Japanese Kai vs American Kai
Well, we haven't had a discussion on Kai for a while so I thought it was time 
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I was wondering if neone has noticed distinct differences between the Kai that have been in the States for a while vs Japan Imports / Japanese Kai?
Methinks I've been noticing some physical differences [ the "American" Kai being stockier & more bear-like faces, while "Japan" Kai tend to have more of a slender body & less-defined stops. ] The Japan Kai look more like Shikoku to me [ physically ] than the more American Bred Kai...if that makes sense? Am I right on this, or am I just seeing two different bloodlines?
Also, I see that "American" Kai the brindle is not as strong or apparent or common. There are more "blackish brindle" kai.
Also, I've noticed [ from video ] that the Japan Kai tend to be more on the extreme end of dog reactive & being "more loyal to one person." Tho, I wonder how much of this is breeding certain temperments there vs here & how much of it is the breeder's / owner's way of raising / socializing the pups.
Could it be because Kai here are bred to show & many kai there are bred to hunt I'm seeing these differences?
What are your thoughts?
[ or am I just imagining everything? hahaha ] ~
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I was wondering if neone has noticed distinct differences between the Kai that have been in the States for a while vs Japan Imports / Japanese Kai?
Methinks I've been noticing some physical differences [ the "American" Kai being stockier & more bear-like faces, while "Japan" Kai tend to have more of a slender body & less-defined stops. ] The Japan Kai look more like Shikoku to me [ physically ] than the more American Bred Kai...if that makes sense? Am I right on this, or am I just seeing two different bloodlines?
Also, I see that "American" Kai the brindle is not as strong or apparent or common. There are more "blackish brindle" kai.Also, I've noticed [ from video ] that the Japan Kai tend to be more on the extreme end of dog reactive & being "more loyal to one person." Tho, I wonder how much of this is breeding certain temperments there vs here & how much of it is the breeder's / owner's way of raising / socializing the pups.
Could it be because Kai here are bred to show & many kai there are bred to hunt I'm seeing these differences?
What are your thoughts?
[ or am I just imagining everything? hahaha ] ~
Comments
IMHO yes some of our dogs here are more muscular from what I have seen but as far as color and face type they are the same as in Japan. I went back last year for my cousins wedding and went to a couple breeders kennels. I was planning on importing all my pups because I thought they would be so much better from Japan. Nope. The only difference is they have more, so more choices in color and face shape. IMHO Here the dominate traits have taken over and made dogs that look similar in some ways.
But don't judge the American Kai's coloring from the few you have seen on this forum. I speak to a lot of Kai owners who are not on here, and their dogs vary from breeder to breeder, litter to litter in color.
As far as temperment, again don't trust the videos you see on Youtube. All the Kai I met in Japan were very social and were breed for temperment. The Kai here are also more loyal to one person. Most breeders and Kai owners would tell you that, but not every dog in a breed is going to be like that.
I do think that it is time that more bloodlines are brought into the US, and a couple of the breeders are either doing or planning just that.
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There was originally two types of Kai's. There are two great foundation studs given credit for these distinct characteristics found in today's Kai dogs. KAIKURO willed the "shishi-inu-gata" type which is a thicker, stockier dog with a more bear type face. DAIRO famed for his deer hunting, is credited for the thinner longer bodies with foxier faces called the "shika-inu-gata" type. Each dog gave strength, speed, agility and quick thinking to its descendants as evidenced in the breed today. Currently in Japan, they do not distinguish the two types anymore and no one type is perferred over the other.
Overall the JKC Kai I've seen are larger and stockier than most Aigokai registered Kai. Like everyone knows though, there's a lot of size/type/color difference in the Kai breed as a whole. If you like a different 'type' you can always find it somewhere.
Also, as previously mentioned, all the Kai in the states go back to just a few early imported males - it's hard to say how much of Kona, for example, is Rikiro and how much is general Kai breed traits (as far as phenotype goes).
Kona is most def the "bear type".
Also, for whatever reason (*cough* Breed Politics *cough*), there is a very small Kai membership here on the forum. I have tried and tried to drive Kai owners here to share experiences but they just don't seem interested. I am on the Yahoo lists and check the other forums too but they don't get much traffic either. It would be nice if the Kai community would come together a bit so we can all share some knowledge and experiences. Kinda makes me sad.
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I'd really love to learn more about the breed in general. Either way, i'll be owning them in the future. When I have money and a home that is actually mine. xD;
Enclosed is a picture of my 3 month old female puppy who is out of a Japanese import male and a female that I bred from our American lines. She is everything that I would like to see in a well balanced and yet correct breed example.
Marian
CLASSY KENNEL, MI
There are 55 Kai posts in the Kai Ken category, you can view them here: http://www.nihonken.org/forum/?CategoryID=15. If some are closed that is due to inactivity and you can request and old thread be re-opened or you can just create a new post in the Kai Ken cat.
If you go to the link above, and don't see any posts, then there may be problem - so please let me know if that's the case.
Chie is cute, btw.
Thanx!
~Brad
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Nice to see you posting.
Your puppy is very adorable.
I really love the kai ken too I decided to get into shiba inu first, but I might one day get a kai ken once I'm ready I'm still researching.
I am so hopeful that Chie continues to grow up as she is now, as I really like the type and look that was produced. By doing a total outcross into the new Japanese import, many times it can take one or two generations before you start to get consistent type. Chie has very good balance and is moderate as the standard calls for repeatably. Even as she is growing she is holding type. She is a good blend of the Kai Kuro and Dairo type. Because there is no such thing as a pure Kai Kuro anymore but is my more preferred look, I am pleased with her looks. I was away judging in Virginia last weekend and another exhibitor/judge (who I put her husband and dog up over her exquisite bitch) said, "Marian is all about correct movement." and she was right. The dog her husband was handling out moved all the others. While all had a fault that I would prefer not to see, that just kind of balanced the playing field, so naturally correct movement without being excessive would be what I would be looking for. Movement should be moderate, consistent and effortless in the Kai.
Going away again tomorrow for a weekend of judging, but will check in late Sunday when I get back and will answer any questions anyone may have about the breed.
As a finally note, just would like everyone to know, I love all the Japanese breeds!!! None are better then another, just that each breed type fulfills a different need in our lives as each are so unique.
Look forward to talking more,
Marian
Just a thought, but you should post your own thread something designated for you to answer questions (i.e. Ask Marian or Classy Thread). There are lots of Shiba owners on here, and only a handful of us Kai owners. And to be honest, most of us have only met 1 or 2 Kai before. We can answer from our experience only with our dogs, but it may not give the true story of the breed.
Please feel free to share more puppy pics too!
Brad finally managed to drag more Kai owners here!