, 2023: Pikki has been staying with Marko for the last few weeks for some additional forest training, so this week Evita and I took a short trip to a more central/southern part of Finland to visit them. The area had a very large storm pass through on Wednesday with lots of rain, many trees falling, and the power being out to hundreds of homes for several hours. On Thursday we did a moose trial with Pikki. He was successful in finding the moose, but just seconds after the find they took off running, swimming, and running some more. After a total of 33km of working distance for Pikki, we ended the test. Even though we were unlucky, I am so happy with how Pikki has done. He never once gave up and always came back to us with his tail wagging and a smile on his face. In the end, the final score for Pikki was 34 points, which even though it is not a prized result, it is still the most any North American living dog has received to date. I can not thank @rahkonenmarko and his wife Terhi enough for the hospitality they have offered to Pikki, Evita, and I in the past few weeks. We are very lucky to have you in our lives The hunting season starts in the area this weekend, and we wish all the hunters and dogs the very best of luck this season Today, the three of us are traveling back to the north via train and bus to go back to our "home base" where more adventures await us.
October 6, 2023: There is no better feeling than watching your dog do what he was bred to do! Today Pikki worked his first solo bark in Finland and I couldn't be more proud of him! Stats can be seen below: Number of moose: 3 Distance moose found from release point: 855m Total time: 7 hours, 34 minutes Total barking time: 4 hours 44 minutes Average barks per minute: 22 Maximum barks per minute: 69 Total distance travelled: 31.3km Outdoor temperature when released: -2, clear day, light wind Pikki's age: 14 months Thank you Marko for all everything!
September 21, 2023: Pikki's first moose bark is in the books! Late last night Pikki's mom, Karo, had started barking at a moose which made for the perfect first moose for Pikki. He was released on their tracks and quickly made his way to join the action. In total night time darkness he barked for 2 hours and 49 minutes until the moose were scared off and he was called off their tracks. This week, Pikki is staying with his breeder, Marko, for some additional forest and moose training. Thank you Marko, for everything
September 16, 2023: Another wild day in Finland for us! We started our morning in Leppävirta where Pikki was best of breed and best junior in breed. Then we drove to Kihniö where Pikki was again best junior in breed and went on to being best junior in show #4 with ~50 dogs in the ring. Thank you to Marko for breeding our beautiful boy and to Maria for helping us with everything during this trip See below for his critiques. Sept 16, 2023 Leppävirta, Group show Judge: Katja Partenen -758 dogs, 94 breeds -9 rings -4 groups -8 Karelian Bear Dogs Pikki: JUN EXC1, CQ, BM1, JUN BOB, BOB 58 cm. Black and white 8/2. Medium size, correct proportions and strength fitting of his size, good head shape, good eyes, good topline and tail, well developed body, excellent angulations front and back, bone strength fitting for the size, moves with a good step and parallel, excellent coat and behavior, bite ok.
Sept 16, 2023 Kihniö, Group show Judge: Pekka Teini -983 dogs, 128 breeds -11 rings -4 groups -14 Karelian Bear Dogs Pikki: JUN EXC1, CQ, BM2, JUN BOB, Best in Show Junior #4 58cm black and white 9/1. Slightly short in proportions but a young male with very good posture. Handsome head with good stop and strong muzzle. Good neck. Excellent hind. Excellent coat. Nice behavior.
September 7, 2023: Today was Pikki's first day in the forest and he did very well. We think he was likely tracking a moose for the majority of the time until he got to a river crossing and decided not to take the swim across, so he returned back to the releasing point where we were waiting for him. From there we drove him to a second location, hoping he would find the same track on the other side of the river. - Total distance: 10.65km - Furthest distance from releasing point: 1.41km - Total time: 2 hours + 19 minutes - Maximum speed 29km/hr - Average speed: 5.46km/hr - Times we tried, and succeeded, to catch him: 2
September 6, 2023: Today was Evita's first day in the forest, and she surprised us all with how well she did. Our initial goal for her was to be loose for ~1 hour and we hoped she would go about 500m away from the releasing point, but she had other plans. - Total distance: 20.1km - Furthest distance from releasing point: 4.1km - Total time: 5 hours + 4 minutes - Maximum speed 38km/hr - Average speed: 3.97km/hr - Times we tried, and failed, to catch her: 3 - After about 4 hours of tracking and with the sun setting she decided to take a small nap in a blueberry field. This was the opportune time for us to start a small 5km hike to go "catch" her. Tomorrow is Pikki's turn!
