About me

My name is Kirsten Hoogendoorn, and I live in Bodegraven, the Netherlands. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted a dog. In 2019, I finally decided to actively search for the perfect one. I had quite a long wishlist, but it turned out to be harder than expected to find a breed that truly matched everything I was looking for. That changed when I was introduced to the Akita through someone I knew. Suddenly, I could tick off every box on my list. After speaking with a breeder, I completely fell in love with the breed.

Not long after, I was able to visit a litter—and that’s where Yoshi chose me. Yoshi is an American Akita x Akita Inu mix. This means he doesn’t have a pedigree, but to me, that doesn’t make him any less special. He is my perfect dog, and I couldn’t have wished for a better first companion. About a year later, I started thinking about adding a second dog to our family. I noticed that Yoshi is very social and clearly missed having more interaction with other dogs. Once again, I had a list of wishes in mind. Through friends, I was introduced to the Shikoku. I quickly fell in love with this breed as well, but most importantly, I wanted to see how Yoshi would feel about it.

After taking him to several “Meet My Shikoku” walks (organized by Fanny Liederkerke), it became clear that Yoshi was just as enthusiastic about the breed as I was. That gave me the confidence to start looking for a Shikoku breeder. I soon discovered that Shikoku are quite rare in the Netherlands, and that many dogs here share similar bloodlines. Because of this, I decided to look abroad, hoping that my future Shikoku could one day contribute to the breed’s diversity. This journey led me to Fudzisan Kennel in Russia, where I found Yindi, our Shikoku. She was imported to the Netherlands, and you can read more about her on her own page.

Starting January 2024, I am also continuing my passion for these beautiful breeds through my own grooming salon, Trimsalon Bijo, located in Garderen. Here, I mainly groom Japanese breeds and other northern (spitz-type) dogs.

My Goal in Breeding

I do not breed dogs simply to increase numbers—quite the opposite. With every pairing I carefully plan, my goal is to preserve and improve the breed by maintaining as much diversity, stability, and health as possible. This philosophy is reflected in my breeding program: from each litter, one or more puppies are kept within my kennel or placed with like-minded breeders who share the same vision. Equally important to me is preserving the true Shikoku character—an independent, balanced, and natural breed, just as it was originally developed.

In addition, I strongly believe in contributing to the preservation of the breed in its country of origin, Japan. That is why, since 2025, I have been a member of the Nihonken Hozonkai (NIPPO). When both parent dogs hold a NIPPO pedigree, their puppies are eligible to receive an original Japanese pedigree as well. I consider this recognition a very valuable addition to my breeding program.

My dogs live together with me and my partner in our home as full members of the family. They are part of our everyday life, sleep indoors, and join us on our adventures. It is very important to me that future puppy owners share this same philosophy and see their dog as a true family member.

All of my dogs are thoroughly health tested, including screening for hip dysplasia (HD), patella luxation (PL), elbow dysplasia (ED), and eye conditions (ECVO). This allows me to continue working responsibly towards a healthy future for the breed.

Education & Seminars

- November 20, 2022 – Workshop Conformation & Movement, organized by Nippon Inu Nederland

- April 5, 2023 – Basic Genetics, Breed Development, Hereditary Conditions & Coat Color Genetics, organized by Woof Experience Dog School

- May 23, 2024 – First Aid for Dogs and Cats, organized by Dierengezondheidscentrum De Limes

- October 24, 2024 – Eye Conditions in Dogs, by Drs. Roswitha van der Sandt & the Dutch Akita Inu Association

- October 11, 2025 – Japanese Style Handling of Akita Inu, by AKIHO judges Kimoto Kazou & Õtsu Kentarõ

- November 18, 2025 – The Fairy Tale Begins with the Right Match, organized by the Dutch Kennel Club (Raad van Beheer) & Mr. Bart Broeckx

- December 5, 2025 - Shikoku Seminar, WUAC