Snow -white Japanese dog Kisu: a brave hunter with a complex character

The snow-white Japanese dog breed known as the Kishu is not only a beautiful sight but also an interesting breed with a fascinating past. Hunters in Japan have long loved Kishu dogs, who are renowned for their courage and hunting skills. They are the perfect companions because of their loyalty and protective nature, especially for people who value having a close relationship with their pets.

The Kishu is prized for its remarkable appearance, but it also has a nuanced personality. Due to their intelligence and independence, these dogs frequently need an owner with experience who can meet their particular needs. Their lively personality can occasionally cause difficulties during training, but they can flourish with persistence and patience.

Although this breed excels at tracking and retrieving due to their strong hunting instincts, they can be troublesome in unstructured settings. Because of their combination of bravery and sensitivity, kishu are highly responsive to praise and require a lot of mental and physical stimulation in order to be happy and healthy.

Brief historical certificate

The canine The Kisu Ken is a primitive native spicaceous breed that originated in Japan approximately 3,000 years ago, without any human involvement. Its precise home is the Vakaiama Prefecture, which is found in the Hokkaido Island’s mountainous regions (Kisu Province). These canines were employed to drive hares, roe deer, wild boars, bears, and feathered game during the Middle Ages. There are historical drawings from the 13th and 14th centuries that show dogs that resemble kishu in appearance and go hunting with a person.

Since ancient times, hunting has been conducted with dogs resembling the kishu.

The Nippo organization (Association for the Preservation of Japanese Dogs) published the first breed standard in 1934, and ever since then, it has been illegal to export animals overseas. Only in the 1970s of the previous century was the ban lifted, allowing the breed to compete internationally. The kishu was registered under No. 318 in group 5 – Spitz and primitive breeds (section 5 – Asian Spitz and related breeds) of the FCI (International Cynological Federation) registry list in 1982. On June 16, 1999, the breed standard that is in use today was approved.

The kishu’s origin is the subject of a legend. As she cared for a wounded she-wolf, a Japanese hunter made a request in return for one of the wolf’s future cubs. The hunter received a wolf cub from the she-wolf, who fulfilled her promise. The cub was raised by a man and went on to become the ancestor of all cats.

Description of the breed kisu

The Japanese kisu retains its professional traits and is fundamentally a working hunting dog. However, this breed is now more likely to be produced as companion, friend, and pet dogs.

Appearance

The stocky, powerful, yet extremely harmonious and balanced build of the Kishwu Japanese dog is distinguished by its remarkable bone structure and exquisitely formed muscular corset. The animal doesn’t appear heavy or bulky, but rather lean and compact. The body has a slight elongation, a deep chest with slightly curved ribs, a short, straight back with a well-expressed foot, and a non-sagging stomach (selected). There is strong expression of sexual dimorphism; bitches are significantly smaller than males.

The Kisu is regarded as a breed of medium size.

• Growth at the withers:

• bitch – 43–49 cm;
• Kobel – 49–55 cm.

Japanese kisu is characterized by light, elegant movements and a quick, flexible gait.

The coat is of the aboriginal variety, with short, very dense, well-filled soft undercoat and coarse, straight outer hair. The hair is a little bit longer on the tail and on the cheekbones of the muzzle. At the moment, only three hues are accepted:

• white (basic);
• red;
• sesame (sesame), black and tan – fawn or reddish hairs with black tips.

Kishu is typically all white.

Kishu used to come in a variety of colors, including red, beige, spotted and striped, white, and black. However, mishaps involving darker-colored dogs frequently happened during hunting because of hunters’ mistakes, particularly those made by inexperienced ones. On the other hand, the white kishu-ken is easier to identify for both game and the hunter. This makes it easier for the hunter to follow the dog and also lowers the possibility of accidentally firing at it. The Dog Breed Encyclopedia

Character and psyche

Kishu are distinguished by their balance, imperturbability and some coldness, attributed to the entire Japanese nation. In ordinary everyday life, they are calm, a little rough, sometimes overly self-confident, but not aggressive. Thanks to their mobile and flexible nervous system, they are always ready to switch and start working immediately. The hunting instincts of these dogs are superbly developed, they are determined, courageous and extremely hardy. They can lie in wait for prey for a long time, demonstrating intelligence, considerable intelligence and even cunning. They have an innate passion for hunting. A distinctive feature of the breed is their taciturnity; Kishu Inu will never bark unless absolutely necessary.

Kishu Inu are self-sufficient and stubborn, so they need to be taught the rules of good behavior from childhood. Only in this case they become excellent and obedient companion dogs. Usually the dog chooses one most significant owner and will be devoted to him for the rest of his life. Japanese dogs cannot be given away or given to other people. They are loyal to all family members and children, in particular, but, being serious and wayward creatures, they do not allow themselves to be squeezed and tyrannized. Other animals may be of interest to them in terms of prey, but they perceive cats that have grown up with them quite adequately. They are extremely wary of strangers, and carefully protect their territory from all sorts of encroachments.

Kisyu’s greatest passion is hunting.

Those who are active, mobile, and laid back are better suited to own such animals because Kisyu require a lot of physical activity. Everywhere their owner goes, they will go with them, be it for a morning jog, an out-of-town bike ride, a hiking excursion, or—most importantly—hunting, which is the purpose of life for any hunting dog.

