Utonagan vs Shikoku - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Utonagan vs Shikoku - Breed ComparisonShikoku is originated from Japan but Utonagan is originated from United Kingdom. Shikoku may grow 57 cm / 22 inches shorter than Utonagan. Shikoku may weigh 13 kg / 29 pounds more than Utonagan. Both Shikoku and Utonagan has same life span. Both Shikoku and Utonagan has almost same litter size. Both Shikoku and Utonagan requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Companion dog
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Japan
United Kingdom
Height Male:
17 - 27 cm
6 - 11 inches
63 - 84 cm
24 - 34 inches
Height Female:
14 - 24 cm
5 - 10 inches
63 - 84 cm
24 - 34 inches
Weight Male:
42 - 53 kg
92 - 117 pounds
32 - 40 kg
70 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
32 - 40 kg
70 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Kochi-ken • Shikoku-Ken
Ute, Twatha Utonagan
Colors Available:
and red sesame (ground color of red mixed with black hairs)., black sesame (more black than white hairs), Sesame (equal mix of black and white hairs)
Silver or grey, or black., cream,brown
Coat:
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).
Medium to long, thick and straight
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

shikokuThe Shikoku is from the Shikoku Island in Japan and they are very much like the Japanese Shiba Inu. There are six native Japanese dog breeds and the Shikoku is medium sized and sits in between the smaller Shiba Inu and the very large Akita Inu. All of the Japanese native breeds are members of the Spitz family. The Japanese have sorted their six breeds into 3 categories by size. Being medium size, the Shikoku is a member of the Shika-inus group. Others in this group are the Ainu Ken, the Kai Ken and the Kishu Inu. There are small differences between the three dogs in the Shika-inus group.

The Shikoku was bred to be a hunting dog in Kochi Prefecture to hunt boar and deer. Other names for the breed include Kochi-ken and Kishu dog or boar hound. This dog is considered to be the purest of the Japanese native dogs or Nihoken. They are today very , very rare. There are very few outsides of Japan, but some in North America are attempting to save the breed.

The are od Kochi Prefecture is a mountainous region with rough terrain that anyone outside of the area would have a hard time accessing. That is why the Shikoku is considered to be so pure as they were pretty well isolated in the mountains. The breeders were also isolated by the mountains and there was very little interbreeding. Although breeding the same dog, these different groups developed different lines of the Shikoku.

Documentation tells us that the number of originals lines was just two and these were the Western and Eastern Shikoku. The Western dog was known as the Mount Ishizuchi Shikoku and the Eastern as the Mount Tsurugi Shikoku. Within these two lines of Shikoku there are additional strains.

Within the Eastern line there is the Tokushima (lya) and the Koci-Aki strains. Within the Western line there is the Hata Uwahara, the Ehime-ken Shuso-gun and the Honkawa. Among these lines and strains, there are different coats and different colors; some heavier and some taller, but all figure into the development of the breed.

Finally, in the Showa Era the Japanese established the Dog Protective League and they began collecting the native dogs from around the country. They protected them so that the breed will go on. The Shikoku is today recognized as Foundation Stock by the AKC and it is fully recognized by the Japan Kennel Club, the Canadian Hound Club and the Shikoku has been declared a living Japanese “natural monument”.

Two bloodlines became the way the Shikoku were know after the war – the Honkawa and the Hata lines The Honkawa line were the descendants of the Choshun-go and the Hata line were the descendants of the Matsukaze-go. They bred the lines separately until 1955, when they mixed them to make the breed stronger. They are no longer considered separate in any way.

Because they are such primitive dogs, the Shikoku are good watch dogs and quite reserved with strangers. They need a lot of socialization to be a family pet but once they are, they make great companions. Intelligent, quick to learn and eager to please. Of the two lines of Shikoku dogs from the Western strains, the current Shikoku owes much of its current development to the Honkawa and Hata strains.

The Shikoku are recognized by the following organizations.

