Hokkaido are intelligent , energetic , loyal dogs that purport to please their owners above all else . Learn more about this family - well-disposed pup who ’s aboriginal to Japan .
Avery rarified breedeven in its aboriginal country of Japan , the Hokkaido are exuberant , playful , andextremely fast to their proprietor . They ’re both agreat family dogand a fun outdoor companion who ’s full of energy . A average - sized working dog , thishighly healthy breedis easily trainable and thrives in a house with a expectant backyard for running around .
in the beginning breed for hunting , Hokkaido love life to spend clock time outside and conform well to cold climates because of their double coat . Whether they ’re acting like their owner ’s phantasm around the business firm orenjoying their day-by-day walks , these little - known , joyful frump are always eager to please the humans in their life and boom on love , attention , and plenty of exercise .
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Appearance
fully grown male Hokkaido dogs can weigh 30–45 pounds and reach a height of 18–21 in . As one of the sixnative Japanese spitz breeds(the others being theAkita , Shiba Inu , Kai Ken , Shikoku , and Kishu Ken ) , Hokkaido are considered right in the midsection of the pack when it comes to sizing , with Akitas being the largest and Shiba Inus being the belittled . you may distinguish thismedium - sized dogby his muscular build , pocket-sized and pointy ears , large paws that supply good constancy during exercise , and his signature stocky and fluffy plumed tail .
Hokkaido can come in five unlike colors : whitened , red , black and tan , brindle , and sesame . Very rarely , you could find a Hokkaido coat in wolf gray . Theyhave a double coatwith an extinct coat made of protective , vulgar safeguard hairs and a all right , dense undercoat that cast off seasonally . When they ’re actively shedding , they need to be brushed daily .
Temperament
Known for being fast to their families , Hokkaido desire the love and affectionateness of their mankind above all else . " Hokkaido bust their Black Maria on their sleeves , are honest and direct in their feelings , and do n’t hide their emotions , " Lindsay Tompkins , president ofHokkaido Association of North America , says . In fact , it ’s very plebeian for Hokkaido to stick to their possessor like glue andfollow them around the houseconstantly .
Extremely intelligent and good with task , Hokkaidorespond well to trainingand can pick up cues from their owners with ease . With a long history of being bred to work alongside their handler aslarge - game hunter , careful consideration and cookery should be taken when introducing this dog to other deary in the household , and make certain he hascontinual socialization experiences starting in puppyhood .
The only matter Hokkaido love as much as their family is playtime . Avery active breed , they require unconstipated walks and bodily process to burn off all their energy . " Oddly enough , they have a lot of behavior traits like toLabrador retrieversin term of being silly , bouncy , devoted , alive family detent that want to be very Byzantine in family activity , " Tompkins suppose .
Living Needs
An fighting family with plenty of outdoor infinite and time to dedicate to a dog is the ideal possessor of this docile but active breed . They even make great companion oncampingorhiking trips . Because of their gentle nature around humans , Hokkaidodo well around minuscule children , specially if they ’re raised with them and receive right socialization throughout their life . Hokkaidolove dusty weatherand playing in the C , so families in cold climate might be a better fit than those who know somewhere where it gets hot and humid ..
Because Hokkaido flourish in a house with a larger yard , they do n’t make thebest apartment dogs . You should alsohave a marvellous fencing in your backyardbecause they are good jumpers . They ’re alsoknown to howland make cockamamy noises when happy or excited , which some close neighbors might not appreciate .
Because of their in high spirits intelligence agency and energy level , Hokkaido demand to be stimulated both physically and mentally or else they can become world-weary . This dog was bred to have a grand amount of energy that you could transmit into many playfulness activeness like tramp orrunning , or even morecompetitive sports like agilityorflyball . If not properly work both mentally and physically every day , these dog will determine fashion to entertain themselves that may not be as fun foryou .
to boot , Hokkaido require to be near their owners , so leaving them at dwelling house all day is not advised .
Care
Generally , Hokkaido are fairly simple to dress . You never have to trim or shave their pelt because it can actually damage their coat and will not keep them cooler in ardent weather condition . The natural oil in their skin and pelage helps keep them fair , so you ’ll only need tobathe them every few month .
Twice a year , Hokkaido"blow " their pelage , meaning their wooden-headed , obtuse priming coat sheds heavily for a few hebdomad . During this time , you ’ll want to give them a bath and verify tobrush them frequentlyto remove the spare fur . In between the twice - annual extreme shedding periods , the Hokkaido sheds at a normal , regular charge per unit you ’d require from most hotdog .
This brainiac breedcatches on quick to breeding , and Tompkins sayspositive reinforcement trainingis very important with the Hokkaido . They also excel when they are give a job to do , so owners should be patient and unforced to think outside the boxful for sport bodily function .
In term of exercise , you ’ll desire to establish a dedicated morning and evening exercise session in the form of a walk , jog , or playtime in a inviolable off - leash distance . If yougive them right exerciseon a consistent basis , they ’ll be serene and relaxed when indoors . " They can go for Admiralty mile and nautical mile and never fag but are good about settle inside when their humans are tired , " Tompkins says .
Health
Hokkaido are agenerally healthy breedthat can last 12–15 years on middling . The most coarse genetic disorder you should seem out for in Hokkaido is collie eye anomaly , or CEA . The inherited disease can get vision way out , and concord to theMerck Veterinary Manual , " vision is not noticeably affected unless detachment of the retina is present . " A veterinary can name it from a simple eye exam , and your breeder can do a genetical mental testing on your pup to see if they carry the gene . Other genetic disorder to examine for arehip dysplasiaand heart murmurs .
Hokkaido can also suffer from pica , which is the improper snacking on non - food objects like stone , or psychogenetic polydipsia , which is the excessive imbibition of water . As with all breed , monitor their toys and anything else they might be masticate on for pocket-size pieces that could be hazardous if ingested .
History
Believed to be the old of the native six Japanese spitz breed , the Hokkaido is an ancient hound breed , with origins dating back to the 1140s . When dissimilar indigenous groups were migrating in Japan , the peoples — and their dogs — met in the midsection , producing dog that became the ancestors of all six native Japanese stock , says Claire Matthews of the Hokkaido Association of North America .
Over time , the Ainu people were pushed back north to the island of Hokkaido , where their weenie were isolate from the residue of the one that break into the other five Nipponese breeds . The dog adapted to the freeze cold-blooded climate and rough landscape , resulting in their key signature double coating , large paws , and mesomorphic build . Hokkaido andiron were crucial in the Ainu people ’s survival , as the hotdog help them hunt bears , deer , and other large game .
In accession to hunting , Hokkaido have been used in search and saving missions , most notably in 1902 when they aided in the search of survivorsafter an Army expedition got caught in a great snowstormas they crossed the Hakkōda Mountains . In 1937 , they were declare a Living Natural Monument by Japan ’s administration and given their official name Hokkaido Ken in honor of their aboriginal island .
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out of doors of Japan , Hokkaido are extremely rare . " Hokkaido are an endangered stock nigh to extinction in their own nation , " Tompkins says . " They are a very unique ancient breed that is in desperate demand of preservation . "
They are a recognized stock by the United Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale .
Fun Facts
Courtesy of Hokkaido Association of North America
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