KISHU KEN: TEMPERAMENT
The NIPPO standard, the original standard to be penned to outline the Kishu Ken, covers essence and temperament in its very first item. It describes the Kishu Ken and all Japanese dogs using three words: Kan-i, Ryousei, and Soboku. These traits are the very core and spirit of the Japanese dog, and the Kishu Ken by extension. Kan-i is translated as spirit, vigour and the daring of the dog. Ryousei is devotion, obedience, and a good-natured disposition. Soboku is rustic and simple beauty. Knowing these three traits and their meaning can give great insight into the Kishu Ken temperament and personality.
At a Glance
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Kishu ARE:
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Kishu AREN'T:
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In Depth
Kishu Ken are a spirited, affectionate, and focused dog who have a tendency to "wear their heart on their sleeve" and may have some big opinions they want to share. This can make them a lot of dog, up-front, for those who are ill-prepared or someone meeting the breed for the first time. However, the Kishu Ken is an incredibly dedicated companion who will give back everything you put into them and more. Due to their long history and modern use in boar hunting, the Kishu Ken is very in-tune with their owner (historically, the hunter) without being overly clingy or "velcro." In fact, many Kishu Ken are are more "handler hard", meaning they can take handler error and corrections in stride as long as they have a strong bond with their person.
It should also be expected that the average Kishu Ken is a high energy dog. However, in the home, the Kishu Ken turns into an affectionate companion who easily finds rest and relaxation. Some days, if left indoors and typically properly exercised, it you may find your Kishu Ken never leaves the couch or their bed. They settle well and do not need to be underfoot. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by this "off switch" - your Kishu Ken still needs exercise and it is very unlikely that you will ever be able to provide enough physical exercise to truly wear your Kishu Ken out (but they will thank you for trying!)
A strong bond and a history of good experiences means everything to this breed. A Kishu Ken with a strong bond, early training and socialization, and a breed-standard temperament is a dog who will dive headfirst into whatever you ask of them. A Kishu Ken who has learned that training and life with their people is a fun adventure may not even ask you "how high" when you ask them to jump, but throw themselves into it whole-heartedly to do their very best.
These dogs can be very focused on their eyes and their nose when out and about. They need to learn to focus on their people and their family should do their best to develop a rapport with their dog and establish eye contact and engagement from a young age. Once that expectation and engagement is established, they can be very pleasant and easy dogs to train - even if they will still have those aforementioned opinions about the world. It isn't uncommon that Kishu Ken can become reactive with strange dogs or animals and need early and consistent training to learn impulse control. Reactivity tends to reach its peak in adolescence when Kishu Ken are already going through their "wild youth."
One thing that may set Kishu Ken apart from other so-called primitive or aboriginal breeds and related dogs is that Kishu Ken generally have remarkable environmental nerve and shake off frightening or unpleasant experiences very easily as long as they are allowed to assess and address the thing that disturbed them in the way they feel comfortable. For a lot of Kishu Ken, this may mean a startle, recover, and approaching the disturbance. For others, this may mean escaping and observing from a distance they feel is "safe." As a word of caution, the same boldness that can make these dogs excel as boar hounds can also mean that a scared Kishu Ken will more often chose "fight" over "flight" when they are not given the proper time to address something that is making them uncomfortable.
It should also be expected that the average Kishu Ken is a high energy dog. However, in the home, the Kishu Ken turns into an affectionate companion who easily finds rest and relaxation. Some days, if left indoors and typically properly exercised, it you may find your Kishu Ken never leaves the couch or their bed. They settle well and do not need to be underfoot. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by this "off switch" - your Kishu Ken still needs exercise and it is very unlikely that you will ever be able to provide enough physical exercise to truly wear your Kishu Ken out (but they will thank you for trying!)
A strong bond and a history of good experiences means everything to this breed. A Kishu Ken with a strong bond, early training and socialization, and a breed-standard temperament is a dog who will dive headfirst into whatever you ask of them. A Kishu Ken who has learned that training and life with their people is a fun adventure may not even ask you "how high" when you ask them to jump, but throw themselves into it whole-heartedly to do their very best.
These dogs can be very focused on their eyes and their nose when out and about. They need to learn to focus on their people and their family should do their best to develop a rapport with their dog and establish eye contact and engagement from a young age. Once that expectation and engagement is established, they can be very pleasant and easy dogs to train - even if they will still have those aforementioned opinions about the world. It isn't uncommon that Kishu Ken can become reactive with strange dogs or animals and need early and consistent training to learn impulse control. Reactivity tends to reach its peak in adolescence when Kishu Ken are already going through their "wild youth."
One thing that may set Kishu Ken apart from other so-called primitive or aboriginal breeds and related dogs is that Kishu Ken generally have remarkable environmental nerve and shake off frightening or unpleasant experiences very easily as long as they are allowed to assess and address the thing that disturbed them in the way they feel comfortable. For a lot of Kishu Ken, this may mean a startle, recover, and approaching the disturbance. For others, this may mean escaping and observing from a distance they feel is "safe." As a word of caution, the same boldness that can make these dogs excel as boar hounds can also mean that a scared Kishu Ken will more often chose "fight" over "flight" when they are not given the proper time to address something that is making them uncomfortable.
Note for Conformation: This is a working boar hound bred for centuries to be able to quickly address threats and hold large game. When performing a judging exam, the spirited and alert nature which makes the Kishu Ken an ideal boar hound may cause novice dogs to become uncomfortable. Common behavior issues during judging exam for even well socialized and trained dog are a Kishu Ken that becomes fidgety, or may not want to stand still, and even may evade the exam. It is against the very nature of the Kishu Ken not to address people and animals in their environment.
We strongly encourage exhibitors to advocate for their dogs and encourage judges to approach the dog from the front to "greet" the Kishu Ken. After this, performing the exam by making a constant line of contact from the front to back may help mitigate common issues such as jumpiness as you are no longer fighting the dog's nature. This approach from the front may also let a judge know if the Kishu Ken is correctly approachable without complication from their desire to address potential dangers and stimuli. The Kishu Ken is an excellent hound and the traits that have seen them excel as hunters should be visible and never bred out.
We strongly encourage exhibitors to advocate for their dogs and encourage judges to approach the dog from the front to "greet" the Kishu Ken. After this, performing the exam by making a constant line of contact from the front to back may help mitigate common issues such as jumpiness as you are no longer fighting the dog's nature. This approach from the front may also let a judge know if the Kishu Ken is correctly approachable without complication from their desire to address potential dangers and stimuli. The Kishu Ken is an excellent hound and the traits that have seen them excel as hunters should be visible and never bred out.
Many well-socialized Kishu Ken with breed standard temperaments and sufficient training can feel comfortable anywhere their owners are.
From the dog show to the mountains to a crowded public transportation train or a loud brewery, Kishu like their people.
From the dog show to the mountains to a crowded public transportation train or a loud brewery, Kishu like their people.