I asked Carleen Newman in Rockport TX, the US Kishu breeder, about non-white Kishus and she said that according to tradition, the breed is supposed to be white; Kishu breeders in Japan are trying to rid the breed of the non-white coat patterns.
The show standard is white. The original color of the breed is none white but that was during the early days of the recognition of the japanese breeds. Rikis father was a dark colored Kishu and his mother was a all white Kishu. Riki was one of the three puppies born and one of the female in the litter was all brown. Rikis fathers blood line have been traced back almost 70 years. The original colors are starting to show up in dog shows in Japan. If you see old photographs of Kishus they are mostly brown or a dirty white color.
I dont think breeders are trying to rid the none white color but they are using the pure white Kishu for show. So when you breed the dogs on their genetics, your going to have mostly white Kishus. There are a number of breeders breeding only none white Kishu to bring back the original genetics but most of these Kishus are working dogs.
Carllen has seen Riki when she lived in Ca and has seen how he has more light brown coloration than her dogs. I'm hoping to breed Yuki with a none white Kishu one day to continue producing working Kishus and the traditional color patterns.
Little late reading the rest of this thread, but just to answer Brad's Q about the hunters I know that own Kai, I don't know anyone that runs packs of Kai. I've seen old pictures of what looks like packs of Kai hunting, but all the hunters I know that use them now run their dogs in singles or pairs.
I have seen a lot of Kishu packs though. I've got an article tucked away somewhere from a few years ago on the resurgence of the working/non-white Kishu. I'll try and upload some of the pics later. Hunting season just ended on the 15th, so I should have a bit more time on my hands (hopefully some time to find a good dog for next season as well!).
I don't mind driving cross country in a new car... it better not break though
Well my friend was telling me a story of how he and a few friends go boar hunting. They would first get a few dogs that are trusted off leash, use them as lures, keep the biggest dogs on leashes, and when the boar comes near, they let the other dogs go (usually a team of 5ish or more). Apparently they don't feel as bad hunting with dogs because it is "not them" who do the actual killing, but if a dog gets too scratched up, they shoot the prey. These guys had American Bulldogs, Pitbulls, and other bully breeds.
That is the common way in the United States to hunt wild pig. They have bay dogs and catch dogs. The bay dogs will usually be a catahula or a smaller mixed breed or hound and the catch dogs will be your bully breeds. Thats the most efficient way to catch hogs but I cant afford to keep that many dogs and my dogs can do the same thing with less animals but not as efficient.mLike I said I lose alot of hogs usually because Riki cant hold them up or the hogs get into really thick cover.
Gen, I live in Chiba-ken, and hunt down at the southern end of the peninsula. I started hunting as I love the outdoors, and have always been drawn toward leading a simple natural life. Most of the time I'm out there trudging around with my shotgun in one hand, and camera in the other :P
Because I'm in the Ryoyukai I know alot of the other local hunters, and so occasionally will tag along with them and their dogs. None of the local hunters have Kai, but a couple of hunters down in Hyogo that I know, do. The local hunters run Kishu, and local mixes.
I've been looking for 'the right' Kai for nearly a year now, hopefully everything will work out and I'll have a partner to go with me when the next season rolls around. This year I was in the mountains stalking everything from rabbits to boar. Had a pretty fun season, a lot of good times, some funny stuff as well. Best of luck to you and Riki!
Shigeru san. So glad to see that hunting is alive in Japan even with the rediculously strict gun control laws. I hope you find the right Kai for hunting. If you ever come to the US I will have to take you hunting here in California. When I'm in Japan I usually hunt in the local mountains of Yugawara and Hakone. I have gone to Hokkaido with my dad to hunt Shika and had a fun time.
What kind of Shotgun do yo ushoot? I shoot a Benelli nova 12 ga, Remington 1100 12ga, Nobel double barrel 20ga, and a Beretta 391 Extrema2 12ga. My rifles are a Weatherby vanguard 30-06, Remington M700 in 300WSM, Springfield M1A, Smith and Wesson AR-15.
Comments
These dogs are way more solid in color. Those Ki's I saw were still mostly white with a black or red tint.
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I dont think breeders are trying to rid the none white color but they are using the pure white Kishu for show. So when you breed the dogs on their genetics, your going to have mostly white Kishus. There are a number of breeders breeding only none white Kishu to bring back the original genetics but most of these Kishus are working dogs.
Carllen has seen Riki when she lived in Ca and has seen how he has more light brown coloration than her dogs. I'm hoping to breed Yuki with a none white Kishu one day to continue producing working Kishus and the traditional color patterns.
I have seen a lot of Kishu packs though. I've got an article tucked away somewhere from a few years ago on the resurgence of the working/non-white Kishu. I'll try and upload some of the pics later. Hunting season just ended on the 15th, so I should have a bit more time on my hands (hopefully some time to find a good dog for next season as well!).
Well my friend was telling me a story of how he and a few friends go boar hunting. They would first get a few dogs that are trusted off leash, use them as lures, keep the biggest dogs on leashes, and when the boar comes near, they let the other dogs go (usually a team of 5ish or more). Apparently they don't feel as bad hunting with dogs because it is "not them" who do the actual killing, but if a dog gets too scratched up, they shoot the prey. These guys had American Bulldogs, Pitbulls, and other bully breeds.
Because I'm in the Ryoyukai I know alot of the other local hunters, and so occasionally will tag along with them and their dogs. None of the local hunters have Kai, but a couple of hunters down in Hyogo that I know, do. The local hunters run Kishu, and local mixes.
I've been looking for 'the right' Kai for nearly a year now, hopefully everything will work out and I'll have a partner to go with me when the next season rolls around. This year I was in the mountains stalking everything from rabbits to boar. Had a pretty fun season, a lot of good times, some funny stuff as well. Best of luck to you and Riki!
What kind of Shotgun do yo ushoot? I shoot a Benelli nova 12 ga, Remington 1100 12ga, Nobel double barrel 20ga, and a Beretta 391 Extrema2 12ga. My rifles are a Weatherby vanguard 30-06, Remington M700 in 300WSM, Springfield M1A, Smith and Wesson AR-15.