Allowing elk hunting again in 1933 after conservation efforts that had taken place in Finland made it possible to test dogs with an interest in elk. Initially, there were only a few trials per year, so testing the breeding material was of very little significance. The early enthusiasm for the breed that was formed in 1946 was strong but began to fade out by the late 1950's due to disappointing results. Only a few dogs in the population could be classified as good elkhounds. Testing dogs progressed slowly due to the small number of trials and kills. Excessive focus on appearance also threatened to hinder the breed's development of becoming a good working dog. Eventually, many enthusiasts advocated strongly and with flying pens in defence of the working traits of our domestic, large game hunting dog.
The first rules for elk hunting trials were approved on 22nd May 1943 and the first elk hunting trial was held in Kitee on 3rd and 4th November 1945. Dogs that participated in that trial were Kyttä, Saida, and Selki. The second trials were held in Kytäjä on 26th and 27th October 1946. The participants were Musti, Ahmon Nalle, and Selki. It wasn’t until around 1955 that there were about ten trials per year, but since the elk population remained low and the terrain was vast, only a few dogs could be accepted to participate in each trial.
This situation is well illustrated by the fact that it took five years for the breed’s first double champion, Kyttä, to earn its champion title due to the limited number of trials. Kyttä obtained its first first-prize result already at the first trial in Kitee, Eastern Finland in 1945, but achieved the third result required for the working champion title only in 1950 at trials held in Oulu, Northern Finland. Kyttä’s owner was forced to travel quite long distances with vehicles of the time to take Kyttä to trials, as he lived in Laukaa, Central Finland. Testing the breeding material progressed very slowly since there was a limited number of trials and a low number of kills made in practical hunting situations. This made it impossible to do strict enough breeding selection between good and bad breeding material, which hindered the development of a working dog population with a good hunting drive.
Kyttä’s double champion titles a jackpot for the young breed
Kyttä (1170/X) got his first trial result at the first ever elk hunting trial held in Kitee in 1945. However, the third result required for the working champion title was only achieved in Oulu in 1950. According to Major Olli Korhonen, who served as chief judge and Kyttä’s field judge at that trial, the dog sought well; after taken it off the lead, the search went on for 40 minutes and the dog located elk after 57 minutes on its second search round. Three elks ran away with Kyttä going after them in moving bark, finally making them stay at bay for 65 minutes. Kyttä’s owner Rikhard Sotamaa and businessman Hyry, who served as the second judge, saw the elks, but the shooter at the trial, Director Mehtälä, managed to make them run away when trying for a kill. Kyttä followed the runaway elks for about a kilometre but reported back to the group and returned to work once it had made sure that its master was still in the game. During the trial period, the dog followed runaway elks for a total of 8 kilometres, and a steady bark was heard for about three hours. Working like this, the dog would be successful even with modern day rules for elk hunting trials. However, one must remember that this was the son of Antti Herrala‘s Ukko (dam: Winkka, owner Vilho Pajatso, Salmi).
Kyttä becoming a double champion was considered to have happened mostly because of the dog’s natural gifts. Doctor Rikhard Sotamaa’s (kennel Reijon) work as a dog trainer was also credited, but the dog’s frequent use in practical elk hunting was not considered. Kyttä’s champion title gave the breed much needed recognition at the right time and was noticed visibly. The Finnish Kennel Club’s first Executive Director V.I.Mikkonen wrote three pages in the club’s publication, writing for instance:
“When we consider our extensive hound population and the lively trial activities for hounds, or the increased number of working dog trials, it is understandable that we get breeding jackpots such as double champions – dogs where excellent working traits have been combined with a great appearance. Having already had a dog, that is of high international class both to its type and construction and a hunting dog for the most majestic big game in Europe, the elk, rise from our youngest domestic breed is one of those achievements that strengthen our faith in Finnish breeding work. Only those who have hunted elk with dogs or have served as field judge at elk hunting trials can truly understand what it means to become a working champion based on elk hunting trials. The number of trials held is low for the time being, there is not much game and the game that is available is shy, smart, has good senses, is able to move long distances in a fast pace and often lives in difficult terrain. Chance does not play with external conditions in any other trial form in the same way as it does in elk hunting trials” (Finnish Kennel Club’s magazine 12/1950, pages 445–447)
Mikkonen was one of our first elk trial judges and judged for instance Selki in Kytäjä in 1946.
