Kishu

The Kishu is a Japanese breed descended from ancient medium-sized dogs. It is named after the old Kishu region, now Mie and Wakayama prefectures, where it was bred to hunt wild boar and deer in the mountains. It remains the purebred native Japanese dog most often used for boar hunting.

History

A legend from the Kii peninsula says the first boar dog, the forefather of the Kishu, was a wolf pup given to a hunter who had shown kindness to an injured she-wolf. Many Kishu still carry the word wolf in their names.

In the 1930s the breeder Haruo Isogai sorted Japan’s native dogs into large, medium and small types, placing the Kishu among the medium ones. The breed was standardised in 1934 from dogs gathered in its home region, and in the same year it was designated a living natural monument of Japan. At the outset about 70 percent of the dogs were said to be colored. A popular white line later spread through the breed, and white now predominates.

The main registries are the Japan Kennel Club and Nihon Ken Hozonkai, which wrote the original standard. The Kishu is rare outside Japan, and even there its numbers are falling fast. The American Kennel Club lists it as a Foundation Stock breed. The National Kishu Ken Club became its US parent club in 2022, and in 2023 it was moved from the Working Group to the Hound Group.

Appearance

The Kishu stands 43–55 cm tall and weighs 30 to 60 pounds. The coat is short, straight and coarse over a thick undercoat, with fringing on the cheeks and tail. Only solid colors may be shown: white, sesame, red and, under the Japanese standard, black and tan. White was preferred because it made the dog easy to tell from the quarry. The nose is black, though white dogs may have a flesh-colored one. The ears are fairly small and tilt forward, and the tail is carried as a sickle or curled over the back.

Temperament

Kishu are quiet dogs that stalk game silently instead of barking. They are brave hunters with a strong prey drive. They often attach themselves to one person, are loyal to the family, and get along with children they are raised with. With strangers they may be aloof or shy. They are intelligent and easily housebroken but headstrong, so training is needed. Well-socialised dogs do well with other dogs, though they can turn combative when frustrated or pushed. They like to watch what is going on, sometimes from a high perch.

The traditional hunt is called one gun, one dog: a single hunter and dog stalking boar together.

Care and health

Data on the breed is limited. Most Kishu tested in Finland’s public health database have sound hips; elbows have scored less well. The breed seems prone to allergies, notably to grass and dust mites, and to autoimmune and skin conditions. Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism are noted. Eye problems include persistent pupillary membranes, entropion and, recently, juvenile cataracts.

The stiff topcoat sheds dirt easily. The dogs shed once or twice a year and need more brushing then. They need regular exercise and a fenced space.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.