Content
- Origin of Shikoku Inu
- Shikoku Inu Features
- Shikoku Inu's Puppy
- Shikoku Inu personality
- Shikoku Inu Care
- Shikoku Inu Education
- Shikoku Inu Health
- Where to adopt a Shikoku Inu?
The Shikoku Inu is part of the group of Spitz type dogs, such as the German Spitz and the Shiba Inu, which together with the Finnish Spitz are some of the oldest dog breeds in the world.
In the case of Shikoku Inu, as it is not such a widespread or popular breed, as it is usually only found in certain regions of Japan, there is a lot of ignorance about it. So, if you want to expand your knowledge about this dog breed, here at PeritoAnimal we will explain all the Shikoku Inu features, their care and possible health problems. We can say that we are facing a strong, resistant dog with a long history. Want to know more? Keep reading!
Source
- Asia
- Japan
- Group V
- muscular
- provided
- short ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Shy
- Strong
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Docile
- Houses
- hiking
- Hunting
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Hard
- thick
Origin of Shikoku Inu
Its name can serve as a clue to indicate that the Shikoku Inu is a Japanese race. The birthplace of the Shikoku breed is the mountainous region of Kochi, so its name was initially Kochi Ken (or Kochi's dog, which means the same thing). This breed is very relevant in the region, so much so that it was declared a national monument in 1937. Its official standard was drawn up by the International Cynological Federation in 2016, although the breed has already had its recognition since 1982.
At first, there were three varieties of that breed: Hata, Awa and Hongawa. The Awa did not have a very good fate, as they completely disappeared during World War II. The other two varieties still exist, and while Hata is more robust and solid, Hongawa stays more faithful to the pattern, being more elegant and lighter. The Shikoku Hongawas managed to maintain a purer lineage, mainly because the region of the same name is quite remote and isolated from other populations.
Shikoku Inu Features
The Shikoku Inu is a medium size dog, with standard weight between 15 and 20 kilos. Its height at the withers varies from 49 to 55 centimeters in males and 46 to 52 in females, the ideal being 52 and 49 cm, respectively, but a variation of about 3 centimeters or so is accepted. Shikoku Inu life expectancy varies between 10 and 12 years.
Entering now into the Shikoku Inu's physical shape characteristics, its body has a proportionate appearance, with very elegant lines, and a broad and deep chest, which contrasts with a more collected belly. Its tail, set on high, is very thick and usually sickle or thread-shaped. Its limbs are strong and have developed muscles, as well as a slight lean towards the body.
the head is big compared to the body, with a broad forehead and a long wedge-shaped muzzle. The ears are small, triangular, and always erect, drooping only slightly forward. The eyes of the Shikoku Inu are almost triangular in that they are angled from the outside to the top, they are medium in size and always dark brown.
The coat of the Shikoku Inu dog is thick and has a two-layer structure. The underlayer is dense but very soft, and the outer layer is slightly less dense, with longer, stiffer hairs. This provides great thermal insulation, especially at low temperatures.
Shikoku Inu Colors
The most common color in Shikoku Inu specimens is sesame, which consists of a combination of red, white, and black hair strands. Depending on which colors are combined, there are three varieties or types of Shikoku Inu:
- Sesame: white and black in the same proportion.
- red sesame: Red base mixed with black and white fur.
- black sesame: black predominates over white.
Shikoku Inu's Puppy
A curiosity about Shikoku Inu puppies is that, due to their characteristics common to other Spitz puppies of Japanese origin, they are often confused with these other breeds. In fact, it's quite common to confuse Shikokus and Shibas Inu. This is especially common in pre-adult stages, when it is often easier to tell them apart. An important piece of information to differentiate Shikoku from other breeds is their coat, which is usually mostly sesame in color.
As a puppy, a Shikoku is very stubborn and just wants to play and play until you get tired. This makes him relentless in his pursuit of fun, and he tries to get attention through any tool he can think of. Also, as with any type of dog, it is advisable not to separate him from his mother until he is fully developed and she has been able to give him the first doses of socialization and basic teaching. However, this process must continue after his separation from his mother, as it is essential to provide him with adequate education and socialization.
Shikoku Inu personality
A Shikoku Inu is usually a dog of Strong personality, but very benevolent. It's a breed that has been trained for centuries for hunting and surveillance, so it's not surprising that it has an incredible capacity for attention and a continual alertness. is also a dog very cunning and active. Yes, Shikoku Inu is very, very active, it overflows with energy everywhere, and so it is totally contraindicated for elderly or sedentary people, as well as for living in very small apartments. He needs activity practically all the time, is tireless, and needs to exercise daily.
