GROUP 6 - UTILITY 

Brief History
The Shikoku is a rare breed developed for hunting large game in ancient Japan.

The breed gets his name from the Island of Shikoku in the Kochi Prefecture where he originates. This remote area is defined by mountainous terrain that is not easily accessible by outsiders.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. The Shikoku live for approximately 10 to 12 years.

Breed Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders in is recommended you enquire about breed health and what health testing the breeder does. The Shikoku is a healthy breed with no known common illnesses.

Temperament
The Shikoku has marked endurance, energetic and highly alert. They are an enthusiastic hunter although is docile towards his master.

General Breed Description
The Shikoku is a medium size, double coated dog with erect ears and a tail usually curled over the back. They are very clean, easily trained as a puppy, but remember as a hunting dog, the Shikoku has a high prey drive, so they tend to chase any small animals they see. This breed is difficult to train when they are older. The Shikoku comes in the colours of Red, Red sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), Black sesame, Sesame, Black and Tan.

Coat and Care requirements
The Shikoku does not have a doggy odour and is a clean breed. Coat maintenance is not exceptionally high, but we do recommend he has a bath and is dried with a good dog dryer ever few months. The Shikoku will drop their entire coat once or twice a year, during this time grooming is essential.

Size
Males: 52 cm

Females: 49 cm

Suitability
The Shikoku is a primitive hunting dog with a natural hunting instinct. This breed is not recommended to live with small pets.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/Breed/Detail/236