The Yuushoku Kishu Ken
"Originally the breed was comprised primarily of non-white dogs at a ratio of around 7:3. The trend toward white dogs started due to the popularity of the Ouchiyama line of white Kishu. This line of white hunting Kishu was so impressive that it was bred from extensively. Due to the popularity of these white Kishu, and the nature of the white gene in the breed, today there are very few non-white Kishu left."
It is no secret that the Kishu Ken is a primarily white breed today. White coats themselves are not a new aspect of the breed, but the prevalence of the white coat in the population is a relatively recent trend across the breed's total history. "Yuushoku", or "colored", is the term used to describe Kishu Ken who are not white-coated, today. These Kishu come in all the same standard-approved patterns and coat colors as the Shikoku Ken.
The National Kishu Club celebrates all colors of Kishu Ken and it is the official stance that we will do our part to preserve this visible diversity in the breed as best we can, but we also recognize there is a higher rate of quality individuals among white dogs today and that yuushoku dogs often harbor color or type faults that may not make them as competitive as white coated dogs in the conformation ring.
The National Kishu Club celebrates all colors of Kishu Ken and it is the official stance that we will do our part to preserve this visible diversity in the breed as best we can, but we also recognize there is a higher rate of quality individuals among white dogs today and that yuushoku dogs often harbor color or type faults that may not make them as competitive as white coated dogs in the conformation ring.
Basic Terminology
Vocabulary
- Allele: an alternate expression of a gene; one member of a pair of genes
- Gene: the fundamental unity of heredity expressed by 1-3 letters; gene and allele are sometimes used interchangeably
- Locus: where a gene is located in relation to others
- A (Agouti) Locus: this locus controls the all-over pattern and density of black hair growth on a dog; this is the major locus in determining yuushoku Kishu coat colors, deciding if a dog is red (Ay), sesame (Ay & aw), or black (at)
- E (Extention) Locus: this locus controls if a dog can grow black hair and where that black hair grows; this is the determining factor between white coats (e) and all other coat colors (E.)
- I (Intensity) Locus: the intensity locus describes a collection of genes that impact if a recessive red dog (e/e) is white or yogore and how vibrant the red pigment of a non-white dog can be. This locus is a grouping that is not very well understood as of yet.
- S (Spotting) Locus: in Kishu Ken, S Locus is unreliable, but may be able to determine if the dog is solid (S) or pinto (sp.) Not all (sp) dogs are phenotypically pinto in the breed.
- Black (Kuro): describes a black and tan coat, similar in appearance to black/black and tan in Shiba Inu and Shikoku. Black is considered "functionally extinct" in the Kishu Ken and is exceedingly rare in registered dogs, but is part of the breed standard.
- Example Genotype: A Locus: (at/at); E Locus: (E/e)
- Red (Aka): describes a clear sable coat in which the black hairs are so sparse they have little perceptible impact on the coat color, allowing the red pigment of the coat to shine. This is the most common color in Shiba Inu and Japanese Akita but is very uncommon in the Kishu Ken.
- Sashige (lit. "different colored hair"): intermingled black hairs in a red dog's coat which may become visible especially on the tail, shoulder cape (v-cape), and near the ears.
- Example Genotype: A Locus: (Ay/Ay); E locus: (E/E)
- Sesame (Goma): describes a genetically agouti or shaded sable dog with an even mix of black, red, and cream/white hair when observing the dog. This coat color is the second most common in the Kishu Ken and is separated into different "shades" or variations. This coat color is extremely common in the Shikoku Ken, but also shows up in Shiba Inu and Hokkaido Ken.
- Black Sesame (Kurogoma): describes a sesame coat where the density of black hair is very close together and frequent. A black sesame dog may appear similar to a black dog.
- Example Genotype: (aw/at) (E/e)
- Red Sesame (Akagoma): describes a sesame coat where the density of black hair is spread apart and less frequent than red hair. A red sesame dog may toe the line with a red dog who has a lot of sashige but should be distinctly sesame.
- Example Genotype: (Ay/aw) (E/E)
- White Sesame (Shirogoma): describes a sesame coat where the intensity of red pigment has been washed out to appear cream or white and the black pigment is generally sparse. This coat color is not desired as all non-white coats should have intense red pigment. White sesame is inherited the same as any other sesame coat type but appears more like a the sooty grey of a Siberian Husky or other northern breed dog.
- Black Sesame (Kurogoma): describes a sesame coat where the density of black hair is very close together and frequent. A black sesame dog may appear similar to a black dog.
- White (Shiro): White coats describe any coat color from pure white to a pale yellow - all these shades are registered as "white." White dogs are the only coat color where flesh colored noses are permitted and urajiro does not have to be visible. Some white dogs may have darker "cream" or yellow pigmented ear rims, dorsal stripes, and tails. All other things equal, a pure white dog or a dog with black flesh points is preference.
- Example Genotype: (Ay/aw) (e/e)
- Dirty White (yogore/yogore-shiro): A yogore shiro dog is a white dog with a yellow appearance. This is not an official registration terminology but is used when speaking in layman to describe a dog who is visibly "off-white."
- Pinto (Pinto): White that interrupts the body color (like an American Akita/AKC Akita) is called "pinto." Pinto is severely faulted in the Kishu Ken. White stockings or socks are not considered pinto but do likely exist on the same locus as pinto and must be taken into account when breeding a dog.
- Spotted (Buchi): Buchi describes the ticking and spotting that appears on white markings of a dog. Buchi is not desired in the Kishu Ken, so if a dog does have socks, a clean white sock is preferred, all other things equal.
- Countershading (Urajiro): Literally translated as "underside white", urajiro is the required countershading that must be present on all non-white coats.
A red dog, a red sesame dog, a sesame dog, and a white dog. Can you tell the difference between the red sesame and the sesame?