Among the dogs categorized as spitz type, with an incredible appearance, is the kishu inu or kishu ken. This puppy of Japanese origin is characterized by a very friendly and active character. Traditionally, it has a hunting job, but, as we will tell in this article about the kishu inu or kishu ken, more and more families prefer it as a companion dog.
Do you know that the origin of this dog dates back more than 3,000 years? Stay on our site to learn more curiosities and all the characteristics of kishu ken or kishu inu.
Origin of the kishu inu
If the kishu inu stands out for something, it is, without a doubt, because of its long history. These dogs were already present in the Japanese archipelago about 3,000 years ago Their exact provenance is unknown, although it is speculated that they probably came from dogs that accompanied groups of nomads originating from China.
This dog breed owes its name "kishu" to the mountainous region of the same name, located in the Japanese districts of Wakayama and Mie. Historically, it has fulfilled the tasks of a hunting dog specialized in hunting wild boar and deer, in addition to general hunting. In 1934 the breed was honored by being declared a natural monument, at which time its existence and its name as Kishu Inu were made official. However, the history of the breed ceased to be a bed of roses with the arrival of World War II, being practically annihilated. Currently the breed seems to have recovered, gradually re-establishing itself, although not leaving the Japanese borders in general.
Characteristics of the Kishu Inu
The Kishu Inu breed is medium-sized, weighing between 16 and 18 kilograms and standing at withers between 46 and 55 centimeters. Specifically, it is estimated that males should ideally measure 52 centimeters and females 49, applying a desirable margin of 3 centimeters above or below.
Continuing with the characteristics of the kishu ken, its body is proportionate and has a developed musculature and a sickle-shaped tail that also may be curled up. It is a wide-boned dog, with a strong and solid constitution, including its extremities, which stand out for being very robust. It has dense, bilayered fur that covers its entire body, being longer on the tail and the sides of the snout.
The head of this dog stands out from the body, it is wedge-shaped and has an elongated snout that narrows until it reaches a nose, generally black (only the lack of pigmentation is accepted in dogs of White fur). Its ears are erect, small and triangular and its eyes, with a honey or brown color look, are round and expressive.
Colors of the kishu inu
Before 1934, kishu inu with markings of a secondary color over the base color were accepted within the standard, however, as of that date, only unicolors are accepted within that official standard. Accepted colors are sesame, red and white
The kishu inu puppy
The kishu ken is a very sociable dog, but distrustful of strangers. This is easily resolved through early socialization, accustoming him from puppyhood to contact with other animals and with different people outside his family.
In general, the Kishu Inu puppy is like most puppies: curious, playful and affectionate. He needs a lot of affection and affection and, of course, he loves to spend hours and hours playing. In general, he is obedient and disciplined
Kishu inu character
The kishu is a lively dog , very alert and always alert For this reason, it has always been considered an excellent hunter. Also, this, together with his mistrust of strangers, has led him to act as a guard dog on many occasions. It is a very active breed, but at home it is not at all restless, it needs to exercise and be on the move. He is also curious and loves to explore endlessly, although he is always cautious and very intelligent, so he doesn't usually get into trouble.
On the other hand and continuing with the character of the kishu inu, it should be noted that it adapts well to any environment, but it can't stand lonelinessWith his family he is a very affectionate, trusting, docile and very faithful dog, but with strangers he is shy, reticent and, if he sees danger, even aggressive.
Kishu ken care
As we have already mentioned, this breed is characterized by being quite active, therefore it needs to exercise dailyBut not only physically, but also mentally, as his great intellect needs to be constantly stimulated. One recommendation is to play games that keep their minds active, such as search games or games specially designed to stimulate them mentally.
This dog has a very dense coat, being very well protected from the cold but not from the heat. Pay attention to possible symptoms of thermal shock if temperatures are high. It may be that if you live in a rather warm climate, it is best to go to a groomer specialized in the breed who can maintain your coat so that it does not suffer so much from high temperatures. On the other hand, this coat must be brushed daily to remove dirt and dead hair, thus maintaining a shiny coat and he althy skin.
Regarding the care of the Kishu Inu regarding food, as in all dogs, it is advisable to opt for a balanced and quality diet, either with feed or homemade food. For the first option, we recommend natural feed.
Education of the Kishu Inu
The education of the Kishu Inu must begin as soon as possible in order to establish the rules of the home and thus achieve a peaceful and happy coexistence. For this reason, it is important to socialize the puppy (or the newly arrived adult dog), set the rules, teach him to relieve himself on the street, provide him with a comfortable bed and a space where he can relax and feel safe.
When it comes to training, the kishu ken or kishu inu is a docile dog, especially with his human companions, whom he tends to obey practically without question. However, it is also stubborn and obstinate, which sometimes complicates training a bit, although it is not the most frequent. He is intelligent and extremely persevering, so in just a few sessions you begin to see great progress in his training. As always, that is, as in all animals, the results appear if the appropriate training techniques are usedThese techniques must be respectful of the animal, avoiding aggressiveness and punishment, since far from helping they worsen or prevent learning.
Socialization in this breed deserves a special mention, since if we want our kishu ken to interact with strangers, it has to get used to dealing with them gradually, since at first it is a somewhat reserved and suspicious. But if he gets used to dealing with other animals and people little by little, he has absolutely no socialization problems.
He alth of the Kishu Inu
The kishu inu stands out for having really solid he alth. Experts attribute this to its long history, mentioning that breeds with so much evolution present fewer he alth problems due to pure natural selection, in which the he althiest and strongest specimens survive.
The most common diseases in a Kishu Inu breed are hip dysplasia, patella dislocation and digestive problems, such as gastric torsion. In a few cases, congenital diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy or hypothyroidism may occur. But in general, kishu dogs remain he althy well into old age, as long as they receive the necessary care. Among them is the need to carry out regular veterinary check-ups, as well as carry out vaccinations and deworming when appropriate.
Where to adopt a kishu inu or kishu ken?
Although the breed is one of the oldest in the world, it is not often to find a Kishu Inu outside of Japan, so adopting one of these dogs may not be an easy task if we live in another country. Another option would be to contact the protectors of Japan and assess the possibility of going there to look for the animal.
If we manage to find a specimen of kishu in some animal protection association or some shelter, we should ask ourselves before taking the step if we can take care of them as they need.
