In this issue, we will introduce Japanese dogs designated as natural monuments of Japan.
Currently, there are a total of six breeds of Japanese dogs designated as natural monuments.
The small dog : Shiba Inu
the medium-sized dogs : Kishu Inu, Shikoku Inu, Kai Inu, and Hokkaido Inu
the large-sized dog : Akita.
Here is an explanation for each dog breed!
First of all, Shiba Inus are very popular both in Japan and abroad.
We breed many Shiba Inus in our kennel.
The Shiba is the only small breed of Japanese dog.
The name "Shiba Inu" was used in the Chubu mountainous region, and was designated as a natural monument of Japan in December Showa 11 (1936).
The character of the Shiba Inu is honest, obedient, and simple, yet graceful.
In addition, they are generally intelligent dogs that read their owners' feelings and act accordingly.
The standard size specified by the Nihonken Hozonkai (NIPPO) is
Male
Height: 39.5 cm (between 38 cm and 41 cm)
Weight: about 9kg-11kg
Female
Height: 36.5cm (between 35cm and 38cm)
Weight: 7-9 kg
Body height is the height from the ground to the withers.
Coat Color
The three main coat colors of the Shiba Inu are red, black, and sesame,
In addition, a small number of Shiba Inus have white coat.
In the Japanese dog world, brown coat is called "red coat.
The Shiba Inu has a large number of red coat, accounting for about 80% of all Shiba Inus.
The black coat Shiba Inus have a a whitish tan (Yotsume) spot above the eyes.
The chest, belly, underside of the legs and feet, and underside of the tail are white coat called "Urajiro".
The sesame coat is a mixture of red and black coats, and like the black coat, it has some white areas, giving it an austere coat color.
Next is the Kishu dog.
The breed was originally used as a hunting dog and was designated as a natural monument of Japan in May Showa 9 (1934).
In the Kii Peninsula area, especially in Kumano and Nachiura-go, there remained some excellent Kishu dogs.
As mentioned above, since they were active as hunting dogs, they are highly attentive to their surroundings and react strongly against anything suspicious, giving many people the impression that they are "dependable dogs.
Recently, they have become less active as hounds and are now bred by ordinary households. Although they usually appear calm and quiet, their fighting spirit is immeasurably appealing, and they are a simple and strong breed.
We currently have four Kishu dogs in our kennel!
All of them have grown up to be highly loyal dogs.
Let's take a look at the sizes of Kishu dogs specified by the Nihonken Hozonkai (NIPPO)!
Male
Height: 52 cm (between 49 cm and 55 cm)
Weight: 17kg-23kg
Female
Height: 49cm (between 46cm-52cm)
Weight: 15-18kg
The standard coat color is white,
However, there are a few red coat and sesame coat Kishu dogs as well.
There are several theories as to why the majority of dogs are white coat: the famous dogs that became the basis of the modern Kishu dog were white coat, the white coat dogs were useful in dormitories so that they could not be mistaken for prey, or the white coat dogs were valued because of the sacred nature of the Kii mountain range, which includes the Kumano Kodo (ancient pilgrimages trails).
The eye shape of Japanese dogs is said to be in the shape of an unequal triangle, but the Kishu dog's eye shape is said to be clam-shaped.
The shape of the eyes, with a slight arc from the top to the bottom of the eyes, is a characteristic of the Kishu that is not found in any other Japanese dog.
Next is the Shikoku Ken.
The Shikoku Ken was designated as a national monument of Japan in June Showa 12 (1937) under the name "Tosa Ken" (Tosa Dog), but it began to be called Shikoku Ken around Showa 14 (1939) because it was confusing with "Tosa To-Ken"(Tosa Fighting Dog) and because it was also found in other prefectures.
There remained excellent Shikoku Ken in the Shikoku mountain range, especially in the Hata area near Honkawa Village, Tosa County, in the pocket of the Ishizuchi Mountains, and in a part of Ehime Prefecture.
As described as a "fast dog," it is agile and has an excellent frame.
