Dog Breeds - Kishu Ken

Breed Attributes & Qualities

CARING WITH FAMILY + Independent Lovey-Dovey
The level of affection a breed is inclined to show towards their family members and close acquaintances greatly varies. Certain breeds may display detachment towards everyone except their owner, whereas other breeds tend to treat everyone they know as their closest companion.
LOVE WITH CHILDREN + Unwise Good With Children
The extent to which a breed demonstrates tolerance and patience towards children's behavior along with their overall family-friendly nature is a significant aspect to consider. It is essential to always supervise dogs when they are around young children or children of any age who have limited exposure to dogs.
BEHAVIOR WITH DOGS + Unwise Good With Other Dogs
The overall sociability of a breed towards other dogs is an important consideration. While it's crucial to supervise and carefully introduce dogs to one another, certain breeds are naturally more inclined to get along with their canine counterparts, both in domestic settings and in public environments.

SHEDDING LEVELS & MANAGEMENT No Shedding Hair Everywhere +
The amount of fur and hair that a breed tends to shed is an important factor to consider. Breeds that have high shedding tendencies will require more frequent brushing and are more likely to cause allergies in certain individuals. Additionally, they may necessitate more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling to keep the living space clean and fur-free.
COAT GROOMING STANDARDS Monthly Daily +
When evaluating a breed, it is important to consider the frequency of bathing, brushing, trimming and other coat maintenance tasks. The amount of time, patience and budget you can allocate for this type of care should be taken into account. It is worth noting that regular nail trimming is necessary for all breeds.
DROOLING INTENSITY Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel +
The tendency of a breed to drool is a factor worth considering. If you are someone who values cleanliness and prefers to avoid dogs that leave trails of slobber on your arm or create large wet spots on your clothes, then breeds prone to excessive drooling might not be the ideal choice for you.
COAT TYPE +
Double
COAT LENGTH +
Short

FRIENDLINESS Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend +
The level of friendliness a breed typically exhibits towards strangers is an important aspect to consider. Certain breeds tend to be reserved or cautious around unfamiliar individuals, regardless of the setting. On the other hand, some breeds are generally open and enthusiastic about meeting new people whenever they come across them.
LIVELINESS Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop +
The level of enthusiasm a breed typically exhibits towards play, even beyond the puppy stage is an important aspect to consider. Some breeds will continue to enjoy games like tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years. On the other hand, there are breeds that will be content with relaxing on the couch with you most of the time.
VIGILANCE INTENSITY What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant +
The inclination of a breed to alert you of the presence of strangers is a notable characteristic. These breeds are more likely to react to any perceived threat be it the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. Furthermore, these breeds are likely to become more receptive to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
ADAPTATION CAPACITY Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable +
The adaptability of a breed to handle change is a crucial factor to consider. This includes how well they adjust to changes in living conditions, noise levels, weather conditions, daily routines and other variations that may occur in their day-to-day life.

OBEDIENCE LEVEL Self-Willed Eager to Please +
The trainability of a dog and their willingness to learn new things are important considerations. Some breeds are highly motivated to please their owners and are eager learners, while others may have a more independent nature and prefer to do as they please, when and wherever they want. Understanding these tendencies can help determine the ease of training for a particular breed.
STAMINA LEVEL Couch Potato High Energy +
The exercise and mental stimulation requirements of a breed are important factors to consider. High-energy breeds tend to be ready for action and eagerly seek out their next adventure. They enjoy activities such as running, jumping, and playing throughout the day to burn off their excess energy. On the other hand, low-energy breeds are content with a more relaxed lifestyle and are generally happy to lounge around and snooze.
VOCALIZATION Only To Alert Very Vocal +
The frequency of vocalization, whether through barks or howls is worth considering when evaluating a breed. Some breeds may be more inclined to bark at every passer-by or get triggered by various stimuli such as birds at the window. On the other hand, other breeds may bark only in specific situations. It is also important to note that even barkless breeds can still be vocal in other ways using different sounds to express themselves.
LEARNING CURIOSITY LEVEL Loaf Needs an Activity +
The level of mental stimulation a breed requires to maintain their happiness and overall well-being is an important aspect to consider. Purpose-bred dogs designed for specific tasks, often require mental challenges that involve decision-making, problem-solving, concentration and other qualities. Without adequate mental exercise, these dogs may create their own activities to keep their minds busy potentially leading to undesired behavior or projects that may not align with the owner's preferences. Providing sufficient mental stimulation is essential to ensure the mental health and satisfaction of these breeds.

