The Ainu Dog is a thin, muscular, sturdy-looking dog. It is impulsive and fast and has a light gait. Ainu's have small, erect ears that are at a right angle to the brow. Its eyes are somewhat small, dark brown and set triangularly. The tail curls in typical Spitz fashion. The Forelegs are straight and lean and the hindquarters are covered with a double coat. The harsh, straight coat colors come in sesame, brindle, wolf gray, red, brown or white.

Also known as the Hokkaido Dog, the Ainu Dog first appeared in Japan when the Asian Ainu tribe arrived there thousands of years ago. For centuries, these Spitz-type dogs were praised for being dependable guardians and companions. Mainly found in Japan, these canines are considered a cherished, national breed in their home country.

The Hokkaido Inu or Ainu dog is considered by some to be the oldest and the "wildest" of the Japanese breeds. It is said to have originated from medium-sized Japanese dogs that accompanied migrants from Honshu (the main island of Japan) to Hokkaido during the Kamakura era (in the 1140s), when exchanges were developing between Hokkaido and the Tohoku District.

Other Names: Hokkaido, Ainu-Ken

Type: Companion

Height: 18.5 - 21.5 inches
Weight: 45-65 lbs.

Colors: Red, white, black, black and tan or partly gray
Coat: Double-coated; top coat is medium, short and dense; undercoat is dense.

Temperament: Intelligent, fiercely loyal and affectionate. Makes a great family pet. Bold and sometimes headstrong. Faithful and alert.

With Children: Medium-high: Well-behaved in the home and affectionate.

Watch-dog: High - Well behaved, yet great as a guard and watchdog.
Guard-dog: High - Intelligent and readily trained. Wary of strangers.

Training: High - readily trained.
Learning Rate: High - known for intelligence.

Activity: High
Special Needs: Fenced yard, socialization, exercise, training

Health Issues: None known

Life Span: 11-13 years

If you can't find a local breeder in your area don't worry, many breeders are using the major airlines like American, Delta, Continental and Northwest airlines for shipping their puppies.

At this time the airlines will ship puppies to the following States: Alabama AL - Alaska AK - Arizona AZ - Arkansas AR - California CA - Colorado CO - Connecticut CT - Delaware DE - Florida FL - Georgia GA - Hawaii HI - Idaho ID - Illinois IL - Indiana IN - Iowa IA - Kansas KS - Kentucky KY - Louisiana LA - Maine ME - Maryland MD - Massachusetts MA - Michigan MI - Minnesota MN - Mississippi MS - Missouri MO - Montana MT - Nebraska NE - Nevada NV - New Hampshire NH - New Jersey NJ - New Mexico NM - New York NY - North Carolina NC - North Dakota ND - Ohio OH - Oklahoma OK - Oregon OR - Pennsylvania PA - Rhode Island RI - South Carolina SC - South Dakota SD - Tennessee TN - Texas TX - Utah UT - Vermont VT - Virginia VA - Washington WA - Washington, D.C. - West Virginia WV - Wisconsin WI - Wyoming WY - Hawaii HI.