Kai Ken

The Kai Ken is one of the six native Japanese spitz breeds — a rare brindle-coated dog, sometimes called the "tiger dog", from the mountainous Kai region.

History

It developed in the isolated mountains of what is now Yamanashi Prefecture as a hunting dog for boar and deer, its brindle coat and hardy build suited to steep, forested country. Its remoteness kept the breed pure, and it remains uncommon even in Japan.

Temperament

The breed is known for being loyal, intelligent and reserved — deeply devoted to its family, cautious with strangers, and generally more agreeable with other dogs than some of its relatives. It is athletic and alert.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise and mental work, along with early socialising and patient training that respects an independent mind. The double coat sheds seasonally and needs routine brushing.

Health

The breed is generally very healthy and hardy, with few widespread inherited problems — a legacy of its natural development. As with any breed, the measured facts are in the panel.