COLORS

PATTERNS

CARING WITH FAMILY

Independent

Lovey-Dovey

The level of affection a breed is inclined to show towards their family members and close acquaintances greatly varies. Certain breeds may display detachment towards everyone except their owner, whereas other breeds tend to treat everyone they know as their closest companion.

LOVE WITH CHILDREN

Unwise

Good With Children

The extent to which a breed demonstrates tolerance and patience towards children's behavior along with their overall family-friendly nature is a significant aspect to consider. It is essential to always supervise dogs when they are around young children or children of any age who have limited exposure to dogs.

BEHAVIOR WITH DOGS

Unwise

Good With Other Dogs

The overall sociability of a breed towards other dogs is an important consideration. While it's crucial to supervise and carefully introduce dogs to one another, certain breeds are naturally more inclined to get along with their canine counterparts, both in domestic settings and in public environments.

SHEDDING LEVELS & MANAGEMENT

No Shedding

Hair Everywhere

The amount of fur and hair that a breed tends to shed is an important factor to consider. Breeds that have high shedding tendencies will require more frequent brushing and are more likely to cause allergies in certain individuals. Additionally, they may necessitate more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling to keep the living space clean and fur-free.

COAT GROOMING STANDARDS

Monthly

Daily

When evaluating a breed, it is important to consider the frequency of bathing, brushing, trimming and other coat maintenance tasks. The amount of time, patience and budget you can allocate for this type of care should be taken into account. It is worth noting that regular nail trimming is necessary for all breeds.

DROOLING INTENSITY

Less Likely to Drool

Always Have a Towel

The tendency of a breed to drool is a factor worth considering. If you are someone who values cleanliness and prefers to avoid dogs that leave trails of slobber on your arm or create large wet spots on your clothes, then breeds prone to excessive drooling might not be the ideal choice for you.

COAT STYLES GUIDE

Double

COAT SPECTRUM

Short

FRIENDLINESS

Reserved

Everyone Is My Best Friend

The level of friendliness a breed typically exhibits towards strangers is an important aspect to consider. Certain breeds tend to be reserved or cautious around unfamiliar individuals, regardless of the setting. On the other hand, some breeds are generally open and enthusiastic about meeting new people whenever they come across them.

LIVELINESS

Only When You Want To Play

Non-Stop

The level of enthusiasm a breed typically exhibits towards play, even beyond the puppy stage is an important aspect to consider. Some breeds will continue to enjoy games like tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years. On the other hand, there are breeds that will be content with relaxing on the couch with you most of the time.

VIGILANCE INTENSITY

What's Mine Is Yours

Vigilant

The inclination of a breed to alert you of the presence of strangers is a notable characteristic. These breeds are more likely to react to any perceived threat be it the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. Furthermore, these breeds are likely to become more receptive to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

ADAPTATION CAPACITY

Lives For Routine

Highly Adaptable

The adaptability of a breed to handle change is a crucial factor to consider. This includes how well they adjust to changes in living conditions, noise levels, weather conditions, daily routines and other variations that may occur in their day-to-day life.

OBEDIENCE LEVEL

Self-Willed

Eager to Please

The trainability of a dog and their willingness to learn new things are important considerations. Some breeds are highly motivated to please their owners and are eager learners, while others may have a more independent nature and prefer to do as they please, when and wherever they want. Understanding these tendencies can help determine the ease of training for a particular breed.

STAMINA LEVEL

Couch Potato

High Energy

The exercise and mental stimulation requirements of a breed are important factors to consider. High-energy breeds tend to be ready for action and eagerly seek out their next adventure. They enjoy activities such as running, jumping, and playing throughout the day to burn off their excess energy. On the other hand, low-energy breeds are content with a more relaxed lifestyle and are generally happy to lounge around and snooze.

VOCALIZATION

Only To Alert

Very Vocal

Infrequent

LEARNING CURIOSITY LEVEL

Happy to Lounge

Needs a Job or Activity

The level of mental stimulation a breed requires to maintain their happiness and overall well-being is an important aspect to consider. Purpose-bred dogs designed for specific tasks, often require mental challenges that involve decision-making, problem-solving, concentration and other qualities. Without adequate mental exercise, these dogs may create their own activities to keep their minds busy potentially leading to undesired behavior or projects that may not align with the owner's preferences. Providing sufficient mental stimulation is essential to ensure the mental health and satisfaction of these breeds.

