The Shikoku - the Japanese Nature Lover
The range at the Japanese Spitz is broad. In addition to →Japanese dog breeds like the Shiba Inu or the Akita, the Shikoku is also a solid member of the Japanese Spitz. The small fluffy ears, the curled tail, and the characteristically typical temperament - the Shikoku brings plenty of exciting traits with it.
The Shikoku in Portrait
Origin: Japan
Size: 43-55 cm
Weight: 11-25 kg
Life expectancy: approx. 13 years
Character: willful, loving, alert
Character and Nature
Those who think of the rather protective and dominant nature of the Akita may be surprised that the Shikoku, as a →Asian dog breed, brings a sunny disposition. Friendly, loyal, and clever, he is a well-liked companion in his home country of Japan - in Germany, he is more of an underdog among four-legged friends.
Although the Shikoku is considered one of the more balanced Japanese Spitz breeds, the brown-beige brindled four-legged friend comes with a considerable amount of stubbornness. Always open to his caregivers, he appears initially distant when interacting with strangers.
His agile character is especially evident in his passion: hunting. With his strongly developed hunting instinct, he loves to spend several hours outdoors every day.
Training and Care
Indoors, a well-exercised Shikoku shows himself to be a cuddle bear, giving his owners plenty of love. Outdoors, however, the willful four-legged friend needs a strong, experienced hand that knows how to handle his strong hunting instinct and dominance.
In particular, a →consistent, stress-free training from a young age is, as with all Spitz breeds, a condition for peaceful coexistence with the Shikoku. The Japanese four-legged friend does not lack intelligence in →training - he shows himself to be extremely clever and quickly understands what his humans want from him.
Do you want to reward healthily during training? Healthy snacking has never been so delicious - guaranteed without sugar, grains, or color and flavor additives!
Gesund snacken war nie so lecker!
If the Shikoku learns from the beginning how to interact with other dogs, it can significantly affect his later dominance behavior. Especially during the puppy stage and the →socialization phase, social contacts are important, as Japanese Spitzes are not inherently taught how to interact with other four-legged friends**.
