11 Japanese Dog Breeds
Including the Akita, Shiba Inu, Ryukyu, and Hokkaido breeds.
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Many Japanese dog breeds are native to the island country. These dogs were historically responsible for various tasks, from hunting wild boar to serving as lap companions for society's most affluent members. According to the Japanese Dog Preservation Society, six indigenous breeds are "Nihon Ken" or Japan's national dogs: Shibu Inu, Akita, Kai Ken, Kishu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. The ancient roots of these dogs go back thousands of years, dating back to the Paleolithic period.
Read on to learn about these 11 Japanese dog breeds and what makes each one special.
Akita
Once owned by the Imperial family, the Akita is a spitz breed that shares its traits and ancestry with other similar breeds. These brave, strong, loyal, and affectionate dogs are a popular family pet, although their thick double coat requires some maintenance. They can also get large, weighing over 100 pounds.
Smuggled into the United States via plane after World War II, the Akita quickly won American servicemen's hearts, and this cultivated the breed's popularity in the United States. These quiet, independent dogs are suspicious of strangers but more than happy to share their playful and affectionate side with their families.
Breed Overview
Group: Working (AKC)
Height: 26 to 28 inches (male), 24 to 26 inches (female)
Weight: 100 to 130 pounds (male), 70 to 100 pounds (female)
Personality/Temperament: Protective, affectionate, independent
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Burly and heavy-boned dogs with a dense double coat that comes in multiple colors, including white
Life Span: 10 to 13 years
Shiba Inu
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Shiba Inu means “brushwood” in Japanese, for the terrain where the dog would hunt birds and other small game. This ancient breed dates back more than 3,000 years. This dog is one of the smaller members of the American Kennel Club’s non-sporting group that would occasionally hunt with their owners for larger animals, including deer, bear, and boar.
The Shibu Inu is a confident dog known for their “shiba scream," a unique sound of excitement. These small, muscular dogs are the most popular companion dog in Japan for their active, attentive, and good-natured personality.
Breed Overview
Group: Non-sporting (AKC)
Height: 14.5 to 16.5 inches (male); 13.5 to 15.5 inches (female)
Weight: 23 pounds (male); 17 pounds (female)
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, reserved, intelligent
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Long coat, heavy shedders; coat comes in black with tan points, sesame, red, or cream/white; undercoat is cream, gray, or buff
Life Span: 13 to 16 years
Japanese Spitz
The Japanese spitz was developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s by crossbreeding other spitz-type dogs from Australia, Canada, China, Siberia, and the United States. Records about the specific breeding program were destroyed during World War II, so the dog's exact details are a mystery.
In the United States, the United Kennel Club recognizes the Japanese spitz as part of the Northern Breeds group and the AKC Foundation Stock Service, the first step toward eventual full recognition. This is a small, fluffy, white companion breed that is friendly and fun-loving.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; Northern Breeds (UKC)
Height: 12 to 15 inches
Weight: 10 to 25 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Gentle, intelligent, playful
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: A straight and stand-off outer coat paired with a short, soft, dense undercoat; pure white coat
Life Span: 12 to 14 years
Japanese Chin
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Though the breed is called the Japanese chin or spaniel, these charming, noble dogs likely came from Korea or China more than 500 years ago. The Japanese aristocracy made these dogs popular in Japan; they were revered in their highest social circles.
Weighing no more than 10 pounds, these small, dainty dogs were bestowed upon foreign diplomats and other nobility to commemorate their service to Japan. "Chin" means "royalty" in Japanese. This is an indoor breed and perfectly lovable companion that possesses an unmistakably Eastern look similar to pugs or shih tzus.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: 8 to 11 inches
Weight: 7 to 11 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Loyal, even-tempered, intelligent, social
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Long, sleek and smooth coat in black and white, lemon and white, sable and white, and black, white, and tan
Life Span: 10 to 14 years
Shikoku
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The Shikoku (also known as the "Shikoku Inu" or "Kochi-ken") is a native Japanese breed that was a hunting dog. Japanese hunters highly valued them as a tracker of game, particularly wild boar.
These dogs are known for their endurance, intelligence, and alertness. Though they are enthusiastic hunters, the Shikoku is docile towards their master.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; not an AKC recognized breed
Height: 17 to 22 inches
Weight: 35 to 55 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Protective, loyal, calm, athletic
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Outer coat is harsh and straight, while the inner is soft and dense; comes in red, black and tan, or sesame
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Tosa Inu
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The largest of all Japanese breeds, the Tosa Inu is a rare Japanese mastiff-type breed that was bred to become an ultimate fighting dog. The breed originated in the Tosa region, where dogfighting was once an important and celebratory sport. This dog is also called the Tosa ken, Tosa token, Japanese fighting dog, and Japanese mastiff. They are still used in dog fights today; dogfighting remains legal in Japan.