COLORS

Description	Registration Code
White	199
Red	140
Sesame	541

PATTERNS

About The Breed

The Kishu Ken is a large game hound that originates from Japan and is known for its endurance and noble demeanor. It possesses a dignified and naive temperament, demonstrating faithfulness, docility and high alertness. These dogs are well-suited for the challenging terrain of the densely forested mountains in Japan.

Kishu Kens are spirited and rustic, displaying compact, muscular bodies. They are typically medium-sized with a white coat, erect ears, a tail held over the back and a keen expression that reflects their alert nature.

What to Expect When Caring for a KISHU KEN

Owning a dog is indeed a significant responsibility that extends far beyond providing the basic necessities of food and shelter. Dogs as sentient beings require a comprehensive level of care that encompasses physical health emotional well-being, and mental stimulation.

Anticipating the Needs of Your Kishu Ken: Insights and Tips.

Taking a dog under your wing is no small favor; it's a true commitment. These devoted pets count on us for life's necessities such as food and a safe abode, however, they are entitled to a greater level of care.

Health

	While the Kishu Ken breed is generally considered healthy with few reported cases of degenerative joint conditions and degenerative eye conditions, there are a few potential autoimmune conditions to be aware of. These include environmental and food allergies, autoimmune thyroiditis, Addison's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and various forms of lupus affecting the skin. It is important to monitor for any signs or symptoms of these conditions and seek veterinary care if necessary. Overall, however, Kishu Kens are known to be a healthy breed with no known testable genetic conditions. Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club: Patella Evaluation Hip Evaluation Thyroid Evaluation Elbow Evaluation Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

	Kishu Ken dogs have a shedding pattern characterized by seasonal "moults" where they shed their coat one to two times a year. During these periods bathing the dog and drying them with a high-velocity drier can help remove dead coat effectively. Occasional maintenance using a rubber brush or slicker brush can be necessary to keep the coat in good condition. Additionally, regular nail trims should be performed as needed to maintain proper nail length.

Exercise

	For Kishu Kens regular exercise and mental stimulation are a must. Optimum performance is achieved through daily strolls, immersive hikes or engaging in other delightful pastimes.

Training

	The Kishu Ken breed can be effectively motivated by food and has a strong bond with their owner. However, it is important to note that they require training sessions that are fast-paced and have an upbeat atmosphere. Having a consistent owner or trainer is also crucial for their training. It is essential to avoid harsh or punitive methods when training a Kishu as using such techniques may lead to contention or conflicts between them and their handler. On the bright side, Kishu Kens excel in various sports activities and can be well-suited for agility, obedience, rally, nose work, fast cat, coursing ability tests, barn hunt and more.

Nutrition

	Kishu Ken thrive on a diet consisting of high-quality kibble or a nutritionally balanced raw diet. It's important to note that certain Kishu Ken may experience allergies or skin issues when fed diets that are high in starch content or heavily reliant on beef and chicken. Therefore, it is advisable to carefully monitor their diet and consider alternative options if such reactions occur.

Historiography

The origins of Japanese dog breeds trace back to ancient times, where they developed from a common ancestral source. In Japan, there were spitz-type hunting dogs known as canis familiars palustris that existed over 3000 years ago. Among these breeds is the Kishu Ken with "ken" meaning "dog" in Japanese. The Kishu Ken originated from resilient and medium-sized dogs that used to roam the mountains of Japan centuries ago. They were invaluable hunting companions for the matagi, who relied on them for hunting boars and deer. The region of Wakayama in Japan is particularly renowned for the breeding and refinement of the Kishu breed.

During early years, Kishu Kens exhibited various coat colors however, it was observed that the white-coated Kishus possessed superior qualities and were thus selectively bred more frequently. The hunters favored the white color due to its enhanced visibility. The breeding focus was on developing working dogs that were efficient and useful. Before 1934, Kishus could be found in white, red, brindle and spotted coats. However, over time, solid colors became the only accepted variations leading to the disappearance of spotted-coat Kishus by 1945. Presently, the white coat has become the preferred and dominant color among show-quality Kishus.

In 1934, the Kishu Ken received the distinguished designation of being a "Memorial of Nature" in its native country highlighting its significance to the Japanese people. The citizens of Japan take great pride in their dogs and bestow honors and praise upon them. It is this deep sense of pride and commitment to their national treasures including the Kishu, that explains why Kishu Kens are rarely exported from Japan.