Last Updated on March 2, 2024 by Aftab Tariq
Japanese dog breeds are special types of dogs from Japan. They have been there for a long time and did different jobs. Some were hunters, and some were friends with rich people.
According to the Japanese Dog Preservation Society, there are six special kinds of dogs in Japan called “Nihon Ken” or Japan’s national dogs. These include Shibu Inu, Akita, Kai Ken, Kishu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido.
These dogs have been around for thousands of years, even from a time called the Paleolithic period.
“Japanese dog breeds show loyalty, strength, and grace, reflecting the special bond between people and their furry friends in Japan.”
Keep reading to learn more about these 11 unique Japanese dog breeds and what makes each one special.
List of Japanese Dog Breeds
Here is the list of Japanese dog breeds.
1. Japanese Spitz
The Japanese spitz was made in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s by mixing other spitz-type dogs from different places like Australia, Canada, China, Siberia, and the United States.
During World War II, records about how they were bred got destroyed, so we don’t know all the details.
In the United States, the United Kennel Club says the Japanese spitz is part of the Northern Breeds group. The AKC Foundation Stock Service also knows them, which is the first step to getting full recognition. These dogs are small, fluffy, and white. They’re great friends and love to have fun.
Breed Overview of Japanese spitz
- Group: Recognized by the AKC Foundation Stock Service and considered part of the Northern Breeds group by the UKC.
- Height: Usually between 12 to 15 inches tall.
- Weight: Typically weighs around 10 to 25 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: Known for being gentle, smart, and playful.
- Energy Level: They’re not too hyper, more on the calm side.
- Coat and Color: They have a soft white coat with a straight outer layer and a dense undercoat.
- Life Span: Usually lives for about 12 to 14 years.
2. Akita
The Akita is a special kind of dog that was once owned by the Imperial family in Japan. It’s part of a group of dogs called “Japanese dog breeds.”
These dogs are known for being brave, strong, loyal, and loving. People like to have them as pets, but their thick fur needs regular care. They can also be big, weighing more than 100 pounds.
After World War II, some Akitas were brought into the United States on airplanes secretly. American soldiers really liked them, and that made Akitas popular in the United States.
These dogs are usually quiet and like to be alone sometimes. They might not trust strangers, but they love to play and show affection to their families.
Breed Overview of Akita
- Group: They’re put in the Working category by the AKC.
- Height: Males are about 26 to 28 inches tall, while females are a bit shorter, around 24 to 26 inches.
- Weight: The guys weigh between 100 to 130 pounds, and the ladies weigh around 70 to 100 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re known for being protective, loving, and independent.
- Energy Level: They’re usually pretty active.
- Coat and Color: These dogs have thick coats and come in different colors, including white.
- Life Span: They typically live for 10 to 13 years
3. Japanese Terrier
In the 1700s, during a time called the Edo Era, a basic kind of English smooth fox terrier had puppies with some small Japanese dogs and also Italian greyhounds. When the 1900s came, people started calling them Kobe terriers because they lived in the Kobe region.
Nowadays, the Japanese terriers we see are a mix of those Kobe terriers with some English toy terriers and toy bull terriers from the Western countries.
The Japan Kennel Club officially accepted these dogs in the 1930s, and by the 1940s, they were all over Japan.
But during World War II and when more Western breeds became popular, Japanese terriers nearly disappeared. Even so, they’re still around today, hunting boars and being friendly and quick little dogs.
Breed Overview of Japanese Terrier
- Group: Part of the AKC Foundation Stock Service, but not officially recognized by the AKC
- Height: Usually 11 to 13 inches
- Weight: Typically 5 to 10 pounds
- Personality/Temperament: Described as protective, independent, lively, and intelligent
- Energy Level: Moderate
- Coat and Color: Their coat is smooth and shiny, and they come in colors like white and tan, black and tan, and black
- Lifespan: Typically lives around 12 to 15 years.
4. Shiba Inu
The name “Shiba Inu” means “brushwood” in Japanese. This is because they used to hunt birds and small animals in brushwood areas. They’ve been around for more than 3,000 years.
Shiba Inus are part of a group called the non-sporting group in the American Kennel Club. Sometimes, they would join their owners to hunt bigger animals like deer, bear, and boar.
