Why kai ken?
I'm just curious of you kai ken owners why did you chose a kai ken and what drawn you to the breed? Where did you first found out about them?
I really love all of the Nihon Ken breeds and I'd like to have another one eventually I'm thinking a shikoku or a kai ken both are my favorites. I can't decide till I meet both breeds to see how they are like.
I like walking and hiking so kai kens sounds like a good breed to have when doing it. =)
I really love all of the Nihon Ken breeds and I'd like to have another one eventually I'm thinking a shikoku or a kai ken both are my favorites. I can't decide till I meet both breeds to see how they are like.
I like walking and hiking so kai kens sounds like a good breed to have when doing it. =)
Comments
Kai are intelligent, and very connected to their owner. I've socialized Haru enough to where she's okay with strangers etc, but she basically lives to be around me. If I'm not around for extended periods of time, she will go nuts. She's calm and subdued, but switches it on when she needs to. She's a great watchdog, knows when to bark and when not to, stops on command. Funny thing is that if I tell her to stop, but she knows something's wrong she'll just keep on going. That's when I know something's wrong. Had a strange guy lurking around the house at 3am last night, would never have known if she hadn't been on the job.
If you can, I'd definitely say to go meet some Kai. There's a lot that you just have to experience by seeing them (not just one!). Of course they're not the dog for everyone, but for me, they're perfect.
I'm glad Haru is a good watch dog. =)
Now that we have owned a few, I can say for sure that Kai Ken have a very special and unique personality. Like Shigeru said, they bond very strongly to their family (and usually one person or dog in the family), but they are not Velcro dogs. This makes them really unique IMHO. They love to be with their family but prefer their own space - that's a really cool mix. Most dog breeds that bond very strongly to one person are also Velcro dogs, and that is something I am not a fan of.
Kai also have a natural social grace, with dogs an people. They may be more aloof toward people, but a well socialized Kai will enjoy meeting new guests, but still show proper manners toward them (unlike Shikoku). Same applies to other dogs, Kai have a strong (and innate) ability to understand other dogs, and they do a great job of approaching them with the with respect. This is something I think is really amazing about the breed - they are always the first to meet new dogs here - the perfect "ambassadors".
They are great watch dogs too and they LOVE a good hike - they can go and go.
They can be pretty funny clowns too.
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I actually didn't like the Kai Ken at first. I first found out about the medium-sized NK [ Shikoku, Kai, Hokkaido, & Kishu ] from a book I have [ Legacy of the Dog ] several years ago. The Shikoku immediately caught my eye & I googled them, but at the time there was so little info on them I didn't find anything. I had put them on the "breeds I'll probably never own list" & sort of forgot about them. [ til I found this forum & realized...hope was not lost! ]
Anyway, I didn't give the other three breeds a second glance. They were pretty uninteresting to me.
Then, as I started to research more on this forum...to see pictures [ but especially, videos ] of the Kai Ken on here...I slowly grew more interested. I joined the forum a few months after Brad got Kona, & I think Kona is the real reason I fell in love with Kai. Being able to watch him grow up through video & pictures was pretty cool, & through videos I got to understand his "personality." [ tho, I agree it's not the same as meeting them in person, but it does give someone an "idea" better than reading a breed description ]
I wish I could say "Why" I love the kai ken so much! But really, whenever I find breed I love, it's like a deep-seated feeling. I find myself researching about them non-stop reading hours & hours & hours trying to find every bit of info I can. It's not that I do it on purpose, it's just sort of a knee-jerk reaction. Most breeds I research for an hour or so, then I am content. But with the breeds I REALLY love I will probably continue to read & research forever & a day, probably even after I get my hands on one. I guess, as hubby says, I get "obsessed" about things I have a passion for, whether or not I know I'll be passionate about it at the time.
Ultimately, I like the breed for a few reasons...the fact that they love the outdoors, that they're a little hard headed or stubborn, a little aloof, but not as aloof as [ most ] shiba...they love their families, but as Brad put it, are not velcro dogs. They are clever dogs, & I've heard it affectionately said more then once if you're not constantly training / socializing the kai, they can become wild lol
Of course, there are quite a few breeds who can fit the general description of "outdoorsy dog." But the Kai certainly has it's attributes that make it purely kai, & that's what I really love.
They're a spitz breed...I have a soft spot for spitz breeds in general. They're size is perfect I think, not too big, but not too small. They're black [ I preffer dark dogs / cats over lighter ones ] & the brindle [ whether it's a lot or a little ] is definitely "pretty."
Also, I think we all have to be a little insane to love the breed that will challenge us...but I think that's just another reason why Kai are so awesome!