September 3, 2023: Today was a whirlwind of a day! We started our day at the Hollola group show where Pikki earned his second JCAC. We then had a small hiccup along the way but luckily were able to make it to our second show of the day. There Pikki was awarded his third and final JCAC, earning him his Finnish Junior Champion title. He then went on to become best male, getting him his second and last possible CAC and further on to being the best of breed and shortlisted in the junior BIS ring with 60+ dogs. I have endless thanks to Marko for breeding this incredible dog, and for allowing him to come home with us, he is everything I could have ever dreamt of. Also, thank you to Maria for being there with us every step of the way! Evita showed really well today in one show and was liked by the judge, but being that she has no hair on her body was not awarded the CQ. We are now on a small break from shows so we can transition our focus onto the forest. See below for the critiques and show stats.
Sept 3, 2023 Riihimäki, International show Judge: Antti Neiminen -3089 dogs, 279 breeds -36 rings -10 groups -9 Karelian Bear Dogs
Pikki: JUN EXC1, CQ, JUN CAC, JUN BOB, BM1, CAC, CACIB-J, JCH, BOB 14 months, black and white 8/2. 60 cm. Excellent type, suitable body strength and volume for its age. Suitable limb bone strength. A little sparsely but balanced angled in the front and rear. Elbows still a little tight. Beautiful withers and topline. Moves typical of the breed and with ease. Beautiful masculine head with good proportions and head lines. Slightly round, brown eyes, well-positioned ears. The right coat quality.
Evita: CH EXC2 3 years. 54 cm. Black and white 7/3. Good proportions, slightly light-boned, suitable body volume. Sufficiently and balanced angulated. Beautifully accentuated withers. Good top line. Tail attached slightly down. Moves lightly with the step of a hunting dog. The narrow front can be seen in motion. Correct head length. I hope for slightly more parallel lines on the muzzle. Well-positioned slightly large ears. Brown eyes. The right coat quality. Today in a summer coat. ----------------------------------------------------- Sept 3, 2023 Hollola, GS Judge: Pekka Teini -500 dogs, 86 breeds -13 rings -4 groups -13 Karelian Bear Dogs Pikki: JUN EXC1, CQ, JUN CAC, BM3 58 cm. Black and white 8/2. A young male with very good posture. Model head. A suitable stop and beautiful ears. Good topline, strong withers. Good croup and well-curled tail. Tight paws. Excellent coat. Moves with balance. The front movement can still get stronger.
September 2, 2023: Today was a great start to our showing abroad adventures! Pikki competed with 3 other males, ending as second best male overall and best junior in breed. He recieved his first of 3 JCAC's, his first of 2 CAC's, and a Res-Nord CAC. We also showed Evita for fun and she was given a score of VG. Being that she has no hair on her body and disliked the cold rain we encountered we are in agreeance with that result. See below for each dog's critique and the show stats. Sept 2, 2023 Riihimäki, Nordic show Judge: Kirsi Saunio -2612 dogs, 280 breeds -37 rings -10 groups -10 Karelian Bear Dogs Pikki: JUN EXC1, CQ, JUN CAC, JUN BOB, BM2, CAC, NORD RES-CAC Ideal size, excellent breed type and proportions, handsome male head, slightly pale eyes, correct bite, good ears, good shoulder and upper arm, correct body for age, good tail attachment and carriage, color 9/1, moves parallel, still a bit narrow in front, excellent side movement, an excellent coat quality, presented and is presented well.
Evita: CH VG1 Bigger than average size 55cm, clear sex mark, good proportions, big ears and pale eyes disturb the expression, correct bite, good shoulders and upper arm, good frame, balanced hind angulation, good quality coat 8/2, moves a little cow hocked from behind, loose elbows in front, forelimbs raise up unnecessarily in movement, perform excellently.
