The Nihon Ken as Working Dogs - Sporting & Hunting Dogs, Aptitude and Drive

All dogs were originally bred as working dogs. Be it as a herding dog, hunting dog, companion dog - each has its advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, the companion and family character predominates in all of our dogs. The herding and cattle dogs no longer have to lead huge flocks of sheep. In hunting, some breeds have achieved true fame and are firmly established. Many breeds are therefore threatened with extinction and have a small gene pole. Other races have obtained their utility in different ways, going into a different "branch". The therapy and assistance dog has gained much in importance.

What about the Nihon Ken in particular?

We know that all Nihon Ken were bred to be hunting dogs. However, some of these can no longer be compared with our current show lines. When breeding for performance alone, looks are secondary. Accordingly, many Nihon Ken feature different tails, colors, and markings. The quality of their fur is also different. The attitude is different. They have different characters.

Certainly there are still working lines like in other breeds. Their importance is currently very low in breeding. Nevertheless, all Nihon Ken can be used in various sports. Be it canicross, agility, protection dog sport, hunting, therapy etc. vm

One should bear in mind that these archetypal breeds are sometimes still very impulsive. This should also be taken into account when it comes to education.

Nihon Ken are among the search dogs. These are characterized by wonderful noses. A suitability that can be used to full capacity. There is nothing better for a Nihon Ken than nose work such as tracking or similar.

Now what can we say directly about the Nihon Ken as a hunting dog?

Our knowledge is as follows...

Of the shiba still has drive especially for small game/small mammals and birds. They are sometimes used as hunting dogs. However, we think that these dogs do not have an aptitude test and fall more into the "private" area.

Of the Akita still has a very strong guard and protective instinct. They are so fearless that they will not even shy away from confrontation with a bear, which they were once bred for. This was a video from the United States.

Of the Kai Ken has some good retrieval facilities. He is used a lot as a therapy and rescue dog in his home country.

Of the Hokkaido also has a passion for hunting but is just as little bred as a working line as his colleagues mentioned above. In Europe there is 1 hunting Hokkaido, which has also successfully passed a hunting test.

Of the Shikoku has a lot of interest and drive for small animals as well as hoofed game and predatory game. It is currently being bred again increasingly for use in hunting (Japan - preservation and protection of the monument). There is currently no Shikoku with a hunting license. The use and suitability is free or in gates.

Of the kishu still has the most working line of all Nihon Ken and accordingly the highest drive. Even if some ancestors did not hunt, this is not essential for aptitude/drive. On the contrary, it has strong driving roots and is the most common hunting breed in Japan. The Kishu also has representatives in Europe who have successfully passed a hunting aptitude test and are hunting.

Increasingly, Nihon Ken are reintroduced to game in Japan. The preservation and protection of the monument require this. Sometimes breeding shows are again carried out with game confrontations. For example, Hokkaido is introduced to bears (in a cage for protection) or Shikoku is tested on wild boars.

Now we have to go back a bit to explain the use and suitability as a hunting dog, especially in Germany. The large umbrella organization for hunting dogs is the JGHV e. V. - Hunting Dog Association and was founded in 1899. This is divided again for each federal state. There a hunting dog has to pass his exams in order to be officially allowed to hunt!

The only Nordic breed is currently the Laika, which is one of the 103 recognized breeds of the JGHV. Thus, none of the Nihon Ken or z. B. hunting a moose dog legally in Germany. It should also be mentioned that there are also different hunting practices/hunting subjects, which can make suitability more difficult.

The DNCH e. V. offers a usability test for all of its breeds. Whether and to what extent this will be accepted in the respective state association of the JGHV I cannot say at this moment. It is clear that there can be problems in terms of damage and insurance cover. A successful examination must be proven for each subject. Without this "certificate" a dog is not allowed to hunt.

Prerequisite for admission to the exams is a recognized pedigree!

Hunting dogs usually get a separate pedigree. If the breeding associations are affiliated with the JGHV, the pedigrees may bear the so-called "sparrow dog" (graphic above). This is the seal of quality and approval for hunting dogs.

One innovation is phenotyping. A double-edged sword. Here, dogs, primarily mixed breeds, are assigned a breed based on their appearance and are allowed to take part in the tests even without papers. Now take a Shikoku with papers, which is phenotyped as Laika. So he is declared as a mixed breed or Laika to take an exam, which he is not. Not really the point of it...

A few federal states have now also opened up access to examinations completely and without restrictions!