The Shikoku

The Shikoku is one of the six original Japanese hunting breeds, a medium-sized dog with a medium to high energy level. Quick understanding and independent thinking were essential for the breed’s success in hunting. Today, this ability is often mistaken for stubbornness, as this highly intelligent breed—never selected for command-based obedience—does not constantly seek guidance from its owner.

 

Like most primitive breeds, the Shikoku has a strong sense of self-preservation and can often appear reserved and distant towards strangers. However, this should not be confused with shyness or nervousness: the breed should be confident and alert. The Shikoku is an adaptable breed with an excellent “off-switch” in the home. That said, they are active dogs, always ready for new adventures. They form strong bonds with their owners and can develop into wonderful family companions when handled correctly. Trust and mutual respect are essential for a Shikoku to thrive as a modern household dog.

 

Motivating a Shikoku during training—especially once they grow out of puppyhood—can be a challenge, and the right approach may vary greatly from one dog to another. However, once the right method is found, their intelligence and sharpness make them surprisingly responsive and quick learners. It is worth noting that frustration with barriers, reactivity towards other dogs, and environmental sensitivity are not uncommon traits within the breed.

The Japanese Wolfdog

In recent years, the Shikoku has sometimes been referred to as the “Japanese Wolfdog.” This nickname likely originates from their wolf-like appearance and stories of hunters tying females in heat in the forest to mate with the now-extinct Japanese wolf. These wolves, also known as the Honshu wolf, once roamed the border regions of the Kochi and Tokushima prefectures, and there are stories suggesting they may have interbred with local dogs.

 

The distinction between wolves and dogs in historical Japan was not always clear, partly due to the term “yamainu,” which translates to “mountain dog.” Historically, yamainu has been interpreted in various ways and was often used interchangeably with “okami,” meaning wolf, leading to considerable confusion. This ambiguity has been so significant that even scholars and naturalists in Japan have not reached a consensus to this day. Some argue that yamainu was simply another word for wolf, while others believe it may have referred to a wild dog, a subspecies of the Honshu wolf, a hybrid between the two, or even an entirely different type of wolf. These differing interpretations have led many to believe that Japan’s mountain dogs were at least closely related.

 

For a long time, stories about hunting dogs being bred with wolves were dismissed as anecdotal. However, modern science may have given new life to this idea. A 19th-century museum specimen, initially classified as a Japanese wolf, was later identified as a wolf-dog hybrid, with 39% of its DNA matching that of the modern Shiba—possibly reflecting the historically blurred boundaries surrounding the yamainu.

 

The same study also found that approximately 9.5% of the DNA of ancient Jomon dogs originated from the Japanese wolf. Modern Japanese dogs included in the study were found to carry around 3–4% of Japanese wolf DNA. Although slightly higher percentages were found in the New Guinea Singing Dog and the Dingo, Japanese breeds showed the highest affinity to the Japanese wolf among all dogs studied. This suggests that wolf DNA may have entered the Nihon Ken gene pool more recently than in the ancient Jomon dogs. Furthermore, researchers identified six specific genomic regions inherited from the Japanese wolf that may influence both physical and behavioral traits in Japanese dog breeds, potentially affecting characteristics such as appearance and temperament.

 

Given the complex history of the Shikoku and other Japanese breeds, it is important to be mindful of the labels we use. While the term “Japanese Wolfdog” may sound appealing and fitting for the Shikoku’s wild appearance, it is misleading, as it implies that the breed is a wolf hybrid. Moreover, it suggests a closer relationship between the Shikoku and the Japanese wolf compared to other Japanese breeds, for which there is no supporting evidence.

 

Source: Shikoku – The Breed Compendium

Breed infomation

You can find more information about the breed on the website of Nippon Inu.

There, you can find information on topics such as:

• The breed standard
• The history of the breed
• Information about coat colors
• Information about behavior and training
• Recognized breeders (in the Netherlands)
• Shikoku mating announcements and litter registrations

One of the advantages of choosing a recognized breeder who is affiliated with a breed club is that they are required to follow the club’s breeding regulations. These regulations include, among other things, mandatory health testing of the parent dogs before breeding.

Below you can find the official breeding regulations for the Shikoku, as set by the Nippon Inu breed club:

VFR Shikoku

 

Please be aware that when purchasing a Shikoku from a responsible breeder, the planned parent combination will always be communicated in advance. Additionally, deposits for a puppy should only be requested after the puppies have been born. If a “breeder” does not follow these practices, this may be an indication of irresponsible breeding and a lack of adherence to proper regulations and ethical standards.

Health Concerns in the Shikoku

Epilepsy