Kishu
Other names: Kishu Inu, Kishu Ken
This loyal and vigilant dog is only around 60% as serious as he looks. Yes, he is disinterested in strangers (perhaps a healthy trait) and often cold towards his own kind, but he can also be fiercely affectionate towards his chosen confidants and enjoys a game as befits his sporting heritage. Native to Japan, where he is descended from the hunting dogs of the Wakayama and Mie Prefecture mountains, he is celebrated as one of his home country’s six ‘national monument’ breeds. His distinctive sickle-shaped brush tail, white, red, or sesame coat, and blissful expression have made his name beyond the shores of his home island.
Key facts about the Kishu
Origins and history
The Kishu Ken can trace his heritage to a 3,000-year line of spitz-type hunting dogs of Japan’s mountain regions. In later centuries, they were selectively bred for their skills and also their colour, so that by 1945 the spotty varieties had all disappeared. In 1934, this proud dog became a “Memorial of Nature” in his homeland.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 5 - Spitz and primitive types
Section
Section 5 : Asian Spitz and related breeds
Physical characteristics of the Kishu
Adult size
Female : Between 18 and 20 in
Male : Between 19 and 22 in
Weight
Female : Between 44 and 55 lb
Male : Between 44 and 55 lb
Coat colour
White, red, or sesame (even mixture of black, red, and white hairs).
Type of coat
Harsh outer coat and soft, dense undercoat.
Eye colour
Dark brown.
Description
This wolfish fellow has something of the seriousness of the Alsatian about his person, but with an Asian twist. Most commonly white in colour, and always without spots, stripes, and other patterns, his strong bone structure and searching eyes make him stand out in a crowd. He has a broad forehead, triangular, inclining eyes, and wolfish ears, although his aloof expression deprives him of the sensuality of the canis lupus. Still, he backs-up an already-attractive package with a tail apparently built for pleasure.
Good to know
Finding an available Kishu Ken in the UK is a lengthy process. Originally, these dogs’ coats had red or sesame spots or streaks, but from 1934 only uniform coats were admitted, and spotted coats disappeared by 1945. Nowadays, a white coat is not uncommon.