Let's take a look at the sizes specified by the NIPPO!
Male
Height: 52 cm (between 49 cm and 55 cm)
Weight: about 17kg-23kg
Female
Height: 49cm (between 46cm-52cm)
Weight: 15-18kg
The coat color of the Shikoku Ken is generally sesame, which is distinguished as red sesame or black sesame.
The color contrast of the mixture of black, red, and white hairs, which is unique to the sesame coat, is beautiful and cannot be seen in other breeds.
Next is the Kai dog.
Among Japanese dogs, the Kai is a breed with a strong wild.
It remains mainly in the area around the Southern Japan Alps and was designated as a natural monument of Japan in January Showa 9 (1934).
The people in Yamanashi Prefecture who were involved in the preservation of the breed emphasized it as a dog that hunts wild animals such as antelopes and wild boars.
The preservation of the Kai dogs was based on the desire to preserve its unique appearance, and it was required to be more strict than its pet appeal.
As the saying goes, "A good hunting dog has the qualities to be a good family dog," the Kai dog is both a good hunting dog and a good family dog.
Compared to other medium-sized breeds, most Kai dogs are slightly shorter in stature and have only brindle, also known as "Kai Tora(Tiger)" coat color.
The standard sizes of the Kai dog are
Male
Body height: 52 cm (between 47 cm and 55 cm)
Female
Height: 49 cm (between 44 cm and 52 cm)
The minimum size of withers height is 2 cm lower for males and females, respectively, than that of Kishu and Shikoku dogs.
The coat color of the Kai dog is also known as "Kai Tora," and all of them have brindle coat. By the shade and condition of their coloration, they can be divided into black brindle coat, medium brindle coat, and red brindle coat.
Next is the Hokkaido dog.
The Hokkaido dog is a breed that exudes primitive strength. There was a time when they were called "Ainu dogs.
It was designated as a natural monument of Japan in December Showa 12 (1937).
Raised in the harsh natural environment of Hokkaido, the Hokkaido dog has small, thick ears and a dense coat.
Its muscularly developed pronotum and low center of gravity give it a stouter appearance than other medium-sized Japanese dogs.
Originally, the breed was bred for the purpose of hunting beasts that inhabited the land of Hokkaido.
Let's take a look at the sizes stipulated by the NIPPO!
Male
Height: 52 cm (between 47 cm and 55 cm)
Female
Height: 49 cm (between 44 cm and 52 cm)
The coat color is one of the most diverse coat colors in the Japanese dog breed,
They have red, white, brindle, sesame, and black coat.
Finally, there is Akita Inu, the only large-sized dog among Japanese dogs.
It was designated as a natural monument of Japan in July Showa 6 (1931).
It is well known not only in Japan but also all over the world, and was one of the first Japanese dog breeds to have its name known around world.
There was a time when the Akita was enlarged in order to breed a strong, large, and muscular dog as a fighting dog, based on the Matagi dogs that were bred as hunting dogs in the Ou Mountains area and the dogs of the Odate region.
As a result, the size of the dogs became larger, but some of them lacked the characteristics of Japanese dogs.
In the Showa period (1926-1989), the Japanese dog preservation movement increased, and efforts were made to artificially create pure Akita Inu, and just as these activities were getting underway, the Pacific War broke out.
After the war, people in the U.S. brought back Akita Inu and proceeded to breed their own.
Today, the number of Akita Inu born in the U.S. far exceeds that in Japan, and their appearance has changed and developed significantly from the Japanese Akita Inu.
Let us look at the standard size of Akita Inu!
Male
Height: 67 cm (between 64 cm-70 cm)
Female
Height: 61 cm (between 58 cm and 64 cm)
The coat color of Japanese Akita Inus is mostly red, followed by brindle coat and white coat.
The above is a description of the six Japanese dog breeds designated as natural monuments of Japan.
If you have any comments or questions, please use the comment box below!
We also have puppies born in our kennel on our website!
If you are interested, please feel free to contact us through the e-mail address in the summary section!
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