Good Hunting Breed?

Kevin

I'm curious to know your thoughts, everyone. I've been kicking around some ideas for a while, and before I kick them very far, I wanted to see what the general reaction is here.
Which of the NihonKen are good small-game hunters? I'm mostly interested in flushing rabbit, treeing squirrel and possibly upland bird hunting, but thinking about future feral pig hunts. Anyone have any thoughts for me?

sukoshi_mom

You may want to consider a Shiba. You are describing the "traditional" hunting uses of a Shiba.

You may want to get more than one breed to create a hunting couple/pack.

Other folks on the forum more into hunting can provide additional suggestions. (Ask "the Walrus", who has been doing hunting research.)

tjbart17

Feral pigs are getting pretty big these days. Has anyone else noticed that? We have a ton. I think from stupid Californians who thought they would be good designer pets then dumped them.

Shibas may be a little too small for a feral pig.

sjp051993

I have noticed with my Shiba's size does not matter. When you have several of them they are a force to reckon with. If it had not been for a fence, the 4 of mine would have taken down a doe the other day.

Kevin

Keep in mind the feral hog thing is a possibility--not a certainty. Also that they are smaller here (midwest, possibly Kentucky someday) than out west.
I keep coming back to Shikoku or Kishu...

TheWalrus

Kevin, I posted in my thread about my Kishu pup. If you have any other questions, feel free to mail me (my address is in my profile).

If you're going to hunt, definitely try to get a dog from hunting lines. The odds you get a good dog increase incredibly.

baanton

Kevin: I don't know much about hunting and all, but our "found" Kai, Josepine can boast that she has caught a rabbit, and a partridge all on her own. After her catches, my husband has obliged by dressing them out and cooking them for her, so she has feasted on "rabbit and rice" and also "partridge and rice". So she is highly motivated to catch more of these small game. She has not been trained to hunt properly, but I think a Kai would be an awesome hunter given proper training. Not so sure about the pig thing... Josephine is about 40 lbs., very swift , can easily navigate just about any terrain, and has a fearsome attitude and bark --- maybe she would be good with the pigs as well.

Hope that is helpful...

Edgewood

My Shikoku is a very good game hunter. I don't hunt, but do live on a farm and he has caught (and killed) possum, squirrels and many, many groudhogs. Very, very strong hunting drive. He has even pulled groundhogs from their holes to kill them.

So yes, a Shikoku can be used to hunt, but...their instinct is the chase the prey down and they can run really fast, so I would only want to hunt in a big area far away from roads and if it was wooded, with a GPS collar. FWIW.

shishiinu

Like Shigeru san said get a breed that have stronger hunting lines. My Kishu's came from parents that are used for hunting but will still require training.

If you plan to hunt in Ca for pigs like I do you'll really need a pair of well trained dogs.....Its not easy at all.

lindsayt

One of my Shiba is hot for small birds and rabbits. She hunts to kill and is reliable off lead, dependable with commands. I keep Quail. On a side note, she came from a breeding of a family pet, no registrations or proof of pedigree with no special care given for drive or performance.

I don't know of any Shiba breeders in the US that breed their dogs for hunting, but the instinct is there, you'll just have to find the right breeding if that's what you want. It would probably be easier finding that in a larger Nihon ken where special care is given to preserving hunting drives.

Kevin

Thanks, everyone! I really think Kai might be the dog for me.