Hokkaido

Other names : Hokkaido-Ken, Ainu-ken, Seta, Ainu dog, Dō-ken

Photo: adult dog of Hokkaido breed
Photo: puppy of Hokkaido breed
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Life expectancy

The Hokkaido has a life expectancy of between 11 and 13 years

Temperament

Size

Medium

Adult size

Female Between 18 and 19 in
Male Between 19 and 20 in

Adult weight

Female Between 40 and 51 lb
Male Between 44 and 55 lb
Coat colour
Black White Red
Type of coat
Short Hard
Eye colour
Brown
Good to know

The Hokkaido is one of the oldest of the six native Japanese spitz breeds that also include the Akita, Shiba Inu, Kai Ken, Shikoku, and Kishu Ken. While the Hokkaido-Ken has become a common pet in Japan, it still takes time and work to find an available pup in the UK. 

More details about the Hokkaido

Hokkaido: Origins and history

Named for his home island, the Hokkaido seems to have originated from the medium-sized Japanese dogs who migrated there nearly 1,000 years ago. Over the centuries, he has been a brave and loyal hunting colleague, but he became very rare by the early 20th century. Partly thanks to his appearance in animations and a series of commercials, the Hokkaido-Ken has enjoyed a renaissance in Japan in recent years; now, due to the proliferation of cute pics on the internet, he is ready to take over the world. Here’s to our Hokkaido-Ken overlords!

FCI classification of the Hokkaido

  • Group 5 - Spitz and primitive types

  • Section 5 : Asian Spitz and related breeds

Training a Hokkaido

This is not an easy dog ​​to lead, and is not recommended for novices. He needs to be trained from early on by an experienced master, who knows the peculiarities of the breed. Patience and determination must be the watchwords for this one.

Hokkaido: Purchase price

We do not have enough data to set an average price.

Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £70 to £110 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.

Name ideas for a Hokkaido

  • Becca
  • Qleo
  • Paul
  • Vanity
  • Nani
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