Tosas are eager-to-please dogs, attuned to their owners, but are not only overly athletic. With a potential weight of up to 200 pounds, these massive and intimidating dogs have been banned in some countries. Today's Tosa is quietly affectionate with families but can be somewhat aloof with strangers. They are highly watchful of other dogs, mainly unknown dogs.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; not an AKC recognized breed
Height: At least 21.5 to 23.5 inches
Weight: 100 to 200 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Alert, intelligent, brave, protective
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short, dense coat comes in colors including fawn, red, apricot, black or brindle; can also have white markings on their chest and feet
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Hokkaido Inu
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Considered one of the oldest and wildest dogs of Japanese descent, the Hokkaido Inu is a bold, athletic, and muscular breed tasked with the job of guarding, hunting, and sledding. This breed is extremely rare outside of Japan.
The Hokkaido is a faithful, dignified dog with a great deal of stamina and endurance. They are docile and very alert. They make loyal, dedicated, and eager-to-please companions; however, they can become overly wary of strangers if not socialized properly.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; not an AKC recognized breed
Height: 18 to 20 inches
Weight: 44 to 66 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, protective, alert, loyal
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Double coat in white, red, black, brindle, sesame, or wolf grey that has protective, coarse outer guard hairs, along with a fine, thick undercoat that sheds seasonally
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Kai Ken
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The Kai Ken is one of the six native Japanese breeds, and this highly intelligent, eager-to-please breed is another rare find. These dogs hunted a wide range of game in Japan's Kai mountains.
Kai Kens are devoted and trustworthy guardians of their families. They are athletic with a strong drive to hunt. They can even climb trees and will swim rivers while in pursuit of their prey.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; not an AKC recognized breed
Height: 15.5 to 19.5 inches
Weight: 20 to 40 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Loyal, protective, affectionate, intelligent
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Unique camouflage-friendly brindle coat that comes in three colors: black brindle, brindle, and red brindle
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Ryukyu Inu
Ryukyu Mike / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
A scarce breed, the courageous yet docile Ryukyu Inu hails from Japan's southern islands (Okinawa) and is called the "national treasure" of the island. They look similar to the Kai Ken, but their history remains a bit more unclear.
These dogs were likely bred to hunt and track wild boars on the Japanese island. This breed's dewclaw enables these dogs to climb trees and track their prey from higher vantage points while hunting in the rainforest.
Breed Overview
Group: Not an AKC recognized breed
Height: 17 to 19.5 inches
Weight: Up to 40 to 50 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Active, loyal, courageous
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short and long; single and double-coated; brindle, black brindle, white brindle, black, white, sesame, ivory, liver, and red
Life Span: 12 to 13 years
Kishu
According to AKC, the Kishu Ken "developed from tough, medium-sized dogs that roamed the mountains of Japan many centuries ago." They were used for hunting boar and deer and considered a "memorial of nature." The Wakayama region is where the breed was developed.
The dog’s white coat color was favored by the hunters because it made them easier to see. Before 1934, you could find Kishus sporting coats in brindle, red, white, and spotted colors. However, by 1945, there weren’t anymore spotted Kishus, as the accepted colors for the breed were solid.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; not an AKC recognized breed
Height: 17 to 22 inches
Weight: 30 to 60 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, social, alert, loyal
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: The coat is short, straight, and coarse with a thick undercoat; most are white, but can also be sesame, red, and black and tan
Life Span: 11 to 13 years
Japanese Terrier
Around 1700, during the Edo Era, a primitive English smooth fox terrier bred with a mix of native Japanese small breeds and eventually Italian greyhounds. By the 1900s, they were called Kobe terriers, named for the region where they lived. Today's Japanese terriers are a mix of those Kobe terriers with English toy terriers and toy bull terriers from the West.
These dogs were recognized by the Japan Kennel Club in the 1930s and spread throughout Japan in the 1940s. World War II and the rising popularity of other Western breeds nearly wiped them out. They continue to hunt boar to this day and are a friendly, agile little breed.
Breed Overview
Group: AKC Foundation Stock Service; not an AKC recognized breed
Height: 11 to 13 inches
Weight: 5 to 10 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Protective, independent, lively, intelligent
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Smooth glossy coat in white and tan, black and tan, and black
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Breed Characteristics
Some of these Japanese dog breeds are double-coated, intelligent, spitz-type breeds. Spitzes have long, thick fur, and pointed ears and muzzles. The tail often curls over the dog's back or droops. Their double coats are suited for colder temperatures and mountainous terrain and can withstand the unique climate fluctuations of this island country.
The other non-spitz Japanese breeds were imported to the country, including dogs bred for companionship, fighting, or hunting.
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Read the original article on The Spruce Pets.