All Native Japanese Dog Breeds

1) Akita Inu
This is the largest of all native Japanese breeds. Btw, i will put a size comparsion table in the end of the video, so you can see the size differences between all these breeds. The Akita Inu originated in Akita region of Japan and originally it was used as a skilled hunter. It is said, that they were even used to hunt bears.

The Akita Inu gained a lot of popularity in the western world after the movie Hachiko was released. It is a story about a loyal dog who is waiting on its owner for several years even when the owner died. It perfectly described the loyalty of the Akita Inu.

Akita Inu is a dominant dog that can be quite bossy, especially towards dogs of the same sex. But they are very affectionate and loyal to its owner and family.

2) Hokkaido Inu
Worldiwide, the Hokkaido is not as popular as Akita Inu, but it is believed that it is the oldest one. Of course it is impossible to properly track down ancestry of these dogs, but one theory says, that Hokkaido was developed from the original Jomon dog.

The Hokkaido has larger paws, smaller eyes and thicker coat. It is because they were developed in the Japan's northernmost island and those characteristics helped him to survive in colder climate.

3) Kai Ken
The Kai Ken is the easiest Japanese dog to recognize. It is due to its striking brindle coat. No wonder that they are sometimes nicknamed as a tiger dog. The Kai Ken is considered as very rare, even in its native Japan. It is also described as more willing to please and less independent than the other dogs in this video.

4) Kishu Inu
All the dogs in the video are skilled hunter, but the Kishu is probably the one, that is used the most in modern day hunting. They are intelligent, brave and independent, but also quite impulsive. They love being active and outdoors and are always ready for any kind of an adventure, but be careful: their intelligence and problem solving ability makes them excellent escape artists!

5) Shikoku Ken
The Shikoku is probably the most wolf like looking dog from all the Native japanese dogs. There are even legends that the Shikoku is a descendant of wolves. They are very rare and it is quite hard to find them. Just like all dogs in this video, the Shikoku is a great fit for active people and families.

6) Shiba Inu
Probably the most popular Japanese dog breed in the world. It is also the smallest one. And it is also the only one that did not get its name after a geographic region where it originated. This was due to the fact that modern day Shiba Inu was bred from a number of Shiba-type dogs in different regions.

Shiba might be small and cute, but they still posses the independent, strong willed and territorial temperament, which is why they are not the best choice for novices and first time dog owners. They definitely need early proper socialization.