August 31, 2023: Today we spent our afternoon walking to the local veterinary clinic here in Helsinki. Pikki passed his eye, heart, and patella exams which now concludes all of his health testing for the coming years. We also did a general exam on both Evita and Pikki as a requirement for accident insurance. Releasing any dog into the forest can hold risks and this helps keep us covered for anything unexpected.
August 30, 2023: We made it! Last night we arrived in Helsinki, and once again I fell in love with the local people of Finland. We were helped by several people who saw me struggling with the amount of "stuff" I had to move around the airport. Thank you to anyone who stopped to help us, it means a lot to me! We then checked into our airbnb, and went straight to bed. Today we walked to the highest point in Helsinki and enjoyed the 360° views until the skies opened and soaked us from head to toe. We are now in Helsinki for a few days relaxing and getting used to the 9 hour time change. Then the real fun begins this weekend when we meet with Maria and head north!
August 28, 2023: Finland here we come!! After several months of planning and excitement building we are heading back "home"! We've already experienced our first hiccup with cancelled/delayed flights but we are finally on route, just a little delayed. Huge shout out to the YYC KLM staff for all the help this morning! This trip will be packed full of many activities for Evita, Pikki, and myself like dog shows, forest runs, moose trials, and finally meeting Vila! I can't wait to see all of our Finnish friends, and meet new ones as well. Follow us along on FB and Instagram during this exciting time!
August 10-12, 2023: Edmonton Kennel Club
Show #1, Thursday, FCI judge Christian Gomez from Columbia: Pikki BOB Evita BOS
Show #2, Friday, judge Todd Foley: Pikki BOB, he was also shortlisted in a huge working group. Evita BOS
Show #3, Saturday, FCI judge Maria Del Rocio Nadal from Brazil: Pikki BOB Evita BOS
June 23-25, 2023: Grande Prairie Kennel Club
Show #1, judge Lee Anne Bateman: Evita BOB, Pikki BOS + Best Puppy
Show #2, judge Bonnie Derry: Evita BOB, Pikki BOS + Best Puppy
Show #3, judge Honey Glendinning: Evita BOB, Pikki BOS + Best Puppy
Show #4, judge Judy McVeigh: Pikki BOB + Best Puppy + BPIG + BPIS!!! Evita BOS
Show #5, judge Stephen Dainard: Evita BOB, Pikki BOS + Best Puppy
Show #6, judge David Denis: Evita BOB, Pikki BOS + Best Puppy
June 24, 2023: Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever dreamt of a better day than today! At our home show in Grande Prairie under judge Judy McVeigh, wearing his summer suit, Pikki won best of breed, group 3rd, best puppy in group, AND best puppy in show!! This incredible day completed his Canadian championship making him the 47th Karelian Bear Dog to recieve this title. *pending CKC confirmation* Every single day with Pikki is a gift and I can not thank Marko enough for this incredible dog, thank you thank you thank you!! We also wouldn't be where we are today without the support of so many people, thank you ALL! BPIS MBPIG Multi Group Placing Can Ch Joenrannan Pikki Breeder: Marko Rahkonen, Finland Owner/Handler: Susan Haus, Canada
June 18, 2023: We are excited to announce our newest addition to the family, Frostwald Cruella De Vil, at home she will go by the name "Vila". Vila comes from the very well known Neri (mother) and Jero (father), who's official names are: C.I.B. Nordic CH FI CH DK CH NO CH EE CH LV CH LT CH DE (VDH) CH RU CH BALT CH LT JCH LV JCH EE JCH BALT JCH RKFV FIW-16 FIJW-16 DKW-17 WW-17 FIW-17 HeW-17 NORDW-17 LTW-18 BALTW-18 HeW-18 FIW-18 ATW-19 EUW-19 FIW-21 EEW-22 NORDW-22 FIW-22 ROHMOIVAN AVA And C.I.B. NORD CH FI WCH FI CH DK CH NO CH SISUKKAAN ISÄNMAANTOIVO We are so thankful and honoured to be entrusted with a puppy from these two incredible dogs. Thank you to Neri's owner and this litters breeder Maria Kallunki and to Jero's owner Pirjo Kivijärvi. Vila is still living in Finland with her siblings and family, but she will make the long journey home later this year.
