One of the questions we get asked a lot (usually by curious guests while sipping a hot drink after a tour) is: “Where does the name Bearhill come from?” It’s a good question and like many good things, there’s a bit of a story behind it.

Bearhill Husky wasn’t just a name we picked off a list. It came from the actual places we’ve lived and worked with our dogs, and like most things in our kennel’s history, it started small and grew from there.

The First Bearhill – In the Deep Forests of Lieksa

When we first started out, we were based in Lieksa. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a vast, forested area in North Karelia; right on the eastern edge of Finland. Go as far east as you can in Finland, just before the signs start switching to Russian, and you’re about there.

Now, Lieksa is a big municipality by land area, but not in terms of population. In fact, only about 16,000 folks live there, and we didn’t even set up shop in town. Nope. We went further. Our first kennel was in a tiny, remote village called Kontiovaara. The name roughly translates to… you guessed it: Bearhill.

Here’s where it gets interesting. In Finnish folklore, the word Otso (bear) was considered taboo. People believed that saying it out loud might summon the bear spirit, not something you wanted to casually invite over for tea. So instead, there are dozens of other words for bear in Finnish, including Karhu, Nalle, Mesikämmen and Kontio, like in Kontiovaara. So even the place names tiptoe around the word.

The Second Bearhill – A Coincidence? Maybe. A Sign? Definitely.

In those early days, we spent part of the year in Lieksa and part of the winter season working up north. We’d load up the dogs and head to Lapland, helping out bigger kennels during the crazy Christmas rush. It was a great experience, and it gave us insight into what it really takes to run a larger operation.

Eventually, one of those big Lapland companies invited us to work more permanently. They had a kennel in a place called Karhuvaara, which also translates to Bearhill. (We know. What are the chances?)

It felt like a sign. Two completely different parts of Finland. Two different stages of our journey. Yet both rooted in places named Bearhill. So, we stopped overthinking it. We were Bearhill Husky now. Simple as that.

Wait, Weren’t You Called Something Else First?

Ah yes… the original name. We laugh about it now.

When we first registered our business, we went with the very practical (and very clunky) name: Karelia Dogsledding and Outdoor. It sounded serious. We were doing sled tours, but also a lot of rafting and outdoor guiding, so we wanted something that reflected all that.

It didn’t take long for us to realize that it was a bit of a mouthful and didn’t exactly roll off the tongue with ease.

Bearhill Husky had a much better ring to it. It was rooted in our story. It was memorable. It stuck. So, we started using it for all our marketing.

Later, when we transitioned into a limited liability company, we had to pick something slightly different. So, we chose Kontiovaaran Husky as our official, legal name. However, one nice thing about Finnish law, is that it allows you use a translated name for marketing purposes.

So just like that, Bearhill Husky became our brand, our identity, and our story.

More Than a Name

Bearhill Husky isn’t just where we started. It’s how we started — together, with muddy boots, a few good dogs, and a lot of learning by doing.

It’s tied to two real places, both of which shaped the way we work with dogs, with people, and with nature. It’s also a little nod to Finnish folklore, and to the idea that some names find you — not the other way around.

So next time you visit, and you’re sitting by the fire with a cup of something warm, feel free to ask again. We love telling this story.

— Veronika & Valentijn