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Getting the chance to finally meet Kai in person [ thanks to Brad & Jen ] just confirmed how much I love this breed! [ as well as Shikoku...& the new addition of Cane Corso! ] & When you meet them in person....they surpass ALL expectations you have! [ & make the wait that much harder
I'm glad to hear that Haru is a good watchdog!
I was initially drawn to the breed description more than their look, but then as I started to see more and eventually own my own I started to really love their look.
lol I thought Akiko (1st Kai I met in person) was an Akita/Black Shephard mix. lol. I was not crazy about her look. I was more into Rott's and CC's honestly. It was her personality that I grew to love. She lived for her owner, and was able to almost read his mind. She always knew what he expected of her and behaved appropriately. Her manners and playfulness intrigued me. She was also cunningly smart (not unlike Maymay now). I kind've knew back then I would own one someday. What I didn't know is that I would plan on always having Kai in my home. Now that I have Koda and Maymay, I really couldn't picture my house as a home without Kai there. I could live (and probably will) live with Kai for the rest of my life.
I really think that Brad and Shigeru hit it right on the head with their descriptions. Even with the differences in personalities between all of our dogs, there are certain things you can count on with a Kai. Number one, they will be very attached to one person in the family. For Koda, this is me, and for Maymay it has become my father and me, but I think more him. Although, they have this strong attachment, they don't need to be right next to us at all times. Most of the time, Koda likes being outside honestly. For example, Maymay, Koda and I went on a hike on Saturday. It was so beautiful outside that on our ride home we went to a park. Koda sat about 20 feet away from me as Maymay and I laid on the grass. But note that he always knows exactly where I am. I like that about him.
It's also amazing how they read other dogs. Both Maymay (who was not properly socialized) and Koda always respect other dog's boundaries and can read other dogs very well. For this reason, I never fear Koda meeting other dogs or approaching other dogs. If a dog is acting anxious, fearful, or aggressive in any way both Maymay and Koda will ignore that dog. It's great. I don't have to worry about Koda ever getting into it with other dogs. Maymay is a little different. She can read other dogs, and also knows how to approach dogs, but will show teeth if she feels like they don't have proper manners. Again this goes to show that she was not socialized. But she still have that innate way of reading other dogs that amazes me, and would never approach a dog or person with bad manners.
They are also wonderful with babies and older people. They are super sensitive to what is going on around them.
Kais are also super smart, and I watch both of them have an ability to problem solve. It's really quite amazing how intelligent they are. Because of that, they are rather easy to train and they do know what you expect of them. Just make sure to keep your expectations consistent and lay down ground rules. They will follow.
As far as being watchdogs. I always say that if Koda or Maymay start barking, then there is something to bark at and I need to find out what it is. Koda woke up about 3 weeks ago in the middle of the night barking his head off. Turned out a drunk guy had passed out outside of my bedroom window. I am glad that I always listen to him.
Most people who meet them, or say to me that they should have looked into the Kai before getting their dogs, admire their manners mostly. They always say how well behaved Koda and Maymay are. The 2nd thing they usually comment on is how beautiful Koda is and how he holds himself with pride, dignity, and grace.
They have a one of a kind personality and fit everyone else's description very well. They bond very closely with their owner, they are social, animated, and respectful of dog AND human communication. They enjoy physical activity and can problem solve very quickly (such as working food out of a puzzle toy, hunting, and learning new commands or tricks). If you are looking for a dog that will be your best bud that you want to incorporate into most aspects of your life, a Kai would be a fine choice.
They are however a refined breed and can be difficult to handle for someone who is not familiar with interpreting canine to canine and human to canine communcation. Years ago, I typed on this very forum that I would never get another Kai due to Kohji's "challenging" nature. At this point, I feel I couldn't have made a better decision getting a Kai, he has taught me more than any other animal in my entire life.
I really like their temperment and their size and yes the brindle color especially the Akatora and the Chutora is my favorit. I know that my Dad is now hooked on Kai's after he saw Haru, he cant stop talking about them.
I love Kai kens looks, and temperament Kai kens sounds like a good dog for my next dog.
I plan to visit Saya's breeder Marian to meet her and her Kai kens to get a more hands on experience to see if Kai kens are right for me. I'd definitely don't want to just get one without meeting them up close to see how their personality are and so on.
When I do get my new pup I plan on doing tons of socialization, puppy classes and obedience, and agility classes. The puppy kindergarten I took Saya to was great it worked on getting the puppies used to vacuums, different textures like grates and meeting people on wheelchairs. Saya does great whenever she meets someone on a wheel chair she doesn't mind them coming up to her to be petted or she's not afraid of walking past them either.