Wind river bear institute

Karelian Bear Dog Puppies
F.A.Q.Apply now

Wind River Karelian Bear Dogs

The Wind River Bear Institute – Karelian Bear Dog Partners have been breeding, testing, training, and handling Karelian Bear Dogs (KBD) for human-wildlife conflict work since 1996. We breed for health and confirmation with an emphasis on producing KBDs of good temperament with people and dogs, genetic and physical health, and working aptitude with large and potentially dangerous wildlife. We are the premier provider of working KBDs with private, state, provincial, and federal programs in the USA, Canada, and Japan.

Wind River KBD Puppy Placement

Socialization, Testing & Evaluation to match
Personality and Natural Skill Sets with owners
  • We conduct a breeding once we have a pool of qualified applicants Click Here to Apply Now!
  • We begin socializing our pups extensively with all types of people at 3 weeks and test all of our puppies between 8 – 10 weeks of age for working aptitude and personality match with committed owners.
  • We separate our dogs into “Bear Conflict”, “Bear Protection”, and “Companion” dogs for placement. The testing process builds their boldness, initiates the pup’s training on basic field commands, identifies future training needs, and introduces each puppy to black, brown, and polar bear, cougar, deer, elk, and moose (species differ based on kennel location).
  • We require that each new owner go through a 3 day owner transfer training in which we allow you to become familiar with your pup, the training that we have initiated, our holistic health and vaccination schedule, our training philosophy and commands that the dog will be learning, why we selected this pup for placement with you, and we allow time for you to walk with some of the other puppies or fully trained “Wildlife K-9s”.
  • Each puppy comes with a Puppy Book detailing all this information, additional information about the breed, and inclusion in our Program.
  • We conduct Penn Hip testing for hip displasia, OFA testing for elbow dysplasia, and Optimal Selection genetic testing for all breeding pairs. We conduct physical examinations of pups prior to placement.
  • The cost of the pup and 3 days of owner transfer training is $4,000 and we recommend a $500 puppy kit for new owners. This includes necessary items such as a crate, cable tie outs, food bowls etc. We are flexible on the puppy kit but we require that you own these items for the well-being of your puppy and success of your Partnership.
  • We provide life-long advice on training and health of all of our dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you sell kbds?

Upon receiving a sufficient pool of qualified applicants, we breed our top “Bear Conflict” level KBDs to produce a litter. We rigorously test each litter through our 2-3 week “Puppy Testing and Evaluation in the Field for Personality and Natural Skill sets” which allows us to know who each pup is and what it wants to do with its life.  We then match pups to potential owner applicants. Through this process we separate our dogs into “Bear Conflict”, “Bear Protection”, and “Companion” Dog categories. two-week “Bear Test” in which we separate our dogs into “Bear Conflict”, “Bear Protection”, and “Companion” Dog categories. Bear Conflict dogs are to be placed in a working capacity with wildlife professionals for training to become “Wildlife K-9.” Bear Protection dogs are placed with people living or recreating in bear country for bear protection purposes. Companion dogs are placed with individuals that are not interested in using their KBD for application with bear. If you are interested in becoming part of our Program, fill out our KBD Owner Application and begin the ownership process today!

should I own a kbd?
Karelian Bear Dogs do not make great pets. They are high-energy working dogs that are bred to go out and hunt. They are generally considered to be difficult dogs to train and they do not do well in urban settings. KBDs need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. It is important that they are thoroughly socialized with both people and dogs to ensure that they are not fearful or aggressive. KBDs are notorious in some areas for running away and harassing wildlife and livestock. It is important that KBDs have a loving home with lots of fenced in area to patrol in order to prevent them from becoming a nuisance to neighbors, both human and animal. KBDs are best suited for rural settings with owners that are familiar with the breed and willing to spend an above-average amount of time training and socializing their dog. They are very loyal to their owner and can be good family dogs.
What is a Wildlife K-9?
Wildlife K-9s (WK-9) are specially trained working dogs, predominantly Karelian Bear Dogs, that assist our Human-Wildlife Conflict Specialists to work safely and effectively with large and potentially dangerous wildlife. Wildlife K-9s are able to track and alert on the presence or sign of target wildlife, pursue and push large game, act as a non-lethal last resort to deter aggressive wildlife, and act as ambassadors for the animal kingdom in outreach and education events. Our WK-9s are exclusively used for conservation purposes and applied management. They are unique in that they are able to both detect and indicate on scent, but also push large and potentially dangerous wildlife away from human-occupied space in a safe and effective way. Our WK-9s are especially friendly towards people and are forbidden to be used for arresting or detaining human subjects. WK-9s are an incredible tool for wildlife conservation in that they can go from pushing a grizzly bear off of a school playground to visiting with the children at the school to promote bear safety and awareness!
How do you train Widlife K-9?

The WRBI has developed a specialty working dog aptitude test for wildlife application through the production of 20 litters over the past 26 years of operation. Over the course of two weeks, our pups are tested for working potential and personality traits for appropriate placement as “Bear Conflict” “Bear Protection” or “Companion” dog to match the needs of their owners. Throughout our testing process, no dogs “fail” but we are very selective about which dogs we qualify as showing the correct genetic traits for placement for Wildlife K-9 Training. We build boldness throughout the testing process for every one of our pups so that, by the end of the testing process, each pup is more confident than they were before. We begin initiating field command training and we evaluate each pup’s future training needs for transfer to their new owners. Each puppy comes with training and health recommendations, our holistic vaccination schedule, and guidelines for effective training and socialization of KBD. Our pup’s come with our life-long support and professional advice. There is a reason why the WRBI produces the best working KBDs and the most socialized dogs around; We begin socializing our pups at a young age to ensure that they are trusting of both people and children. We place our KBDs with qualified applicants. Contact us today to begin your adoption process!

Can all KBDs work bear?

No. The Karelian Bear Dog is a primitive hunting breed that is used primarily for hunting small game and moose, with specialty working lines able to bay a grizzly bear. Approximately 20% of a litter produced from a lineage of grizzly bear hunting lines will have the ability to safely and effectively work bear. It is crucial that we test every litter of puppies that we produce from proven lines of bear hunting KBD to ensure that we are selecting the best possible dogs to be placed and trained as “Wildlife K-9”.  The WRBI is the #1 source of working KBDs throughout North America and Japan due to our rigorous testing procedure and high-standard for our “Bear Conflict” level working dogs.

 

Apply Now

For a lifetime partnership with a Wind River KBD, matched to you and your needs, click on the link below and fill out the application or contact WindRiver@BearDogs.org. We only breed once we have a pool of applicants so your commitment can help initiate production of a litter!

Application

Donate Now

Contribute to our cause by donating to our programs. All donations will go towards continuing the important work that we do throughout North America and Japan. Your generous donations will help to continue and expand the use of working KBDs to keep wildlife on the landscape!

we can make a difference

wind river bear institute

Wildlife K-9 Programs

Karelian Bear Dogs Help Protect Wildlife

WRBI has produced, tested, placed, and trained KBDs and Handlers for wildlife agencies throughout North America and Japan since 1996. We are on a mission to reduce human-caused bear mortality and human-wildlfe conflict world wide. Pictured below are Program Members of ours. Contact us today to initiate a program in your region!

Raising a Karelian Bear Dog