Kishu

Kyushu

Companion, hunting, guard, alarm, herding or guide dog... Whatever the function assigned, the Kishu fulfills it with loyalty, ardor, docility and a beautiful and very contagious spirit. This magnificent specimen, very popular in his country, greatly benefits from being known everywhere else in the world.

Height 43 to 55 cm
Weight 20 to 25 kg
Life expectancy 11 to 13 years
Home country Japan

Quick Overview of the Kishu

Temperament

  • Calm and docile
  • Affectionate and gentle
  • Dignified and very faithful
  • Wide awake

Appearance

  • Well-proportioned
  • Highly developed muscles
  • Compact and robust silhouette
  • Working dog appearance

Health

  • Robust and very solid
  • Excellent health
  • Rarely ill
  • No particular pathology

Temperament of the Kishu

Calm, docile, affectionate, gentle, dignified and very loyal, the Kishu is a very alert dog of unfailing loyalty.

Extremely intelligent, his training is generally easy even if it must be firm and adequate.

Still used today to hunt wild boar, the Kishu is remarkably hardy and has strong hunting instincts.

Also used for guarding and driving herds, he can easily work from one place to another with or without the master's orders.

This excellent hunter is a very worthy dog with great pride. Like most Japanese dogs, he is extremely loyal to his family. His presence, loyalty, consistency and great joy of life make him an extraordinary companion dog.

Breed Appearance

kishu

Of medium size, he is endowed with a well-proportioned physique and a very developed musculature.

His compact silhouette is robust, with a good bone structure. He is a working dog with great stamina and energy.

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 20 and 25 kg (44.09 to 55.12 pounds) for the male
Between 20 and 25 kg (44.09 to 55.12 pounds) for the female

Color

His coat is unicoloured, but it can be sesame, white or red.

Hair

His coat is straight, rough and coarse while the undercoat is dense and very soft.

His hair is moderately long on cheeks and tail.

Morphology

His head has a broad skull and rather pronounced stop.

His small, almost triangular eyes are dark brown. His small ears are firmly erect and also triangular in shape.

His nose is all black. His tail is carried sickle-shaped or strongly curled over the back.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 5, section 5 and is #318

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Kishu puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder

Kishu puppies near me

Tips About this breed

Spirited, he loves to move. However, he can live anywhere, even in an apartment, if necessary.

He does need to move regularly and exercise in large spaces on an equally regular basis.

He must be able to spend all his beautiful energy as often as possible, in order to keep a good balance. His master must therefore be available and present to ensure frequent contact.

His education is usually easy, because his intelligence makes the task much easier, but it must always measure up to his character.

Firmness, but without brutality or aggressiveness, must be the basis of his education. He must be held firmly and if necessary, getting help from a professional canine education centre is an option.

His socialization must also be early and perfect.

This very gentle and affectionate dog can be a delight to all kinds of owners, as long as the owner is willing to spend time with him and take him out frequently.

He loves his family and must be able to benefit from their presence very often.

Although not aggressive, his loyalty make him an excellent guard and alarm dog. He can easily deter intruders.

Health of the Kishu

Robust and very solid, this hardy dog has excellent health and is rarely sick.

The breed does not suffer from any particular pathology and the dog enjoys a good life expectancy.

GROOMING

His pretty and very special coat needs daily and energetic brushing to keep it clean, healthy and beautiful. No other special care is necessary.

History of this breed

Originally from Japan, the Kishu is a medium-sized Japanese dog that once existed in the land of the rising sun. The breed evolved and settled in the mountainous regions of Kishu, in Mie and Wakayama prefecture.

Initially, specimens often had sesame or red brindle marks on their coats. Around 1934, the single-colored type was official and only single-colored coats were recognised for the breed. The conspicuous marks of the past have disappeared forever since 1945.

Formerly used to hunt deer, today he is more commonly used to hunt wild boar. His official name comes from his native region, and in 1934, the Japanese authorities declared the breed a "Natural Monument".

These hounds can follow wounded game by smell, as well as chase unwounded game very efficiently.

A wonderful hunting dog, he has excellent companion dog skills and can easily fulfill the tasks of guard, alarm and security dog.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

best fresh dog food 5 brands

We Tried 5 Fresh Dog Food Brands

Is all the marketing hype worth it? Did our dogs enjoy them? Here’s our dogs’ totally honest review.