Which is Better between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog?

Last Updated: May 01, 2022

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Miniature Schnauzer Versus Karelian Bear Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer or the Karelian Bear Dog.

Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog: Overview

A very important difference between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Miniature Schnauzer is a small-sized dog while the Karelian Bear Dog is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Miniature Schnauzer belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

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.

Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog

FactorMiniature SchnauzerKarelian Bear Dog
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Weight11 to 20 pounds44 to 50 pounds
Life Span12 to 14 years10 to 13 years
Height13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder19 to 24 inches
Does NOT Shed4/53/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Does NOT chew on things4/52/5
Good For Novice Owners3/51/5
Kid-Friendly3/53/5
Dog Friendly3/51/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/52/5
General Health3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/51/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/52/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/54/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Low Prey Drive2/51/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Tolerates Being Alone5/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Easy To Train5/52/5
NOT Rambunctious1/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/52/5
Average Lifespan13.0 years11.5 years
Average Price$1950$1490
Price Range$1400 – $2500$1400 – $1790
Temperament Score79.3 percent100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Mycobacterium Avian Complex
  • Myotonia Congenita
  • No Data
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer is 82 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 Miniature Schnauzer is a better pet than the Karelian Bear Dog. So, you should get a Miniature Schnauzer!

    Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog

    Below is a list of where the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog are most different:

  • Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems. However, Karelian Bear Dogs do not like to be left alone.
  • Miniature Schnauzers are very easy to train. However, Karelian Bear Dogs are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog

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

  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog are very playful.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size Comparison of the Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog.

    The Miniature Schnauzer weighs 11 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Miniature Schnauzer is 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Karelian Bear Dog weighs 44 to 50 pounds when fully grown. The Karelian Bear Dog is 19 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Miniature Schnauzer versus Size of Karelian Bear Dog

    Appearance (Colors) of the Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog

    Miniature Schnauzer Colors

    The Miniature Schnauzer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Bicolor
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    The Miniature Schnauzer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    Karelian Bear Dog Colors

    The Karelian Bear Dog comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Black
    • Bicolor

    The Karelian Bear Dog comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream

    Lifespan of Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

    The lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is 13.0 years.

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

    The Miniature Schnauzer live longer than the Karelian Bear Dog.

    Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Temperament of the Karelian Bear Dog Versus the Miniature Schnauzer

    The Karelian Bear Dog has a better temperament than the Miniature Schnauzer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Karelian Bear Dog is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Miniature Schnauzer is 79.3 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 79.3 percent, the Miniature Schnauzer has a below-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 Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog by measuring the temperaments of 116 Miniature Schnauzers and 3 Karelian Bear Dogs.

    Price of Miniature Schnauzer versus Price of Karelian Bear Dog

    The average price of the Miniature Schnauzer puppy is $1950. The price of the Miniature Schnauzer typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of a Miniature Schnauzer can be as low as $500 and as high as $8500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 913 Miniature Schnauzer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Karelian Bear Dog puppy is $1490. The price of the Karelian Bear Dog typically ranges from $1400 – $1790. However, the price of the Karelian Bear Dog can be as low as $900 and as high as $1790. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 13 Karelian Bear Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Miniature Schnauzer is more expensive than the Karelian Bear Dog.

    Miniature Schnauzer Karelian Bear Dog
    Average Price $1950 $1490
    Price Range $1400 to $2500 $1400 to $1790

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Miniature Schnauzer and Karelian Bear Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Miniature Schnauzer puppies or how many Karelian Bear Dog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Schnauzers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Schnauzers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Karelian Bear Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Karelian Bear Dogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Miniature Schnauzer puppy or the Karelian Bear Dog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Adopting the Miniature Schnauzer versus Adopting the Karelian Bear Dog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Miniature Schnauzers and many Karelian Bear Dogs are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Miniature Schnauzer named Max that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Miniature Schnauzers like Max on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Miniature Schnauzers, Karelian Bear Dogs are also available for adoption. For example, Marshall is a Male Karelian Bear Dog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Karelian Bear Dogs like Marshall that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Scotty is the name of another Miniature Schnauzer (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Miniature Schnauzers and Karelian Bear Dogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Miniature Schnauzer versus Karelian Bear Dog

    Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Miniature Schnauzers shed more than Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Miniature Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Karelian Bear Dogs shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Miniature Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

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

    Are Miniature Schnauzers good family dogs? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Miniature Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Miniature Schnauzer Easier to Train than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Miniature Schnauzers are very easy to train.

    Karelian Bear Dogs are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Karelian Bear Dog

    Miniature Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Miniature Schnauzers and Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Miniature Schnauzer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Miniature Schnauzers 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 Miniature Schnauzers Bark and Howl? What about Karelian Bear Dogs?

    Miniature Schnauzers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Miniature Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Karelian Bear Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Miniature Schnauzer vs. Karelian Bear Dog

    Miniature Schnauzers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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 Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Karelian Bear Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Miniature Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Miniature Schnauzer Better for Apartment Owners than the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Miniature Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Karelian Bear Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Karelian Bear Dog?

    Miniature Schnauzers are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Miniature Schnauzer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Miniature Schnauzer compares to other breeds aside from the Karelian Bear Dog. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Miniature Schnauzer to other breeds:

    Miniature Schnauzer versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Miniature Schnauzer versus Norwegian Lundehund     Miniature Schnauzer versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Miniature Schnauzer versus Bracco Italiano     Miniature Schnauzer versus French Bulldog     Miniature Schnauzer versus Barbet     Miniature Schnauzer versus Irish Terrier     Miniature Schnauzer versus Aussiedoodle     Miniature Schnauzer versus Miniature Pinscher     Miniature Schnauzer versus Borzoi     Miniature Schnauzer versus Field Spaniel     Miniature Schnauzer versus Sloughi     Miniature Schnauzer versus Irish Setter     Miniature Schnauzer versus Australian Terrier     

    Conclusion: Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer and the Karelian Bear Dog better suits you and your family.