The Kishu (Kishū-Inu), sometimes called Kishu Ken or Kishu Inu, is a Japanese breed of dog, developed there for thousands of years. It is descended from ancient medium-sized breeds and named after the Kishu region, now Mie Prefecture and Wakayama Prefecture. This breed is similar to the Hokkaido, Shikoku and the Kai Ken.
The Kishu Ken should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
Beyond regular weekly grooming, the occasional bath will keep your Kishu clean and looking his best. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your dog. The strong, fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which can result in infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
Kishus require daily exercise and stimulation, but as a dog that is built to run and hunt, the quality of the activity is more important than the physical exercise. Having a large yard where the dogs can run around is good for daily use, but without the stimulation, daily walks may become boring and yards will just end up a place of contention where your Kishu may become a master escape artist or a brilliant excavator. Giving your Kishu Ken a nice, daily walk in addition to alternating “adventures” or enriching activities (hiking in a new place, taking them to a new neighborhood to walk around, introducing a novel toy or item or just something high-value they can take time with) will satisfy their needs.
Most Kishu Kens are healthy dogs. Working with a responsible breeder, those wishing to own a Kishu Ken can gain the education they need to know about specific health concerns within the breed. Good breeders utilize health screening and genetic testing of their breeding stock to reduce the likelihood of disease in their puppies.
The Japanese dog breeds are ancient and developed from a common source. In Japan, spitz-type hunting dogs (canis familiaris palustris) lived over 3000 years ago. The Kishu Ken (ken meaning “dog” in Japanese) developed from tough, medium-sized dogs that roamed the mountains of Japan many centuries ago. They were the matagi’s dogs, used to hunt boar and deer. The region in Japan called Wakayama is best known for the breeding and development of the Kishu. In early years, Kishus came in different colors, but the white-coated Kishus showed superior qualities and therefore were used more often for breeding. The hunters preferred the white color because of easy visibility. Working dogs were bred for efficiency and usefulness. Prior to 1934, there were Kishus in white, red, brindle and some that were spotted. But the solid colors became the only accepted colors and the spotted-coat Kishus had disappeared by 1945. Today, the white coat is the preferred color and virtually the only color seen in show Kishus. In 1934, the Kishu was designated a “Memorial of Nature” in its native country. The Japanese people are proud of their dogs and bestow honors and praise on them. This pride and commitment to their national treasures, and the Kishu is one of them, is the reason the Kishus are rarely exported.