Fast Facts

Country of Origin:	Japan
AKC Group:	Rare
UKC Group:	Rare
Use today:	Companion, hunting
Life Span:	13 to 15 years
Color:	Sesame (mix of black and white hairs), black sesame (more black than white hairs) and red sesame (more black than white hairs).
Coat:	Double coat, with a harsh, straight outer coat and a soft, dense undercoat.
Size:	Medium Dog Breed
Height:	17 to 21.5 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight:	33 to 55 pounds

Imagine a dog tough, tireless and agile enough to hunt boar in the mountains of Japan. This is the Shikoku, an ancient, enthusiastic hunting dog that is so admired in Japan, the country designated it as a Natural Monument in 1937. Sometimes it is also called the Kochi-Ken, after the Kochi Prefecture (similar to a state) in which it hunted. The Shikoku is a typical spitz-type dog, with a triangular head, pointed muzzle, prick ears, thick coat and a bushy tail that curls over its back. This muscular, well-proportioned breed usually stands 171/2 to 21 inches tall at the shoulders. The weather-resistant double coat has a short, harsh and straight outer coat with a dense, soft undercoat. The Shikoku's coat colors are sesame (black-tipped hairs on a red background), black sesame (heavy overlay of black-tipped hairs on red) and red sesame (light black overlay on red). Its alert brown eyes don't miss much. Although the Shikoku is obedient toward its owner, it requires early socialization and consistent training to tame its abundant energy and innocent spirit.

Photo courtesy of Jesse Pelayo

Breed Warz

Shikoku Products

	The Original Dog Bible, Second Edition Best-seller, The Original Dog Bible just got bigge...$29.95		The Big Book of Simple Solutions: Training Your Dog Compiled from the best-selling Simple Solutions se...$14.95
	The Puppy Pack (OUT OF STOCK) Starting on the road with your new puppy, you can ...$19.95		Popular Dogs: Training for Obedience Follow our tips and tools to train your dog in the...$9.99