Description: The Kai Ken is a rare dog even in its native country Japan. It is thought to be part of the Japanese Spitz dog type. This is a medium size dog with the male being 18-22 inches and the female being 17-20 inches. The weight is 25-55 pounds. This is a strong hunting dog and they are broad and well built. The head is wedge shaped and they have pricked ears that are set wide, on top the head. The eyes are almond in shape and always dark in color. The muzzle is broad but tappers to a finer nose that matches the coat color and has wide nostrils. The limbs are strong and the hock is well developed. The tail is carried up over the back and can be curled or in a sickle shape. The coat is harsh and medium in length and the color is black and brindle with red or black in the background. If the coat has a red background this is called Aka-tora and the black is called Kuro-tora and between them the Chu-tora. Life expectancy is 12-15 years.

History: The Kai Ken is one of the oldest dogs from Japan and in the Japanese culture is thought to be the ancient and pure breed of Japan. They were developed in the area of Kai as a hunting dog and were used to hunt boar and deer. They became a designated national monument in 1934 in Japan. They first came to the USA in 1990’s. They are natural hunting dogs and have been known to chase the prey into water and swim and even climb trees in pursuit of prey.

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Temperament: This is a natural hunting dog and they are not far from their roots in as much as this is a dog that will need to be walked on a lead or they will be off on a chase. The Kai Ken is strongly loyal to the owner and the family. They are good with children and the child needs to know that they are not to tease the dog. It is wise not to leave children with any dog but a dog such as the Kai Ken will not allow teasing and will let the child know. They are reserved with strangers. Here is a dog that really needs to be socialized well and for a long time from very early puppy hood, as this dog is close to its natural roots of hunting and primitive nature. Training needs to be started early and be calm with a natural air of authority, using praise methods work best for this breed. Harsh methods do not work well with this dog. They need to have consistent rules and all the household need to keep them. With that and having firm boundaries will help the dog to know its place and that should always be below the humans in the family pack. The Kai Ken is intelligent and this helps with the training. Potty training is mostly quick for this breed. They get on with other pets if they have been raised together. The Kai Ken make great watch dogs and can often be found on the top of the sofa or any place high up to keep a watchful eye on all that is going on. They need walking daily and are in need of mental exercise as well.

Health issues: The Kai Ken health issues are not clear and it is best to ask a good breeder the health needs this dog may have. Check that the breeder carries out all health check clearance.

Grooming: The Kai Ken only needs brushing once a week. They only need to be bathed when they really need it.

Living conditions: The Kai Ken can live in an apartment but they would be better suited to living in urban areas or countryside. They do need a medium to large garden that has very good fencing as this dog is likely to chase and run after prey.

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.