Official UKC Breed Standard
@Copyright 2006, United Kennel Club, Inc.

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

HISTORY

The Shikoku is descended from the medium sized dogs of ancient Japan. It was developed as a hunting dog, mainly used on boar in the mountainous regions of Kochi. There were originally three varieties of this breed, each named for the area in which it was bred.

The Shikoku was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Shikoku is a medium sized dog, well balanced and with well developed, clean cut muscles. It has prick ears, a curled or sickle tail, and a sesame colored coat. It is a strong, well-boned and compact breed.

CHARACTERISTICS

An enthusiastic hunter with marked endurance, the Shikoku is energetic and alert, yet docile with his master.

HEAD

SKULL - Broad in forehead. The stop is shallow but defined.

MUZZLE - Rather long and wedge shaped, with a straight nasal bone.

TEETH - The Shikoku has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Faults: Slightly overshot or undershot bite.

Disqualifications: Extremely overshot or undershot bite.

NOSE - Black.

EYES - Relatively small, triangular in shape, set well apart and dark brown in color.

EARS - Small, triangular, strongly pricked and slightly inclined forward.

Disqualification: Ears not pricked.

NECK

Thick and powerful.

FOREQUARTERS

The shoulders are moderately sloping with strong muscles.

FORELEGS - The legs are straight and clean cut. The elbows set close to the body, and the pasterns are slightly sloping.

BODY

In proportion, the body is just slightly longer than tall in a ratio of 11:10. The chest is deep, and the ribs are well sprung. The withers are high, and the back is straight and strong. The loin is broad and muscular, and the belly is well tucked up.

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarters are powerful, with well developed muscles.

HIND LEGS - The hocks are moderately angulated and very tough.

FEET

Tightly closed, with well arched toes and hard, elastic pads. The nails are hard and dark in color.

TAIL

Thick, set on high and carried curled over the back or like a sickle. The tip nearly reaches the hock when let down.

Disqualifications: Hanging or short tail.

COAT

Double, with a harsh, straight outer coat and a soft, dense undercoat. The hair on the tail is rather long.

Fault: Coat too long.

COLOR

Sesame (equal mix of black and white hairs), black sesame (more black than white hairs), and red sesame (ground color of red mixed with black hairs).

HEIGHT

Height at the withers for males is 20.5 inches. For females, it is 18 inches. There is a tolerance of one inch in either direction.

GAIT

Light and quick, with rather narrow strides.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism. Extremely overshot or undershot bite. Ears not pricked. Tail hanging or too short.