Akita. Often referred to as a "silent hunter," the Akita is a quiet yet temperamental dog that can often be difficult to train. It is the largest Japanese spitz breed and has a subtle bear-like quality with its thick coat and rounded ears.
Chow Chows undeniably look like big, giant teddy bears, but if not trained properly they can be highly protective of their owners and suspicious of strangers.
Shiba Inu Appearance
Sturdy in build, and resembling a smaller version of the Japanese Akita, the Shiba has a soft undercoat covered in a hard, straight topcoat. As for the Shiba Inu colours, the most common one is red, but you might also see them in black and tan or sesame colour.
The Karelian Bear Dog is a medium-sized spitz with a dense coat, but his standards are closer to that of non-spitz dogs such as the Samoyed and Siberian Husky, though the similarities end there. Bred to hunt large, aggressive game by himself, his build reflects his duties.
Wary of strangers and often intolerant of other animals, Akitas will gladly share their silly, affectionate side with family and friends. They thrive on human companionship. The large, independent-thinking Akita is hardwired for protecting those they love.
The Akita is a good breed for families with older children, less so for families with smaller children. It also has the tendency to chase small animals around and exhibit some aggression toward other dogs, so you should be careful about introducing this breed into your home if you already have pets.
Akitas are known for their attentiveness and clever personalities. Their build and size also makes them powerful guard dogs. Like Chow Chows, they can become suspicious of strangers, guests, and even other pets. Their love for their families is what fuels their protectiveness.
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiffs were originally bred to protect sheep from wolves and (you guessed it) bears in the Himalayan Mountains, so perhaps it's not surprising that they're so bear-like themselves!
Samoyed. The Samoyed is a spitz breed that originated in the Siberian area of Russia. Strong and intelligent, these dogs were bred to pull sleds on polar expeditions. Today, they make affectionate and playful family pets that look a bit like small polar bears with their thick, white coats and equally fluffy tails.
The Newfoundland dog is a giant breed that is hard to miss. This massive dog breed with black or dark brown fur is often mistaken for a bear. It is considered the gentle giant of the dog world.
Arguably the most popular Japanese breed, the Shiba Inu is a Japanese national treasure. The Shiba is the smallest of the spitz breed of dogs in Japan.
Tosa Inu. The largest of all Japanese breeds, the Tosa inu is a rare Japanese mastiff-type breed that was bred to become an ultimate fighting dog.
In fact, the Akita is closely linked to the wolf and is actually part of the Spitz family. In Japan, they were used for fighting, pulling sleds, and for hunting large prey, like bears and wild boars.
Toy poodles are the smallest type of poodle, making them look especially like teddy bears. They look basically the same as standard poodles, just shrunken down.
Boo became a true influencer and his “Teddy Bear” hairstyle one of the cuts most copied by other Pomeranians. He has become so famous that Hollywood stars are competing to have their photos taken with him. And that's not all!
What is a teddy bear dog? As their name suggests, teddy bear dogs are incredibly cute and cuddly animals. However, they aren't an actual type of breed. These pets get their moniker from having the same features — soft coats, button noses, and loving eyes — as the beloved toy.
Best Bear Hunting Dog Breeds
Hounds such as the Plott, Walker, redtick, bluetick, black and tan, and redbone are all capable of pursuing bears. In recent years, breeders have built their own line of bear dogs with a mixture of these breeds. Most any dog bred to track or tree game could potentially be a good bear dog.
Newfoundland Dog
The Newfoundland breed originated in Newfoundland, Canada. They are giant and powerful, but friendly dogs. Black and white Newfoundland dogs are common, but they can also be brown and grey.
Before you go looking for one, let's get this out of the way—a panda dog is not a breed. It's a regular dog that's been groomed and colored to look like a panda bear. The panda-dog craze originated in China, with dog-lovers lining up outside a pet store in Sichuan province to buy dogs resembling pandas.
Keeshond
If you're looking for a medium-sized bear dog breed that's a loving companion and a loyal family dog, the Keeshond ticks all the boxes.
Tibetan Mastiff
This breed can stand up to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh well over 100 pounds, according to American Kennel Club, so make sure you have plenty of room for this behemoth bear of a dog.
Bear dogs became extinct 5 million to 10 million years ago.
They are not typically aggressive toward people, but have highly developed protection instincts and care should be taken when unfamiliar people enter your home. As for children in the home, the Akita will be as loyal toward them as any family member.
Can the American Akita be a dangerous dog? Yes, it can be very dangerous, but this does not depend on the dog. It is up to you, the socialization tools you teach him, and his training. The American Akita is a breed very loved by all dog lovers, since they tend to make their owners feel a lot of protection.
1. German shepherd. This breed is Hack's first choice in terms of family guard dogs. She says: “For protection, security, and a family dog, I would say a German shepherd is probably the best choice.”