The Hokkaido

The Hokkaido Ken is one of the six, native, Japanese spitz type dogs. A medium sized breed that originated on the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido, they are often referred to as Ainu Ken after the original indigenous people of Japan. The Ainu called their dogs ‘seta’ or ‘shita’ and used them to hunt bear and deer. The Hokkaido Ken is thought to have crossed over to Hokkaido with the Ainu as they were pushed north by the arrival of the Yayoi from the Korean peninsula.


The Hokkaido are thought to carry more of the genes from the older type of dogs that arrived in Japan with the Jomon. Although they did interbreed with the dogs brought over by the Yayoi, due to their exodus across the sea to Hokkaido they were geographically isolated. Studies have shown they share DNA with the Ryukyu Ken of Okinawa which are also believed to carry more genes from the original Jomon dogs.

The Ainu passed on stories by word of mouth, and several legends featured dogs. In the legend of the birth of the Ainu people, a princess was washed ashore on a desolate beach. As she was crying over her plight a white dog appeared and brought her food. From that day on the dog lived with her, and one day a child was born between them. The child grew to be strong and powerful, and the forefather of the Ainu.


The Hokkaido was classified as a Living Natural Monument by the government of Japan in 1937. There are two main breed registries, the Hokkaido Ken Hozonkai (Hokkaido Dog Preservation Society) and the Hokkaido Ken Kyokai (Hokkaido Dog Association). Almost no Hokkaido are registered outside of these two clubs.

The breed was originally made up of several bloodlines named after Ainu villages where they originated, with the most famous lines being the Chitose, Biratori, Atsuma (Azuma), and Yuwamizawa. Today the Chitose line is the only true line remaining, with the rest of the breed being a mix of all original lines. White, smaller sized dogs with small ears and wide foreheads were common in the Chitose line. In comparison the Atsuma line had a large number of brindle dogs, with more tapered muzzles.

The Hokkaido is renowned for it’s bravery. While very few are still used to hunt bear today, at breed shows hunting tests are conducted where the dogs are shown a live bear and scored on their movement, reaction, and hunting drive.


The Hokkaido Ken is a medium sized, strongly built dog. They have longer thicker coats than the other Japanese breeds, and also have wider chests, and smaller ears. Like all the Nihon Ken, they have a double coat made up of protective coarse outer guard hairs, and a fine thick undercoat that is shed seasonally. The breed comes in several colors: white, red, black, brindle, sesame, and wolf grey (HKH). Many Hokkaido also have spotting on their tongues. The breed has prick ears, and curl or sickle type tails. Dogs are between 48.5-51.5cm, and bitches 45.5-48.5cm (JKC,FCI,HKH), dogs 49-55cm, bitches 46-52cm (NIPPO).

The Hokkaido is a brave, energetic breed, capable of withstanding the cold temperatures of the Hokkaido winter. They have a life expectancy of around 15 years. The breed is extremely rare outside its native country. In Japan there is an estimated population of around 10,000, and yearly registrations of around 300 pups nationally (all registries).

At present there is little data regarding genetic health issues within the breed. However, some conditions that are known to affect the Hokkaido are heart murmurs, CEA, PRA, allergies, hypodontia, epiphora due to malformed or blocked tear ducts, and a high instance of cryptorchidism

Comments

  1. Thats awsomeee!!!! i really want to get a Hokkaido ken!

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    1. There's just not that many around overseas yet.

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  2. What is the reason for the large discrepancy between the sizes allowed under the two standards?

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    1. When NIPPO wrote the standards for the Japanese breeds, they classified all the dogs into 3 categories: large, medium, and small. Unfortunately the Kai and Hokkaido did not fit into either the small or medium classifications, so rather than change the size of the dogs through selective breeding, the guardians of these breeds left NIPPO, and stick to their own specialty clubs. The Kai has the Kai Ken Aigokai, and the Hokkaido has the Hokkaido Ken Hozonkai and the Hokkaido Ken Kyokai.

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    2. So in other words it is Nippo that has it wrong in this case?

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    3. I wouldn't say they are wrong. They just had/have a different opinion about the breed.

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  3. Do you know anyone who still hunt with this breed, and whether or not is possible to ask for permission to obtain a photograph or two from them?

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    1. I do know of one kennel that still produces a working line of Hokkaido. http://hdknetwork.hustle.ne.jp/kensha/kensha_morita.html
      Please ask them for permission before using any of the photos on the above page.

