As a result, the Russo-European Laika became even more similar to the Karelian Bear Dog and many healthy and excellent hunting dogs were excluded out of the breed. The Karelian Bear Dog now existing in the USA originated as a result of importation of Karelian Bear Dogs from Finland and Russo-European Laikas from Russia. Some dogs from Russia were registered in the USA as Karelian Bear Dogs and some as Russo-European Laikas and often both were bred as one breed. Indeed, differences between the two breeds are very subtle. Below, I offer brief descriptions of differences which may be found between the two breeds, according to their official standards.
Color is black and white, with all proportions from totally black to pure white.
Russians do not mention anything like the brown shade and allow their dogs to be glossy black, black with brown shade, especially if they are slightly bleached by the sun in the summer, black and white or totally white. In the most recent Russo-European Laika standard, black ticking on legs and head is considered less desirable. Among aboriginal dogs I observed in North Ural, black ticking was very common. This unnecessary restriction will also exclude many healthy, good dogs out of the breed. Among puppies from dogs of Russian origin, gray, red and other colors still are occasionally recorded.