Questions bout Kai
The more I read about Kai ken and the more videos and pictures I see on this forum and other sites, the more I find myself in love with em. Before I commit myself to getting a Kai I have a few questions. 1) Is there any difference between males and females as far as personality/ energy. 2) Do they get jealous easily when attention is given to others. I ask because my lab mix for lack of better words is an attention whore. 3) Last question I have at the moment would be what price range am I looking at. This will be my first time getting a dog from a breeder and I would like to know that I'm at least in the same ballpark before I start calling breeders.
Thanks everyone,
Cory
Thanks everyone,
Cory
Comments
Ciqala, Female 8 months Kurotora.
1. Very high drive, low spaz factor. Meaning when she goes, she GOES 1000% and all other times she's even keeled.
2. Not a mean jealous but a curious jealous.
3. NOT cool with unannounced strangers
4. Change sensitive/really likes regularity.
5.price: arm, leg, fingers, toes. But seriously, I don't want to undercut or devalue anyone practices on here but it's a pretty wide range. I'd say median price is 1200-ish. This may depend on the breeding and a bunch of other factors, so its ultimately best to trust that the breeder is not out to get you- especially if you get one from one of the NKF-ers. They're good people.
For 3, I have seen Kai as low as $500 and as high as $1500 (not counting when Okabe-san offered to sell me Kumi's sire in Japan for $10,000 LOL - he was joking, I think).
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Our Kai Kitora, is just 5 months - Kuratora as well, female ) (nice intro by the way @yandharr!) and here is what we have so far in regards to your questions!
1. Inside: really cool and laid back likes to know what room I'm in, but will play with balls, rope toys etc... gets her puppy game on, will occasionally start egging on the big dogs and then everyone has to go out to get the crazies out. It's a joy to watch, I would say for her size that she is very "play aggressive". Meaning that she is NOT AFRAID of bigger dogs, not starting any fights, ever - it's all good natured. She ninja attacks them and is always in the middle of the mix. I don't have great pics but if you look at any of Yamabushi's of the male Kai play attacking his big guard dogs, well... lol, Kitora does the same thing and at her age the size diff. is somewhat comparable to Brad and Jen's Male Kai with the CO (?) Hope I have the right abbreviation for that...lol ) I would think that with a male that once he reaches maturity (unless you have him neutered) that he would need a bigger exercise regime due to testosterone levels..???
Outside: loves, loves, loves to be outside. I posted early today about first hike off leash so more on that in that post. She has been training to the leash very nicely. At first was very high drive and still is but is not pulling on leash anymore to go go go!!! ) She wants to please and is very sensitive to corrections (meaning I don't have to hardly do a thing) in regards to the leash. Now, she knows we will/are going so is ok with getting there.
2. The best way I could describe it would be that she wants to be "in on it" if some dog love is being spread around. She however, is not rude about it. So no, not jealous in a negative meaning. Just joyful if it's happening.
3. Price range I would give same answer as Yandharr... prices vary, focus mainly on a respectable breeder though. They are on this forum!! )
Kitora is different to Ciqala, I guess (which is where you come into more individual temperaments). To Yandharr's #3 I would have to say that if we let someone in the house, Kitora accepts them immediately and wants to know all about them. Now, if they haven't been invited in she's on the same boat with us and is more leery. I'm thinking that as she ages she may become more particular about people??
And she really doesn't mind change as much, but she's being raised with our odd schedules. I keep feeding time really regular and consistent, so I think that helps the rest of the day flow in and out as need be and she does well with that.
Oh, and the cutest thing.... Every night when husband leaves for work she has to walk him to the back door and say goodbye/goodnight... seriously, it's the only time she will go and sit by the back door, watches out the back door window until he is gone and then comes back into the main part of the house.... so sweet!!!
@brada1878 - What in the world do you think he would have done if you had said YES?!?!?!? lolol
Prices vary from breeder to breeder and the price ranges listed so far sound about right. These prices can vary also depending on the situation and there is always adoption.
Most important as everyone has said finding a breeder you trust.
For example when I first go to the pet store and a puppy is nervous instead of forcing him in the door I pick him up without making any kind of fuss and carry him in and put him in a cart and let him observe everything while I shop. If he starts looking relaxed and starts getting nosey and looks like he wants out, I park the cart in a quiet spot and put him out and sit/stand with him until he is ready to investigate, if he's not ready I put him back in the cart wthout making a fuss and we wait and try the next time.
If we go to puppy class and they are afraid/nervous we take a seat and wait, if the puppy is so nervous he is trying to hide under the chair, I do bring him out and put him on my lap (again without making a fuss) and we will sit through the whole class if need be. The next time we go they are usally ready to rock and roll.....hope that made sense...ok I will get off my soap box now... LOL
Although, I would hate potty training in the snow or a blizzard.
I actually think the summer was rough on mine, both born in April, because puppies can't regulate heat as well. Both were constantly panting all summer. I always had the AC on full blast in the car and at home. I think I froze people in my car.
So for me, I like to get them in the spring or summer. They adjust to snow just fine, and all of my NKs love it (though Leo the Kai has not seen it yet).
Just my $0.02 about waiting until after vaccines to socialize - I personally would just socialize right from the beginning. Statistically speaking, dogs are actually more likely to die from under-socialization than from disease.
Another thing to consider is the winter holiday seasons, which depending how everything is handled could either be really good for the pup or really bad. These holidays that gather family together can be a great way to get the puppy used to meeting new people and situations, so long as the pup is also given rest breaks from the excitement. But sometimes you just don't want to have to juggle taking care of a puppy and doing your own socializing with the family, or the family hosting the gathering doesn't want you to bring the puppy. That pup could spend those holidays left home alone or crated the whole day (or weekend), which is just not fair for the pup.