Japanese dogs undoubtedly have something special in their eyes and in their way of being. Perhaps that is why we currently find so many Akita Inu or Shiba Inu dogs, which are adorable and extremely faithful. In this article on our site we are going to show you 7 Japanese dog breeds you should know about if you are thinking of adopting. Some are going to be known, others not so much, although what you really have to take into account is choosing a dog that needs it, so look in shelters in your country to find them for adoption.
Keep reading and discover the dogs that our site shows you, don't hesitate to comment if you also have a Japanese dog as a best friend or want to have one.
1. Akita Inu
The Akita Inu is a pure Japanese dog breed, already thousands of years old, which has been together with humans for more than 3,000 years. This amazing and beautiful. dog has been used over the years for very different tasks, such as bear hunting, dog fighting or guard dog. Today, the Akita Inu is a fantastic and very popular companion dog.
Dogs of this Japanese breed generally have a very strong personality and are somewhat dominant, so they will need to be socialized from the time they are he is a very good puppy. Akita Inu do not bark for anything, if you hear one of them barking, pay attention. Likewise, it must be taken into account that they are dogs of a single owner, this does not mean that they are reluctant to give affection to other people within the family environment, but rather that, if you are not their main guide, you will not have a good result when trying to give him orders.
Akita inu are very affectionate dogs with all the people in the family. They are an excellent choice to be with small children, as they will never complain if the little ones pull on their ears or tail. They are very faithful dogs and devoted to the group they belong to.
two. Shiba Inu
If you're looking for small Japanese dogs, this is one of the smallest breeds out there! The Japanese Shiba Inu dog breed is one of the 6 endemic dog breeds in Japan and one of the few that is so old. Its appearance is very similar to that of the Akita Inu, although it is much smaller. The males do not usually exceed 40 centimeters and are very faithful to their humans. It is one of the closest breeds to the gray wolf, on the same scale as the Shar Pei.
It is an ideal dog to have within the family nucleus, it is friendly with family members and with other pets. It is also a very active dog , so we should take them out often and do active exercise for their he althy physical and mental growth.
him He has short hair and the colors he displays range from reddish brown to white. There are also completely white shiba inu, but it is not the most common to find them. Shiba Inu are very intelligent dogs, although simple commands can cost them a bit.
3. Shikoku inu
The shikoku inu, originally from the island of Tosa, was used in ancient times to hunt large animals, such as wild boar or deer. Three varieties of this breed are known: Awa, Hongawa and Hata. In appearance, it is similar to the Shiba Inu, although notably larger, which is why it is included within the medium dog breeds. It can measure between 43-55 cm in height and weigh about 20-23 kilos. Its snout is short, its ears small and triangular in shape, and its fur can come in three colors: black and white, predominantly black, and black with reddish touches.
He is a dog agile and energetic, as well as faithful. He does not usually suffer from any problem or disease. He is normally he althy, except for slight vision problems.
4. Hokkaido inu
The Hokkaido Inu, of medium or even large size, is a strong dog, with robust and rectilinear limbs. It is thought that his lineage may have come from China, although its origins date back 3,000 years. It is a dog that has historically been used both for hunting big game, for example bears, and for hunting wild boar or fawns. His race is included within the spitz. As a rule, it presents a genetic predisposition for good he alth, without congenital problems.
These Japanese dogs are very active, so they require several daily walks and physical activity, if not, they may present large weight gains, something to take into account before adopting a dog of this breed. Your ideal weight would be between 20 and even 30 kilos.
The most common color of the coat of these dogs is beige, although the chromatic range that these dogs can present is very wide.
5. Kishu inu
The kishu inu or kishu ken has remained the local dog of the island that bears its name for hundreds of years. It is a dog little extended by the West. In ancient times, its coat wore bright colors, but over time, the most common varieties have become white, beige and black.
The physiognomy is robust, with two thick layers of hair. The tail is usually curved upwards and the ears are short and very hairy. His character is calm with a docile predisposition Although, depending on the degree of exercise he performs, it may vary. If you don't burn off all the energy you have, you can become a very nervous dog. In these states, their barks are continuous and powerful.
The ideal environment for this breed of Japanese dog would be a large piece of land or a farm where it could play and act as a guard.
6. Tosa inu
The history of the tosa inu is relatively short. It is the result of the crosses that managed to obtain a large dog, since it was crossed with the bulldog, the Argentine dogo and the San Bernardo. Without a doubt, it is exceptionally brave and strong, in fact, currently in Japan it is used for combats although these are not atrocious or bloodthirsty. Nor do they end in death. Even so, our site does not agree at all with carrying out practices that can have fatal consequences for inexperienced owners.
Currently, the Tosa Inu is a fantastic companion dog that has a stable character and can live without any problem with other animals. He also gets along well with the little ones at home.
Its snout is medium in size, slightly elongated, and its nose should be black. The ears are small in relation to the size of the head and its eyes are also small and earthy brown with maroon tones. It is one of the most impressive Japanese dog breeds.
7. Japanese Spitz
Another of the small Japanese dog breeds is this. The Japanese Spitz descends from the variety of Spitz dogs that arrived in Japan around 1920. It is a dog that does not usually exceed 35 cm in height, so it can be even smaller than the shiba inu.
It has long hair and although it is not one of the dogs that sheds the most, it does shed a lot and you will have to be careful to brush it regularly. It is white and calm, although at the slightest it will notify you if it hears any sound
This breed of Japanese dog is ideal to be with all the members of the family, but you must be careful with strangers, since it is very distrustful. The Japanese spitz in particular is much less well known than its direct cousins, such as the Samoyed and the American Eskimo.