Quick increase and decrease in registrations
In 1951, the number of registrations exceeded a hundred for the first time, 106 registrations. The numbers continued to increase and finally exceeded 1000 registrations in 1963. A massive decrease followed in the mid 1960’s when the numbers dropped in half. The breed’s situation shifted depending on how one looked at it: the appearance developed promisingly as it was the main focus in breeding, but results regarding working traits were weak and the hunting drive was low. The suitability to be recorded in the breed registry was measured only at dog shows, where the dog had to receive one first or second prize, or two third prizes from different judges. The spiral dive of the breed was sped up by the increased number of show line breeders, who had no interest in developing traits of a working dog. Lauri Vuolasvirta, an authority figure in dog breeding who also served as breeding advisor for Karelian Bear Dogs, brought up this problem in his article “Guidelines for breeding Karelian Bear Dogs”, published in the Finnish Kennel Club’s magazine 12/1952:
“When considering the breed’s future, aspects regarding appearance should be put aside for a while. Instead, we should try our best to salvage the hunting blood that can now be found in the best working dogs of the breed and put it to use in all individuals.”
A stronger elk population and the fact that hunting had become more common increased the demand for suitable elkhounds. The Karelian Bear Dog did not convince back then, resulting in importation and breeding of alternative Nordic breeds. As the number of Karelian Bear Dog registrations decreased in the mid 1960’s, only the most passionate, long-time bear dog enthusiasts and kennels were left to do the work with a clear goal of building a working dog. Erkki Hyttinen summarized the situation in the Finnish Spitz Association’s 20-year-anniversery publication in 1958:
“What is needed is more and more hard workers, workers who feel responsible for the continuous development of the breed so that the majority of individuals are also used as working dogs” (SPJ 20-year-anniversery publication, page 134).
Competitive elkhound, or only a beautiful show champion and companion dog?
The Finnish Kennel Club’s Board discussed in January 1954 the possibility to remove trial result requirements from Karelian Bear Dogs that competed in winner class in dog shows, and to grant show champion titles without requiring trial results. This decision would have resulted in transferring Karelian Bear Dogs to the companion dog class and made breeders and enthusiasts of working bloodlines to come to a quite direct attack. The discussion was started by M.Sc. (Eng) Ahto Virrankoski, who bred dogs under the kennel name Pöyröön and owned several champion dogs, including Pöyröön Romulus (1462/53) and the first Karelian Bear Dog working champion female Pöyröön Mörkö. Virrankoski wrote down his thoughts which were published in the Finnish Kennel Club’s magazine no. 4/1954:
“I doubt that barely anyone finds that the situation mentioned in the title promotes dog breeding. Eliminating trial result requirements is a big step backwards. It shows lack of faith. Have we done everything in our power to cherish and develop working traits of Karelian Bear Dogs, so that there are strong solid grounds for giving up this work? This writer dares to say that the breeding of working traits in Karelian Bear Dogs has hardly even started. The Karelian Bear Dog has a majestic appearance and is a fashionable figure, and has therefore spread to circles where there is no intention of using it for hunting. People have tried to hunt with an untrained dog and have failed miserably, which has then led to destruction of the breed’s reputation as a hunting dog. A huntsman needs a dog that is useful, for hunting game in particular. What actions have been taken to correct the situation? Actions have been taken indeed. It has been decided that the maximum height of a Karelian Bear Dog female is 55 cm, whereas the maximum height for a male is 61 cm. We have also learned to check from the coat if the dog is a true champion individual. We must, with force and haste, appreciate more those dogs that are of use also in the forest. In shows, the interests of working dogs have been taken care of with working class, which is also meant to be changed to benefit hunting. Breeding working dogs must also be taken further to Progeny and Breeder’s classes. In other words: we must force the producers of working dogs to cherish working traits. If this is not enough, let’s send year after year men who show only show stars to the yearly specialty shows for bear dogs. Now that the brakes are off, it is a suitable time to start the real work for breeding working dogs.”
Other passionate and devoted writers who spoke on behalf of working bear dogs include Viljo Kivikko, Rikhard Sotamaa, Jaakko Simonlinna and Pekka Luoto as well as Antti Tanttu. Erkki Ahmo (kennel Ahmon), the breeder of for instance Ahmon Vorna (owner Viljo Kivikko), wrote about bear dog female Tuija. When Tuija was under 8 months old, it put five black grouse at bay for successful kills and was also used to retrieve mallards. It met its first elk at the age of nine months and started barking. The article undermined the conception of bear dogs lacking in hunting drive and finding it only after becoming more mature. (The Finnish Kennel Club’s magazine 2/1954, pages 39–47) Even Antti Herrala himself took the pen and wrote a letter to the editors of the Finnish Kennel Club’s magazine 2/1955:
“…Some writers have lately started to criticize this ancient good hunting dog. People have also started to avoid bobtailed dogs, as if they had less hunting drive in comparison with dogs that have full-length tails.”
The text is a passage from historical texts written by Eila Lautanen, published in the 80th Anniversary History of the Finnish Spitz Association, Suomen Pystykorvajärjestö – Finska Spetsklubben ry. It was published in 2018. Oral history: Esko Nummijärvi
Photographs are from the collections of the Finnish Kennel Foundation and the Hunting Museum of Finland.