Shiba Inus are confident dogs. They’re known for something called the “shiba scream,” which is a unique sound they make when excited. Despite being small and muscular, they’re very popular in Japan. People like them because they’re active, pay attention, and have a friendly personality.
Breed overview Shiba Inu
- Group: They’re in the Non-sporting group according to the AKC.
- Height: Males are usually 14.5 to 16.5 inches tall, and females are a bit shorter, around 13.5 to 15.5 inches.
- Weight: Guys weigh about 23 pounds, while gals weigh around 17 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re affectionate, a bit shy, and smart.
- Energy Level: They’re not too high-energy, more on the moderate side.
- Coat and Color: Their long coats shed a lot. They come in black with tan points, sesame, red, or cream/white, with a soft undercoat in cream, gray, or buff.
- Life Span: They usually live between 13 to 16 years.
5. Japanese Chin
The Japanese chin or spaniel breed, despite its name, probably came from Korea or China over 500 years ago. In Japan, these lovely dogs became very popular among the aristocracy, who were the highest social class.
These dogs are small and delicate, weighing no more than 10 pounds. They were given as gifts to foreign diplomats and other important people as a way to honor their service to Japan.
The word “chin” means “royalty” in Japanese. These dogs are mainly indoor pets and make wonderful companions. They have a distinctive Eastern appearance, similar to pugs or shih tzus.
Breed Overview of Japanese chin
- Group: They’re part of the Toy group according to the AKC.
- Height: Usually between 8 to 11 inches tall.
- Weight: Typically around 7 to 11 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re loyal, calm, smart, and social.
- Energy Level: They’re not too hyper, more on the calm side.
- Coat and Color: They have a long, smooth coat that comes in colors like black and white, lemon and white, sable and white, and black, white, and tan.
- Life Span: Usually lives for about 10 to 14 years.
6. Tosa Inu
The Tosa Inu is the biggest of all Japanese dog breeds. It’s a special type of mastiff breed that was originally bred for fighting. They came from the Tosa region, where dog fighting used to be a big sport.
This breed is also known by various names such as Tosa ken, Tosa token, Japanese fighting dog, and Japanese mastiff. Sadly, dogfighting is still allowed in Japan, and Tosas are still used for it.
Tosas are dogs that like to make their owners happy and are good at understanding them. But they’re not super active dogs. They can get really big, up to 200 pounds, which is why some countries have banned them.
Nowadays, Tosas are calm and loving with their families, but they can be a bit distant with people they don’t know well. They also pay a lot of attention to other dogs, especially ones they don’t recognize.
Breed Overview of Tosa Inu
- Group: Listed in the AKC Foundation Stock Service but not officially recognized yet.
- Height: Usually stands between 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall.
- Weight: Typically weighs around 100 to 200 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re alert, smart, brave, and protective.
- Energy Level: They’re not too hyper, more on the moderate side.
- Coat and Color: They have a short, thick coat that comes in colors like fawn, red, apricot, black, or brindle. Sometimes, they have white markings on their chest and feet.
- Life Span: Usually lives for about 10 to 12 years.
7. Shikoku
The Shikoku, also called the “Shikoku Inu” or “Kochi-ken,” is a dog breed from Japan. They were used as hunting dogs by Japanese people. Hunters really liked them because they were good at finding and tracking animals, especially wild boar.
These dogs are famous for being able to keep going for a long time, being smart, and paying attention. Even though they’re good hunters, they’re also calm and gentle with their owners.
Breed Overview of Shikoku
- Group: Listed in the AKC Foundation Stock Service but not officially recognized by the AKC.
- Height: Usually stands between 17 to 22 inches tall.
- Weight: Typically weighs around 35 to 55 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re protective, loyal, calm, and athletic.
- Energy Level: They’re not too hyper, more on the moderate side.
- Coat and Color: They have a tough outer coat and a soft inner one, coming in colors like red, black and tan, or sesame.
- Life Span: Usually lives for about 10 to 12 years.
8. Hokkaido Inu
The Hokkaido Inu is one of the oldest and most natural Japanese dog breeds. They’re strong, athletic, and muscular, and their main jobs are guarding, hunting, and sledding. This breed is very rare outside Japan.