As for their way of behaving with others, Shikoku are very suspicious of strangers, and that is why they tend to be cold and distant, almost afraid, and can respond aggressively to any "attack", that is, anything they consider an atack. Coexistence is difficult with other animals, both those of other species, as the Shikokus see them as prey, as with other dogs, as the Shikoku Inu has a dominant personality and you can fight them, especially if you are male.
However, with his family he is loyal and dedicated, and although he is an independent dog, he does not stop loving his family and is always looking out for their safety. It perfectly balances the accompaniment of family members throughout the day in their activities, but without being intrusive. It might make you think it's a dog that keeps itself aloof and cool, but the truth is, he loves his family, which he protects at all costs.
Shikoku Inu Care
The Shikoku's dense coat and bilayer needs at least 2 or 3 weekly brushings, and this is the only way to guarantee that the accumulations of dead hair, dust and any kind of dirt are correctly removed. In addition, it is a way to check if there are no parasites, such as fleas or ticks, attached to the animal's scalp.
However, the greatest attention when it comes to knowing how to take care of a Shikoku Inu undoubtedly rests with your need for exercise. These puppies need to exercise every day, and it is advisable that the activity be moderate to intense, so that they can stay balanced and healthy. Some ideas in addition to active walks are the practice of sports specially developed for dogs, such as the Agility circuits, or simply letting them accompany you in activities such as running or walking.
Of course, you should not neglect your mental stimulation or your diet, which should be of a quality adapted to your level of physical activity. Therefore, playing at home and toys that stimulate intelligence are just as important as the need to run.
Shikoku Inu Education
Given the characteristics we've already mentioned about the Shikoku Inu's personality, which is very marked and strong, you might think that training him will be almost impossible. But this couldn't be further from the truth, because if done properly, he responds to training in a surprising way and is able to learn quickly and effectively.
This quick learning is strongly supported by your great intelligence and perseverance. A fundamental premise must always be taken into account: never punish or aggressively treat a dog, not Shikoku, or anyone else. This is essential both for educating him and for training him, because if a Shikoku is punished or attacked, the only thing that can be achieved is to make him become distant and suspicious, losing confidence and breaking the bond. The animal will no longer trust its trainer and that means it will learn absolutely nothing from what you are trying to teach it. Therefore, it is essential to base training on techniques that respect the animal, because in addition to being more effective, they do not cause discomfort to the dog and the handler. Some examples of these techniques are positive reinforcement and the use of the clicker, which proves to be very useful in reinforcing good behavior.
In addition to taking into account the techniques to be used in education and training, it is necessary to decide among the whole family the rules of the house, so that you are consistent and do not confuse the dog. Likewise, it's important to be constant, patient and orderly, as it's better to go small and not want to teach all the rules at once. In addition, once training has started, it is recommended to opt for short but repetitive sessions throughout the day.
Shikoku Inu Health
Shikoku Inu is a dog in good health. It usually presents a very common problem due to the density of its fur, which is incompatible with hot climates. If temperatures are high, the Shikoku usually suffer thermal shocks, better known as heat stroke. In this article, we explain what are the symptoms of heat stroke and how to react to it: heat stroke in dogs.
Other Shikoku Inu diseases are congenital, such as hip dysplasia and the patellar dislocation, common in dogs of this size. They are also more frequent because of the intense exercise they need, which sometimes increases the risk of suffering a dangerous gastric torsion, which if left untreated, is lethal. Other conditions can be hypothyroidism and progressive retinal atrophy.
All the diseases mentioned above can be detected by making regular visits to the veterinarian for periodic examinations, as well as vaccinations and deworming.
Where to adopt a Shikoku Inu?
If you are outside Japan, you can assume that adopting a Shikoku Inu is very complicated. This is because the breed has not spread far beyond its native Japanese borders. Therefore, finding a Shikoku Inu dog is practically impossible outside of Japan. Only exported specimens can be found in Europe or America, often for the purpose of participating in canine exhibitions and events.
But if by chance you find a specimen of Shikoku Inu and want to adopt it, we recommend that you take into account its characteristics and needs. For example, keep in mind that he needs a lot of activity, that he's not a clingy dog, and he doesn't seek constant attention. Taking this into account will allow you, in the case of the Shikoku or any other race, to make responsible adoption. For this, we recommend going to animal shelters, associations and refuges.