Bears look quite cuddly, but they aren’t. We know that bears can be very dangerous and can kill a human being. Although some have bears as pets, you shouldn’t get one. Bears can not only kill people, but other animals as well. But, a dog that looks like a bear is a much better option. They’re much smaller than an actual bear and are less aggressive. These dog breeds we will talk about all look a lot like bears!
Samoyed
The Samoyed looks a lot like a polar bear. These dogs are about 19-23.5 inches tall and live for 12-14 years. They enjoy exercise and their coat should be brushed daily to keep it looking the best. Unfortunately, these dogs shed constantly, so they’re not a dog for someone who doesn’t like dog hair all over their house. The AKC recommends the following health tests; Ophthalmologist Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, PRA Optigen DNA Test, and a Cardiac Exam.
Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is a medium-sized dog breed that gets 17-20 inches tall and weighs 45-70 pounds. These dogs live for around 8-12 years. Both the rough and smooth-coat varieties of these dogs require regular grooming and need a moderate amount of exercise to keep them healthy. Health conditions that these dogs can get include eyelid entropion, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and allergies.
Barbet
The Barbet is a dog breed that looks similar to a brown bear and also like a teddy bear! These dogs get about 19-24.5 inches tall and live for 12-14 years. Barbets can withstand colder temperatures, so if you do live in a cold area, consider the Barbet.
Their nails should be trimmed and teeth should be brushed if you want to keep these dogs looking their best. They are generally healthy, but they can have PRA/PRCD and Diluted Factor.
Gaddi Kutta
The Gaddi Kutta, sometimes confused with the Tibetan Mastiff, is a fairly large dog breed that looks similar to a bear. They are considered to be fairly friendly for a dog of it’s size. They require a lot of exercise, so if you a very athletic person, consider the Gaddi Kutta.
These dogs live for around 10-12 years. They are quite intelligent dogs and should be easier to train. They are not suited for apartment life unfortunately, so if you do live in an apartment, the Gaddi Kutta probably isn’t for you.
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a large dog breed that gets around 23-30 inches tall and weighs anywhere from 90-170 pounds. These dogs live have a shorter lifespan of 10-12 years, which is usually a side-effect for larger dog breeds such as this one.
THese dogs are usually healthy, but should be exercised daily and do best in a large yard. There are a variety of coat types for these dog. The long coat variety needs to be groomed daily.
Newfoundland Dog
The Newfoundland Dog is a large dog breed. These dogs get around 26-28 inches tall and weighs 100-150 pounds! These dogs unfortunately only live for about 9-10 years. They are affectionate and should be groomed once a week. Recommended health tests include Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and a Cystinuria DNA Test.
Estrela Mountain Dog
The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large dog breed. These dogs are around 24.5-29 inches tall and weighs anywhere from 77-132 pounds. These dogs are affectionate, but they should be watched when they’re around other dogs. They should be groomed weekly and a bath wouldn’t hurt every now and again. They are a fairly calm dog breed, but should still have plenty of exercise.
Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is a large dog breed that looks similar to a bear and can tolerate cold weather. These dogs are around 2 feet tall and weigh anywhere from 75-160 pounds. The Tibetan Mastiff can’t tolerate being alone well. They live for around 10-14 years which is just below the average lifespan for a dog.
Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres is a medium-sized dog breed that is around 23.5-27.5 inches tall. These dogs live for around 10-12 years and weigh about 70-110 pounds when they’re full-grown. They need plenty of exercise and activities. This is crucial as they can be destructive when they’re bored. Recommended health tests for these dogs include Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and a Cystinuria DNA Test.
Bush Dog
The Bush Dog is a small canine that lives for around 10 years. Although this canine isn’t your average dog, it does look a lot like a bear. These dogs are very rare. In fact, the Bush Dog almost went extinct in the past. These dogs are found in Northern South America and are nicknamed “Zorro” which means fox.
As you can see, there are a number of different dog breeds that actually do look similar to bears. A lot of these dog breeds are large and some even have a brown coat like brown bears do.
Understand That These Dogs Are Still Dogs
Although a dog may look similar to another animal, it can never look exactly like a bear. As you can see, basically all of these dogs still look like dogs. But, dogs can still look similar to bears. Dogs can have large, bulky structure which gives them an intimidating appearance almost like a bear has and may look similar when it comes to the type of their coat. But, dogs can never look exactly like a bear.
Check Out These Articles!
- Top 10 Italian Dog Breeds
- Top 10 Beautiful Dog Breeds That Look Like Wolves (With Pictures)
- Pugs 101 – The Basics of Caring for Pugs
- Top 10 Small Cats According to Weight
- 5 Reasons To Get A Dog
Resources:
Dog Time
The Smart Canine
Gaddi Kutta Dog: Temperament, Origins & Care – Guide to the Himalayan Sheepdog
AKC
Animalia