Hokkaido dogs are loyal and dignified. They have a lot of energy and can keep going for a long time. They’re calm and always paying attention.
They’re great friends who are devoted and always ready to make their owners happy. But if they’re not introduced to many people when they’re young, they might be too cautious around strangers.
Breed Overview of Hokkaido Inu
- Group: Listed in the AKC Foundation Stock Service but not officially recognized by the AKC.
- Height: Usually stands between 18 to 20 inches tall.
- Weight: Typically weighs around 44 to 66 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re loving, protective, watchful, and loyal.
- Energy Level: They’re pretty energetic.
- Coat and Color: They have a double coat in colors like white, red, black, brindle, sesame, or wolf grey. The outer coat has tough guard hairs, while the undercoat is soft and thick, shedding seasonally.
- Life Span: Usually lives for about 12 to 15 years.
9. Ryukyu Inu
The Ryukyu Inu is a rare type of dog that comes from the southern islands of Japan, specifically Okinawa. People there treasure these dogs a lot and even call them the “national treasure” of the island.
They’re brave but also calm. They kind of look like another Japanese dog breeds called the Kai Ken, but we’re not totally sure about their history.
These dogs were probably made for hunting and finding wild pigs on the island. They have a special toe called a dewclaw that helps them climb trees. This way, they can see better and find their prey when they’re hunting in the rainy forests.
Breed Overview of Ryukyu Inu
- Group: Not recognized by the AKC
- Height: Typically 17 to 19.5 inches tall
- Weight: Can be up to 40 to 50 pounds
- Personality/Temperament: Active, loyal, courageous
- Energy Level: High
- Coat and Color: Fur can be short or long, and single or double-coated. The available colors comprise brindle, white, black, sesame, ivory, liver, and red.
- Lifespan: Around 12 to 13 years
10. Kai Ken
The Kai Ken is one of the six native Japanese dog breeds. They’re really smart and always want to make their owners happy, but they’re not very common. These dogs were used for hunting different animals in the mountains of Kai in Japan.
Kai Kens are loyal and reliable protectors of their families. They’re athletic and really like hunting. They’re so good at it that they can even climb trees and swim across rivers while chasing their prey.
Breed Overview of Kai Ken
- Group: Registered in the AKC Foundation Stock Service but not yet recognized as an official AKC breed.
- Height: Usually stands between 15.5 to 19.5 inches tall.
- Weight: Typically weighs around 20 to 40 pounds.
- Personality/Temperament: They’re loyal, protective, affectionate, and smart.
- Energy Level: They’re not too hyper, more on the moderate side.
- Coat and Color: They have a unique brindle coat that helps them blend in. It comes in three colors: black brindle, brindle, and red brindle.
- Life Span: Typically lives for about 12 to 15 years.
11. Kishu
The Kishu Ken is a type of Japanese dog breeds. The AKC says it came from strong, medium-sized dogs that lived in Japan’s mountains long ago.
People used them to hunt boar and deer, and they were seen as a special part of nature. They originally came from the Wakayama region.
These dogs were mostly white, which helped hunters spot them easily. Before 1934, you could find Kishus with coats in brindle, red, white, and spotted colors. But after 1945, spotted Kishus weren’t around anymore, as the breed standard only accepted solid colors.
Breed Overview of Kishu
- Group: Part of the AKC Foundation Stock Service, but not officially recognized by the AKC
- Height: Usually 17 to 22 inches
- Weight: Typically 30 to 60 pounds
- Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, social, alert, loyal
- Energy Level: Moderate
- Coat and Color: The coat is typically short, straight, and coarse with a dense undercoat. While commonly white, it can also appear in sesame, red, or black and tan variations.
- Lifespan: Usually lives for about 11 to 13 years.
Breed Traits
Some Japanese dog breeds have two layers of fur and are known to be smart. They belong to a group called spitz-type breeds. Spitzes usually have long and thick fur, along with pointed ears and noses. Their tails can curl over their backs or hang down.
These double coats help them handle cold weather and rough terrain, which are common in Japan. There are also other Japanese dog breeds that are not spitz-types.
These dogs were brought into Japan from other places. Some were bred to be friendly companions, some for fighting, and some for hunting.
Sources
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