Check out Vila's details on her page, under the "females" drop down!
May 20- May 22, 2023: Fort St John Kennel Club Another lovely weekend is in the books for us.
With absolutely no coat our boy Joenrannan Pikki “Pikki” was BOB in 2 shows and BOS in 4 shows. He was also awarded a group 4th under judge Shawn Nichols and a BPIG under judge Karen Day.
Rohmoivan Evita "Evita" was BOB in 4 shows and BOS in 2 shows. She also made the cut in group with judge Susan Quesnel.
March 31- April 2, 2023: Red Deer District Kennel Club
Show 1, Friday, judge Janet Lobb Pikki BOB, best puppy. Evita BOS.
Show 2, Saturday, USA judge Robert Vandiver Pikki BOB, best puppy. Evita BOS.
Show 3, Sunday, judge Joe Lobb Pikki BOB, best puppy. Evita BOS.
Jan 29, 2023: Evelyn Kenny Kennel & Obedience Club
Show 1, Friday, FCI judge Ashley Reid from Australia: Pikki BOB, best puppy. Evita BOS.
Show 2, Saturday, Judge James Reynolds: Pikki BOB, best puppy, and BPIG in a large line up of beautiful puppies. Evita BOS.
Show 3, Sunday, Judge Dann Wilson: Evita BOB and shortlisted in group. Pikki BOS and best puppy.
Oct 3, 2022: After many months of patiently waiting we are excited to announce our newest addition, Joenrannan Pikki. Pikki comes from a Finnish kennel with many generations of working dogs behind him. He comes from the combination FI WCH FI CH Kantolanrinteen Pilikku X FI WCH FI CH Hautahiekan Karo. He is a curious baby with a confident demeanor and I can't wait to watch this little one in the forest and in the ring! Thank you to Marko, for entrusting this special boy to us, we hope to do you proud. In addition, thank you to our good friends Satu and Maria for visiting the litter at a young age; helping us evaluate which puppy would become our Pikki.
August 27, 2022: It comes with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our Nalle. We're never given enough time with the ones we love most. After weeks of diagnostics and a rapid decline we had to say our final goodbye to Nalle on August 27th. He lived a short life, but an amazing one. We travelled well over 50,000km together and he was the center of attention wherever we went, no matter if it was a walk through town, a trip to the store, a dog show, or even halfway across the world. Nalle was a fun loving, beautiful boy, full of personality and a vibrant spirit. We'd accomplished so much in the short 16 months we were together and I would have loved to see all that we could have accomplished had we been given more time. Until next time my boy, for now you can run wild in a pain free world. Can-CH Sp-CH World Winner'20 RSCEW'20 EstJW'22 EstW'22 LWSp'22 Silverado De La Fortea CGN "Nalle" Dec 16, 2020 - August 27, 2022
July 5, 2022: After relaxing on the beach and spending time with Tatiana (Nalle's first momma) we flew home. Thank you for everything, until next time!
June 24, 2022: World Dog show: Madrid, Spain. Judge: Rafael Garcia
Evita - Open Exc1 CAC RCACIB (to be transfered to a CACIB by the FCI) ViseWW-20 Brace- best brace in breed
June 23, 2022: CAC Specialty: Madrid, Spain. Judge: Rafael Espigares
Nalle - Intermediate Exc1 CAC BM1 BOB Evita - Open Exc1 CAC. Spanish Champion!
June 23, 2022: RSCE Winner Show: Madrid, Spain. Judge: Rafael Malo Nalle - Intermediate Exc1 CAC BM1 CACIB BOS RSCEW-20 LATW-22. Spanish Champion! Evita - Open Exc1 CAC.
June 20, 2022: We flew from Helsinki to Madrid where we will participate in the World Dog Show! I can not thank Maria enough for the hospitality over the past weeks. Until next time!
