Shikoku

Kochi Ken

The Shikoku isn't really a pet dog. Created for hunting, he excels at hunting wild boar, but he is also very popular as a show dog. His special color gives him a remarkable appearance. Even though he is docile and loyal to his master, he is essentially a hunting or show dog, and will need a lot of exercise to be happy and feel good. Sedentary people should think twice before buying such a dog. He may be better suited for sportsmen, despite his excellent temperament. The Shikoku is a well-known breed in Japan, but rather unknown elsewhere on the planet.

Height 43 to 55 cm
Weight 16 to 25 kg
Life expectancy 10 to 12 years
Home country Japan

Quick Overview of the Shikoku

Temperament

  • Energetic and lively
  • Resistant and tenacious
  • Agile and passionate
  • Good temperament, docile

Appearance

  • Very well proportioned
  • Highly developed limbs
  • Excellent bones
  • Strong and compact appearance

Health

  • Rustic, solid and robust
  • Generally healthy
  • No particular pathology

Temperament of the Shikoku

Energetic, lively, resistant, docile, tenacious, agile and passionate, the Shikoku is endowed with a good temperament.

Excellent hunter, especially of wild boar, he is also very popular as a show dog.

Very loyal and docile, he is nevertheless relatively independent. Patience, gentleness but also firmness must be part of his education.

Sociable and fairly docile, his education generally poses no problems.

Breed Appearance

shikoku

Very well proportioned, this medium-size dog has highly developed and well defined limbs.

His bone structure is excellent, and his gait, rather strong and compact, gives him a unique look.

Height

Between 49 and 55 cm (19.29 to 21.65 inches) for the male
Between 43 and 49 cm (16.93 to 19.29 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 16 and 25 kg (35.27 to 55.12 pounds) for the male
Between 16 and 25 kg (35.27 to 55.12 pounds) for the female

Color

The dress of Shikoku varies in different shades of sesame. Sesame with black and white hair in an equal mixture, red sesame with black hair on a red background and black sesame, where black largely prevails over white are the three possibilities.

Hair

His coat is straight and rather rough, while the undercoat is dense but soft.

Morphology

His head has a rather broad skull. His small triangular eyes are set wide apart and are dark brown.

His small, straight, triangular ears are slightly tilted forward.

His nose is black. His long tail forms a pretty curved loop, or is curled, as the case may be.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 5, section 5 and is #319

Shikoku puppies near me

Tips About this breed

This magnificent dog is specialized in hunting boar.

The owner must be prepared to spend lots of time walking the dog, especially if the owner is a city dweller.

A house with a large garden where he can run around is ideal for the Shikoku.

Despite his good temperament, he can sometimes be incompatible with very young children.

His lively and independent character may give him impetuous tendencies, but generally speaking, he gets along well with everyone.

The necessary ingredients for good behaviour will be gentleness, firmness and patience. These three elements will make his education a very successful blend.

Health of the Shikoku

The Shikoku is a hardy, solid and robust dog that generally enjoys excellent health.

No particular pathology affects the race. His life expectancy is also very good.

GROOMING

No special maintenance is required for the Shikoku. A brushing from time to time is enough to ensure a beautiful and healthy coat.

History of this breed

Of very ancient origin, the Shikoku, living primarily in the Kochi region of Japan, was mainly used for wild boar hunting.

Bred mostly in mountainous regions, there were three varieties: Hongawa, Hata and Awa. The main variety was the Hongawa, which retained the highest level of purity in the breed.

The Shikoku is considered a "Natural Monument" in his country and has been since 1937.

Tenacious and very agile, the Shikoku is mainly used for hunting wild boar or as a show dog.

His sesame-colored coat is a very special feature of his appearance, making him a popular dog for dog shows.

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