THE SHIKOKU KEN |
A Rustic Japanese Hound |
The Island of Shikoku is a mountainous and difficult region off the coast of the Kii peninsula, thickly forested and chilly at high elevation in the volcanic terrain. This rustic island is steeped in its own folklore and tales and produced a large game hound that was unique from the Honshu population.
Today we know this breed, first standardized in 1937, as the Shikoku Ken. They are a medium-sized hunting dog as rustic as their mountainous island home - but they weren't always known by this name. Their first common name, the Tosa Ken, was consumed by the Tosa Fighting dog, a mastiff-type breed which owes its heritage to the ancestors of the Shikoku Ken as we know it today. Other times, the Shikoku dog was known as the Kochi Ken after the prefecture they come from.
Once upon a time, three distinct lines of Shikoku Ken existed: the Awa, Hata, and Hongawa. Difficulties brought on by World War II effectively caused the functional extinction of the Awa line and saw the dissolution of the Hata and Hongawa lines as they were crossed to bring the breed to its modern type.
Today we know this breed, first standardized in 1937, as the Shikoku Ken. They are a medium-sized hunting dog as rustic as their mountainous island home - but they weren't always known by this name. Their first common name, the Tosa Ken, was consumed by the Tosa Fighting dog, a mastiff-type breed which owes its heritage to the ancestors of the Shikoku Ken as we know it today. Other times, the Shikoku dog was known as the Kochi Ken after the prefecture they come from.
Once upon a time, three distinct lines of Shikoku Ken existed: the Awa, Hata, and Hongawa. Difficulties brought on by World War II effectively caused the functional extinction of the Awa line and saw the dissolution of the Hata and Hongawa lines as they were crossed to bring the breed to its modern type.
General Overview
The Shikoku Ken gives the impression of a sharp and serious dog when outside the home, often stoic toward strangers or overtly averse, but absolutely dedicated to their people. In this way, the Shikoku Ken can perhaps be called a "one person" or "one family" dog. They tend to be moderate drive and energy, easy to live with in the house when they mature into adulthood. The Shikoku dog is clever and appraising of its environment and will not often willingly put itself in danger.
This sometimes translates to touch and environmental sensitivity that needs a lot of attention as a youngster. Shikoku Ken puppies are busy, energetic, questioning, and still bold enough to explore without fear. The Shikoku Ken owner must be ready to be checked in and present for all of their puppy's development. They must be willing to stand with and stand up for their puppy when they get overwhelmed or anxious because it does not take much for a bold and enrichment-seeking puppy to take that environmental sensitivity that may save them from a boar's tusks or trampling and decide the world is the danger they must protect themselves from.
Fear not, for the Shikoku Ken will pay you back everything you put into them and more. The well-bred, well-raised, and well-trained Shikoku Ken can become a lifelong hiking, camping, and family companion that was well worth the work invested in the first handful of years to grow a confident dog.
This sometimes translates to touch and environmental sensitivity that needs a lot of attention as a youngster. Shikoku Ken puppies are busy, energetic, questioning, and still bold enough to explore without fear. The Shikoku Ken owner must be ready to be checked in and present for all of their puppy's development. They must be willing to stand with and stand up for their puppy when they get overwhelmed or anxious because it does not take much for a bold and enrichment-seeking puppy to take that environmental sensitivity that may save them from a boar's tusks or trampling and decide the world is the danger they must protect themselves from.
Fear not, for the Shikoku Ken will pay you back everything you put into them and more. The well-bred, well-raised, and well-trained Shikoku Ken can become a lifelong hiking, camping, and family companion that was well worth the work invested in the first handful of years to grow a confident dog.