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    2. Thank you!

      I am assuming it is bet to send them a letter? Can't seems to find an e-mail address or phone number.

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    3. Contact information is here on this page http://hdknetwork.hustle.ne.jp/wp/?page_id=81
      You'll be speaking to Mr.Sato. He runs the site, and most likely he'll call me and ask me to translate your request.

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  4. I've heard that the Hokkaido are not recommended to be kept in apartments. Is this true, and if yes, what's the reason for that? I speculate that their energy levels are a bit too high for apartment life, and perhaps that they may require outside areas/kennels to spend their days with, if they so choose.

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    1. They are high energy, and they are quite vocal as well. That's not to say it's impossible to own one in an apartment, it's just not recommended.

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  5. So the 'Softbank' dog is Hokkaido ken??

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  6. The US now has a breeding program and breed club with info at www.hokkaidoken.com and blog of litter progress at www.hokkaidousa.wordpress.com

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  7. Hello. I live in Gunma-ken. I am interested in getting a Ainu Ken but I worry the prefecture gets much too hot for them.

    Are any of the Nihon-ken particularly sensative to heat?

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    1. The Nihon Ken have evolved with the climate in Japan. That being said the Hokkaido and Akita, being from the north, tolerate heat worse than the other breeds. Summers are harsh on all dogs, but I don't consider Gunma being a problem climate.

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  8. If they were available in Canada, they'd be the perfect dogs for baying up moose and black bear. We also have increasing feral boar populations in many parts of the country, so that would be another application for this breed here. Plus, heat isn't generally something to be concerned about in this neck of the woods!

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    1. That's true. They're definitely cold weather dogs

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  9. How can I get a Hokkaido in the US?

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  10. I was researching Hokkaido Ken maybe six months ago, I swear there was a website that listed all the events, all the winners and owners, (in Japan and in Japanese), but cannot find that source, wondering if it was https://www.hokkaidoinu.net

    I noticed they say they are redoing their website, explaining why nothing so little is there. I presume there was a prior site? Or I am wrong and looking in the wrong place. Thank you in advance

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    1. Yes, DOKENHO (the Hokkaido preservation society) has made a new website. Unfortunately it has less information than the previous version.

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    2. Thanks Kato:
      I found the old website. Muahhaha

      https://web.archive.org/web/20190817014936/http://hokkaidoinu.jp/

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  11. Hey! I'm making a small compendium of conformation terminology in japanese and I cannot find anything about masks. Do they have a special name like hachiware and such?

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  12. SoftBankの犬って紀州犬、小学校の教科書に載ってた忠犬ハチ公だと思ってたら、、北海道犬という種類があるのを今年、初めて知りました。でも、、確か?雪山で飼う犬は目立つように雪の時期は黒だったり色がついていて、夏毛と生え変わる種類が昔から飼われてたと博物館の先生からも聞いたことがあります。
    獲物を追いかけるのに、雪の中を人間はウサギや鹿猟師といえども、歩みは遅く、犬たちは駆け抜けていき追い詰めますが、その方向が目立つように色がはっきりしていて、近づくと声で方角を探して向かっていく、、という風に。。
    だから?甲斐犬の冬毛は黒く、夏毛は薄い色に生え変わるのだと思います。
    猟師にとって、冬眠してないウサギや鹿が大切な冬場の食糧だったのだというのと、、冬場に春、新芽を吹くはずの木々の目を鹿は食べるので、ここは人間のエリアだぞ!山奥に戻れ!という威嚇の意味もある狩猟です。阪神大震災以降の大阪周辺の山は頂上までみかん畑に変えられたり、、命の水のもとのブナ林を伐採して高速道路を作ったり、、
    海外からの移住者は略奪こそが地球のリスクの起源なんだという無自覚で、平和や動物愛護を喚き立てるのですが、、
    北海道犬じゃなく、本当は紀州犬の大型種ですよね?
    蝦夷はあまりにも極寒で夏だけが短い春という感じでしたから、、
    狩猟の必要性が日常的に難しく、非現実に思えます。

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  13. My family is moving to Niseko and we're looking for a Hokkaido puppy. Do you have breeders that you can recommend on the island, preferably in the area?

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    Replies
    1. http://hdknw.net/   Talk to them if you're looking for Hokkaido pups.

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