Evita: Open Exc1 CQ BB1 CACIB BOS Excellent proportions. Excellent limbs. Correct strength. Good head. Eyes should be darker. Good bite. Fitting bone. Good coat quality. Good tail. Excellent hind end. Hind movement could be even more energetic. Magnificent dog as a whole (entity).
Nalle: Ch Exc1 57cm. Good posture. Should be higher in legs. Excellent hind end. Low hocks. Fitting bone. Promising head. Good bite. Excellent chest. Excellent coat quality and condition. Hind movement could be more effective. Good front movement. High quality dog but should give a stronger and firmer impression, especially in leg length.
June 18, 2022: Kuusamo, Finland. Judge: Reino Korpela -459 dog, 64 breeds -5 rings -4 groups -43 Karelian Bear Dogs
Nalle: Ch Exc1 CQ BM2 7/3. 57cm. Proper size. Good proportions. Handsome male head. Slightly light eyes. Good neck, chest, and hind end. Medium strength limbs. Good angulations. Slightly soft coat. Tail curled on the back. Moves effortlessly.
Evita: Open Exc1 CQ BB3 8/2. 54cm. Larger than average. Good proportions and strength. Beautiful feminine head. Slightly wide set ears. Eyes could be darker. Good structure of body and limbs. Good tail position. Correct coat quality. Balanced movement and presentation.
June 12, 2022: Alavus, Finland. Judge: Matti Palojärvi -2734 dog, 276 breeds -21 rings -10 groups -15 Karelian Bear Dogs
Nalle: Jun Exc1 CQ JCAC BM1 BOS 57cm. 7/3. Middle sized. Correct body length. Well shaped head. Mid brown eyes. Good ears. Strong body and bone. Deep chest. Good coat and tail. Flexible movement. Pleasant temperament.
Evita: Open Exc2 6/4. Larger than ideal. Correct proportions. Light correctly shaped head. Light eyes. Good body. Light limb bone. Good coat and tail. Efficient movement. Calm temperament.
June 11, 2022: Pöytyä, Finland. Judge: Tarja Löfman -618 dogs, 106 breeds -8 rings -4 groups -4 Karelian Bear Dogs
Nalle: Jun Exc2 17 months. Junior with a strong body. Good bite. Still a bit light in muzzle. Good width of skull. Strong neck. Good forechest. Volumous chest. Could be stronger angulated in the front. A bit soft topline. A bit low tailset. Good reach but front movement is unstable. Good coat quality. 8/2
Evita: Open VG1 2.5 years. Correct type female. Good bite. Feminine head. Eyes could be darker. Limb bone could be stronger. Correct tail set. Good hind angulations. Forechest could be fuller. Moves with excellent reach. 8/2.
Nalle: Jun Exc1 CQ JCAC BM1 JBOB BOS EstJW'22 EstW'22 New titles: Estonian Junior winner '22 and Estonian Winner '22 Excellent type. Good size and format. Correct bite. Typical head. Good topline. Good angulations. Correct tailset. Free movement.
Evita: Open Exc1 CQ BB2 CAC RCACIB (will be confirmed by the FCI to CACIB). Estonian Champion! New title: Estonian Champion *to be confirmed by the FCI Excellent type. Good size. Correct bite. Good topline. Correct tailset and carriage. Good angulations. Excellent free movement.
June 4, 2022: Ylöjärvi, Finland. Judge: Reino Korpela -1517 dogs, 223 breeds -21 rings -10 groups -13 Karelian Bear Dogs Evita: Open Exc1 CQ BB3 CAC 54cm. 7/3. Larger than ideal. Good proportions. Enough strength. Beautiful lines of the head. Medium brown eyes. Slightly wide set ears. Good neck, chest, and hind end. Limbs are medium in strength. Good angulations. Good coat and tail. Moves effortlessly. Calm behavior.
Nalle: Jun Exc2 56cm. 7/3. Almost ideal size. Good proportions. Handsome male head. Ears slightly leaning forwards. Strong body. Good hind end. Fitting limb bone. Fitting angulations. Soft coat. Good tail. Moves effortlessly. Normal behavior.
