The Primitive Pet

The Kishu Ken as a Companion dog

Keeping a high-energy, primitive dog as a household pet can be a challenging, but rewarding task. Generally speaking, the breed is high in physical energy, working drive, and prey drive. The combination can present difficulties to a pet owner, particularly when her Kishu Ken is in his adolescent months, testing boundaries and learning quickly.

Kishu Ken enjoy being with their family.

Despite this, the Kishu Ken can make a wonderful, intelligent, and affectionate companion in the home. Kishu Ken thrive in an environment where they can holistically develop a bond with their owner. An environment that is consistent, but never harsh or too repetitive - the latter can cause contention and disharmony between dog and owner.

As companions, Kish Ken require daily stimulation. This stimulation may come in many forms, not limited to: regular, long leash-walks, hiking, camping, brain puzzles, and training games! Exercising your Kishu Ken is important to their physical and emotional well-being. They are always eager to meet adventure, no matter the form, as long as they have the experience to understand the environment. In the home, however, a Kishu owner will note his dog often turns into an affectionate creature, just as happy to curl up on the couch and cuddle with their family.

Careful, consistent exposure and experience form a young age makes all the difference to the Kishu Ken.

The Young Kishu Ken

As a warning, the most difficult time in a Kishu's life - for dog and owner - is the tumultuous adolescent stage, between 8 months and maturity when the juvenile Kishu is testing her boundaries. Kishu Ken in this stage of development are wont to become destructive when bored, combative with other dogs, and potentially challenging of their owners. Special care must be taken during this stage to keep a healthy, strong bond between dog and family, until they grow into their maturity. Consistent, fun training and experience can help through this period of growth.

This adolescence comes at a particular surprise because Kishu Ken puppies tend to be hyper-intelligent, biddable, and learn very quickly. Kishu Ken puppies have a habit of absorbing experience and training like a sponge, and rarely have the "rebellious streak" of their teenage counterparts. Creating a solid foundation during their formative puppy weeks and months is key to a confident and well-trained adult.

Kishu Ken puppies are very attentive, and love to learn.

The Perfect Home

The ideal home for a Kishu Ken as a companion animal is in an active home. Kishu Ken can tirelessly go for miles when physically exercised due to their long-standing hunting background. Their unique "off switch" in the home, when not on adventure, makes them a possible pet for even the "weekend warrior" active home, as long as they can stimulate their Kishu in different ways during their busy-times.

Many Kishu Ken owners in North America are active families, looking for a relatively no-frills, generally healthy companion dog.

Written and edited by C.J. Hammond