Shikoku Standard

Origin: Japan

Utilization :

Hunting dog, companion.

Classification :

FCI, Group 5 (Spitz and primitive type).

Sektion 5 (Asian Spitz and related breeds).

Without working trial.

Brief Historical Summary :

This breed goes back to medium-sized dogs existed in Japan in acient times. The Shikoku was bred as a hunting dog, mainly for hunting boar in the mountainous districs of Kochi Prefecture.It is sometimes called "Kochi-Ken" (Ken = Dog). There were three varieties of this breed - Awa, Hongawa and Hata - all named after the area where they where bred. Among them, the Hongawa maintained the higest degree of purity, because the breeding area was not easily accessible from anywhere.

These dogs are tough and sufficiently agile to run through a mountainous region. They are characterized by their sesame coloured coats. The breed took on the name of the region and was designated as a "Natural Monument" in 1937.

General Appearance :

A medium-size dog with well balanced and well developed clean cut muscles. It has pricked ears and a curled or sickle tail. Conformation: Strong, well-boned and compact.

Important Proportion :

The ratio of height at withers to length of body is 10:11.

Behaviour / Temperament :

A dog marked endurance, keen in sense with a naive feeling, energetic and highly alert, an enthusiastic hunter, docile towards his master.

Tail :

Set on high, thick and carried over the back vigorously curled or curved like a sickle. The tip nearly reaches the hocks when let down.

Limbs :

Forequarters :

Shoulder : Moderately sloping with developed muscles.

Elbows : Set close to the body

Forearms : Straight and clean cut.

Pasterns : Slightly inclining.

Hindquarters:

Powerful, with muscles well developed.

Hocks:

Moderately angulated and very tough.

Feet:

Tightly closed with well arched toes. Pads hard and elastic. Nails hard and black or dark in colour.

Gait / Movement :

Resilient, with rahter narrow strides, but light. Action is quick and turning is possible.

Coat :

Hair : Outer coat rahter harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense. The hair on the tail is rather long.

Colour : Sesame, black sesame and red sesame

Definition of the colour sesame:

Sesame : Equal mixture of white and black hairs

Black Sesame : More black than white hairs

Red Sesame : Ground colour of hair red, mixture with black hairs.

Size :

Height at withers:

Dogs : 52 cm

Bitches : 46 cm

There is a tolerance of +/- 3 cm. .

Faults :

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be en exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the Health and welfare of the dog.

* Bitchy dogs/doggy bitches.

* Slightly overshot or undershot mouth.

* Long hair.

* Shyness.

N.B.:

* Male animals should have 2 apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

* Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical comformation should be used for breeding.