I know from personal experience that a hunting dog (we had a German pointer, a Drahthaar) that has unfulfilled instincts gets fidgety and agitated. She stops following instructions, pulls dirty pranks, chews everything in sight, and has a depressing expression. The animal doesn’t start to resemble itself until it has satisfied its need for activity and ran around to its heart’s content.

Faults and disqualifying faults

As per the standard, errors are:

• any strong deviation from standard characteristics (size, weight);
• elongated hair;
• inadvertent dimorphism (very large female or small male).

Faults that disqualify are:

• jaw defects (overshot, undershot);
• ears that are not erect (drooping);
• short tail;
• hanging tail (not curled into a ring);
• cryptorchidism;
• aggression;
• timidity;
• cowardice.

Choosing a puppy

The Kishu is regarded as a rare and uncommon breed, even in Japan. There are very few nurseries that professionally breed these dogs in other countries. Purchasing a Kishu Inu puppy is a very challenging task because they are incredibly rare in our nation.

It’s challenging to purchase Kishu puppies

A young Kishu can be mistaken for our Laikas, other Japanese canines, and mongrel dogs that are merely similar in appearance. The only people who can truly comprehend all the nuances are extremely skilled dog handlers, and even they are rare and only exist in Japan. As a result, you should only purchase a puppy from a reputable, experienced breeder who has received great feedback and recommendations. He needs to give the required bundle of papers that will verify the animal’s pedigree, such as the puppy card, veterinary book with immunization records, hunting diplomas from the parents, and a pedigree up to the fifth generation.

In Russia, the nurseries "Nord Fantasy," "SNOW GALAXY," and "Kryazh Yakutii" sell kishu puppies. Puppies of the Japanese Kishu Inu are priced starting at 100,000 rubles.

Video: Kishu Inu puppy

Care of kishu

Taking care of the Kishu is not hard. The thick coat needs extra care; it needs to be combed once a week and dead hairs removed with a firm brush. Every day the process is carried out during the two-year period of active molting. The dog only needs to be bathed when it gets dirty, which is no more than twice or three times a year. Every week, the eyes and ears are checked and cleaned using specialty lotions or herbal concoctions. Teeth are brushed once every five to seven days on average. Claws are clipped with special scissors once every three to four weeks.

Kishu-ken eat anything that is offered to them with pleasure; they are not picky eaters. You can feed them store-bought dry food and homemade food. A natural diet ought to include:

• lean meats (horse meat, veal, rabbit, beef and p.);
• boiled offal (kidneys, lungs, liver and p.);
• cartilage, tripe;
• boiled vegetables (cabbage, zucchini, turnips and pr.);
• eggs;
• low-fat dairy products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, sour cream);
• porridge (buckwheat, millet, barley and pr.);
• vitamin and mineral supplements.

Choose freeze-dried store-bought food items (such as Akana, Hills, Purina Pro Plan, etc.) that are either super premium or at least premium class. Adults eat twice daily. Food is given to babies more frequently—two to six times, depending on their age.

It is preferable to keep the cat in an aviary or in the house’s yard.

Although they can live in an apartment, kishu inus do better in a country home with a large, well-fenced yard or in an enclosure with an insulated kennel. The breed requires an hour-long daily walk. To ensure that the dog gets enough physical exercise, walks should be as active as possible (running, jumping, passing obstacles, apportion, etc.).

Kisu is known for his sharp mind and fast wit. There have been documented cases where the dogs opened the valves and turned on the light.

Training

Kisu needs to be educated from an early age due to their rather complex character. Starting the process of subsequent training after six months will be made much easier with early socialization. These dogs are challenging to train because they are obstinate and strong-willed, search for significance in everything, and never immediately comply with instructions. This breed doesn’t respond well to force; instead, it needs subtle handling.

Kishu training ought to be ongoing.

It is advised that Kishu Inus only be purchased by seasoned dog breeders. Contacting the dog can be facilitated by a trainer who has worked with Japanese canines in the past. Only when their owner is treated with unconditional respect will animals that are naturally dominant and leader-oriented comply.

Video: education of aboriginal Japanese dogs

Kishu diseases

No genetic pathologies have been discovered in Japanese Kishu because they are part of breeds that have a thousand-year history and were formed entirely independently under rigorous natural selection. These animals have a strong immune system and are naturally healthy. They have a 14–16 year lifespan.

Video: festival of Japanese dog breeds

Breed	Kishu Ken
Color	Snow-white
Temperament	Brave and independent
Hunting Ability	Excellent
Common Traits	Complex character, loyal, protective

Renowned for its hunting prowess, the snow-white Kishu is a breed distinguished by its audacity and distinct character. These dogs are not only exceptionally smart and tenacious, but they are also stunning. Their strong hunting instincts make them great companions for anyone who enjoys being outside and having adventures.

But because of their complicated nature, they need a caretaker who respects and comprehends their independence. For these dogs to flourish, socialization and training are essential. One can turn a Kishu into a devoted and caring family member by using the appropriate methods.

In the end, the Kishu is a magnificent breed that combines strength and grace. This dog offers exciting outdoor companionship as well as companionship to those who are willing to put in the time and effort.

The rare snow-white Japanese Kishu dog is renowned for its courage and multifaceted nature, which endows it with exceptional hunting skills and makes it a devoted friend. This breed needs an owner who is sensitive to its subtleties and capable of providing appropriate training and socialization because of its strong inclination toward independence. They are not only fascinating additions to any home, but also a great pet due to their striking appearance and lively nature.

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