Dog Breed Guide

Kishu

Profile

Size

Medium

Country of origin

Japan

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Hunting (wild boar, deer)

Height

male about 52cm (20in), female about 46cm (18in)

Weight

15 - 25kg (33 - 55lb)

Life span

12 - 15 years

A Japanese dog with a pure white coat, erect triangular ears and a tail that is curled or carried high like a sickle. Red and sesame are also accepted besides white, but today almost all Kishu are white. Another characteristic is that many have a fifth toe, called a dewclaw, on the hind legs.

Brave, patient and composed, the Kishu is very loyal to its owner and deeply devoted to its family. It is wary of strangers and does not easily open up to them. Its hunting instinct is strong, so it may chase small animals.

It needs plenty of exercise, so give it good daily walks. It sheds heavily during shedding season and needs frequent brushing. Socialization from puppyhood is important.

Good to know

For centuries it was kept as a hunting dog for wild boar, bear and deer in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula (Wakayama and Mie Prefectures). It went by different local names, such as Taiji dog, Kumano dog and Koya dog, but when it was designated a Natural Monument of Japan on May 1, 1934, the name was unified as Kishu.

In fact, the Kishu of the past were not all white; many were brindle, sesame or pied. After the designation, breeding to standardize the color went forward, and today white dogs make up the great majority. Tales of great hunting dogs that bravely faced wild boar are still told in the region. In Wakayama and Mie, the Kishu is still cherished as a local treasure, and efforts to preserve it continue.