- This article is about the species that first appeared in The Legend of Korra. For the similar species that appeared in Avatar: The Last Airbender, see polar dog.
The polar bear dog is a large, white-furred mammal that inhabits the Northern[1] and Southern Water Tribe. It has historically been feared and hunted by members of the Water Tribe for its perception as a menacing beast. The most notable polar bear dog was Avatar Korra's animal guide, Naga, the first known member of the species to be properly tamed.[2][3]
History[]
As early as the Era of Yangchen, the polar bear dog garnered considerable intimidation across the four nations. In year 8 of the era, for example, Kavik, a member of the Northern Water Tribe, shuddered upon remembering the way scraps of wasted meat flew across the snow when he witnessed a polar bear dog feeding on a carcass.[1] In year 11 of the era, meanwhile, Jetsun, a member of the Western Air Temple, reminded a young Yangchen of the bravery she possessed to remain unperturbed when a polar bear dog belonging to the Southern Chieftain ate food directly out of her hand three years earlier.[4]
By the Era of Korra, the polar bear dog continued to command a formidable reputation, as when a young Korra was warned sometime after her identification as the Avatar in 157 AG[5][6] not to go looking for one because of her parents certainty it would gorge itself on her without a second thought. Undeterred, Korra ventured into the snow later that night, where she found and befriended a pup missing the rest of her pack. The pup, which Korra named Naga, went on to accompany the Avatar on her subsequent adventures as her best friend and animal companion.[3][7]
Anatomy[]
The polar bear dog's front legs are stocky and muscular in contrast to its more slender hind legs. It is covered in a thick white fur coat, which helps it stay warm and camouflage in the harsh climates of its natural arctic habitat. The polar bear dog has a long tail that helps it balance when standing on its thinner hind legs,[8] an elongated snout with a black nose adept at picking up scents,[9][10] and large, bear-like teeth adapted for tearing into carcasses.[1][11] Its face is framed by two floppy ears that grant it an acute sense of hearing[12][10] and black eyes well-suited for vision in low-light environments.[9] Polar bear dogs are extremely strong creatures and can break through metal using their front paws.[13] Although evolved for perpetual cold, they do not show discomfort at spending prolonged periods of time in more temperate regions.[3]
Behavior[]
Wild polar bear dogs are social creatures that live in packs and are known for their vicious behavior, such as by growling when they feel threatened and roaring when they seek to intimidate.[3][14][11] Despite their aggressive nature, at least two members of the species were known to co-exist with humans to varying extents, a Southern Chieftain once owning a specimen obedient enough to eat food directly out of Yangchen's hand when she was eight[4] and Korra later managing to tame one she found as a pup.[3] When fully tamed, as was the case for Korra, polar bear dogs act more akin to domesticated dogs, such as by licking or nuzzling to show affection and wagging their tail or playing fetch to show excitement.[15] Their large size and loyal nature upon taming also make them useful mounts for crossing the snowy plains of the polar regions.[5]
Connection[]
This animal is a conjuncture of the real life polar bear and a Labrador retriever. It has the body, head, and fore legs of a polar bear, but the jowls, ears, hind legs, and tail of a dog. Like a polar bear, the large front paws help it to distribute loads when walking on snow or thin ice. It can also stand on its hind feet like a polar bear, but to make up for the lack of large paws, it uses its tail to keep balance.[8][6]
Trivia[]
- The kangal, a breed of dog in the real world, served as a partial basis for Naga.[16]
- The polar bear dog somewhat resembles other dog breeds, including the Great Pyrenees, the Akbash, and the bear dog, the latter of which has been extinct since the Pliocene and is the common ancestor of real-world dogs and bears.