May 29, 2022: Kontiolahti, Finland. Judge: Perttu Ståhlberg -1477 dog, 229 breeds -20 rings -10 groups -11 Karelian Bear Dogs Nalle: Jun Exc1 CQ JCAC BM2 CAC JBOS 57cm. Medium sized. Correct proportions. Good strength. Light eyes. Otherwise masculine head and expressions. Good ears, neck, and back. Fitting angulations. Shiny black coat, 9/1. Balanced movement.
Evita: Open Exc2 55cm. Large than average. Correct proportions. Too light in limb bones. Light eyes. Wide set ears. Good neck and back. Correct body shape. Shiny black coat 8/2. Good coat quality and tail. Balanced movement. Presents herself well.
May 28, 2022: Nousiainen, Finland. Judge: Matti Palojärvi -300 dog (limited entry), 52 breeds -4 rings -4 groups -6 Karelian Bear Dogs Nalle: Jun Exc1 CQ JCAC BM1 CAC BOS 57cm. Ideal size. Correct proportions. Strong body. Slightly light correct shaped head. Well positioned ears. Medium brown eyes. Deep chest. Good bone and angulations. Bright and clean colors. 7/3. Correct movement. Presents himself well.
Evita: Open Exc1 53.5cm. Larger than average. Correct proportions. 6/4. Slightly light head with good outlines. Wide set ears. Light eyes. Compact body. Light bone. Good angulations. Slightly cow hocked. Good coat and tail. Flexible movement. Calm temperament.
May 28, 2022: Riihimäki, Finland. Judge: Jari Fors -705 dogs, 103 breeds. -9 rings -3 groups -10 Karelian Bear Dogs Evita: Open Exc1 CQ BB1 CAC BOB! 54cm. 2.5 years. 8/2 color. Large in size. Good head and ears. Medium brown eyes. Throughly Excellent structure of body and limbs. Handsome tail. Excellent coat. Effortless and flexible movement. Correct temperament. Verbal remarks: well trained and conditioned dog that shows herself off perfectly. A delight to watch. Her top line is so firm and level one can place a teacup on her back while she moves and it will not spill. Nalle: Jun Exc2 58cm. 17 month. Slightly over ideal height. Just a hair too long in the body. Good head and ears. Medium brown eyes. Good neck. Still soft on the topline. Good limbs, tail, and coat. Light and effortless movement. Correct temperament.
May 26, 2022: Mynämäki, Finland. Judge: Markku Kipinä -589 dogs, 127 breeds. -16 rings -4 groups -7 Karelian Bear Dogs Evita: Open Exc1 CQ BB2 CAC 54cm. Excellent type bitch with good posture. Good top line. Good tail. Balanced angulations. Strong enough body and bone. Strong enough skull but muzzle could be fuller. Good bite. Eyes could be darker. Good temperament. Coat ok. Color 7/3. Moves with effortless ground coverage.
Nalle: Jun Exc2 57cm. Optimal sized male with Strong bone and body. Neck long enough but could be longer. Balanced angulations. Spacious, long chest. Strong skull. Full muscle. Ears and bite ok. Eyes could be darker. Good forechest. Color 8/2. Could carry his tail better "perkier". Croup slightly sloped. Enough reach. Slightly narrow from behind.
May 24, 2022: Susan, Evita, and Nalle flew overseas to begin their 6-week tour of Finland, Estonia, Sweden, and Spain!
May 21, 2022: Evita finished her Canadian Championship with a Group 4th under Rick Fehler at the FSJ Kennel Club Show.
April 10, 2022: We had the Finnish Kennel Club evaluate Evita's hip x-rays. They came back with the scoring of A/A.
March 26, 2022: Evita passed her OFA eye exam!
March 10-13, 2022: Mount Cheam Canine Association show in Chilliwack, BC. Rohmoivan Evita "Evita" and Silverado De La Fortea "Nalle" won Best Brace in show!
Jan 1, 2022: We hope you like our new website. We are looking forward to the 2022 dog show season, come follow us along on Facebook and Instagram!