You won't believe this!
We were at the Fairgrounds today for a training session at our club's training building. I load the dogs up after letting them run around a bit, turn around and a couple are walking up the road with a white dog, curly tail, on leash. I look and look and am thinking, MAN does that look like a nihonken of some kind, or maybe a white Jindo, maybe a white Shiba but he was a bit large. So I get in the car, slow down to catch up with them and ask what breed -- he says it's a Shikoku -- and he spelled it out for me! OMG -- I nearly fell out of my car. I said I didn't know they came in that color. He said this dog was the first one born of his litter and all the others were normal-colored. I asked him whether he had imported him from Japan, and he said no, he'd gotten him from Peggy Graham out of Kirkwood, Ohio!!
We're in a winter storm watch, the snow was coming down all around, I was in no position to exchange pleasantries about whether they lived here or were just visiting or how old the dog was or was he friendly or could I pet him. They DID say he was WONDERFUL, the best dog they had ever had. He had a nice broad head, the slanted eyes, the guy owner said he was 40 lbs, 22 inches at the shoulder -- he looked very sound, moderately angulated (which I always look at). I asked him whether he knew what a Kishu was, and he said no -- so other than the fact that he knew they were related to the Akita, he didn't know that much about Nihonken.
Can the world get much smaller????? Made my day.
We're in a winter storm watch, the snow was coming down all around, I was in no position to exchange pleasantries about whether they lived here or were just visiting or how old the dog was or was he friendly or could I pet him. They DID say he was WONDERFUL, the best dog they had ever had. He had a nice broad head, the slanted eyes, the guy owner said he was 40 lbs, 22 inches at the shoulder -- he looked very sound, moderately angulated (which I always look at). I asked him whether he knew what a Kishu was, and he said no -- so other than the fact that he knew they were related to the Akita, he didn't know that much about Nihonken.
Can the world get much smaller????? Made my day.
Comments
Am.
ENVIOUS!!!!!!!!!
ARG!
That's right tho, if it's a cream shika it came out of Peggy's kennel. I believe she is the only [ North American ] breeder tha has produced creams.
Ugh. So. jealous. ~
That's right tho, if it's a cream shika it came out of Peggy's kennel. I believe she is the only [ North American ] breeder tha has produced creams.
LOL. Trust me, I never in a million years would have thought I'd see one in little ole Helena, Montana -- the town isn't THAT big. It was great to see one so close up - of course my camera was sitting on my desk at home because of the extreme cold we've been having. The size of the dog is so manageable, not too big, not too small, not bulky, not light either.
I would imagine that creams/whites pop up in litters of Shikoku just like they do in Vallhunds occasionally? They're sold as perfectly wonderful companions?
Anyway, it was a rare treat -- I can only hope that I'll see them again and that they weren't just passing through, visiting relatives for Christmas. Next time I'll try to actually meet the dog, get hands on, maybe talk to them about how they knew about Shikoku and Peggy, whether he'd been to Japan maybe... I'm very excited about the possibility of seeing this dog again and talking to the owners.
I believe it's a specific stud-bitch pairing of Peggy's that produces the creamies.
Here's a video of a Creamie Shika puppy playing with Kai puppies
~
They are truly lovely dogs...I cannot imagine a nicer dog to live with. And my Kuma is so sweet with all people and kids, fun in obedience, and just plain easy to live with (I am gushing) but I am with the owners of the dog you met, he is the best dog of any dogs that I have owned.
http://www.nihonken.org/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=895&page=1#Item_21