The American Canine Association Inc.

The United Kennel Club.

The Canadian Kennel Club.

The American Rare Breed Association

The AKC Foundation Stock Service Program.

The Japanese Kennel Club.

The Dog Registry of America Inc.

utonaganThe Utonogan is such a wolf-like dog, you couldn’t be blamed for thinking you’d come face to face with a true wolf. They’re a rare dog breed that came about from crossing the Siberian Husky, the German Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute.

The dog was developed by Edwina Harrison and it was in the 1980s that the dog was introduced into the UK.

The Utonagan is a rare dog with only a few breeders. Take care with where you buy your Utonogan from and certainly steer clear of backyard breeders or puppy mills.

Description

shikoku puppy - descriptionToday’s Shikoku is a medium sized breed with a Spitz like body – square with a head that is wedge shaped. The ears are pointed, and the tail is curved and feathered. They have arched toes and hard pads with dark, hard nails.

The two lines of the Shikoku are slightly different in built and look. The Honkawa strain is slender and athletic; agile and single coated. They have dark eyes and most of them are black and tan.

On the other hand, the Hata strain is much heavier boned, with the front more muscular than the rear. They have small ears, a wide skull and a strong undercoat. His eyes are shaped differently than the Honkawa. Their coats are also mostly red and tan.

utonagan puppy - descriptionThese dogs are large and lean, looking vibrant and strong. They stand at between 63-84 cm in height and weigh roughly between 32-40 kg.

The body is long with strong but slender legs with webbed paws. They look like wolves with the sharp muzzle, the erect ears, bushy tails and slanted eyes with black eye rims. The double coat is thick and straight. Colors of the coat can be silver or gey, cream, brown, or black. The coat becomes thicker in the Winter.

Temperament:

The Utonagan is a very social dog, wanting to spend a lot of time with his human family. They have so many excellent qualities that make him a splendid pet - loving, loyal and gentle.

Whether you have other pets in the home or children, he is a dog that is able to get on with everyone. He is wary of strangers though and with training ad socialization he is going to be the most fantastic pet and companion.

Characteristics

shikoku dog - characteristics1.Children friendliness – They might be a little aloof with children. They are hunters.

2.Special talents – speed and endurance.

3.Adaptability with your commitment to exercise they can live anywhere even in an apartment.

4.Learning ability - highly intelligent fast learners

utonagan dog - characteristicsThe Utonagan is an intelligent dog and also very social and people-oriented. He wants to be part of his human family, with a friendly, playful nature.

He will certainly not like being left alone and outside day after day. He can become frantic with frustration and this can be laid at the feet of an irresponsible dog owner.

Give him the life he wants and deserves, and this beautiful wolf-like dog will be your friend for life.

Health Problems

shikoku puppies - health problemsBeing isolated as they were, the Shikoku was a fairly healthy breed, no genetic testing has been done. Despite this they suffer a few of the same potential issues as other breeds their size.

  • Hip, knee and elbow dysplasia.
  • Food allergies.
  • Gland infections.
  • Digestive or urinary infections and issues.

Otherwise this is an agile and hardy breed with no known congenital health issues.

utonagan puppies - health problemsYur Utonagans can live to be between 12 and 15 years of age, but a few issues can include cancer and joint dysplasia.

Cancer is a major cause of death in dogs old and young. There also seems to be some dog breeds that are more prone to cancer than others.

Thankfully most of the cancers are curable if you get them in the nick of time. The warning signs of cancer in your dog is much the same as with people and you’ll discover a new lump on your pet or a wound that simply won’t heal.

When you detect that your pet is lethargic and not acting his usual perky self, it is time to get him immediately to the vet.

Caring The Pet

shikoku dogs - caringFeeding the puppy Be careful with feeding the puppy and adult as the breed is known to have a tendency toward obesity. Fresh food is better as it is what the breed has been used to, but a high quality puppy kibble is acceptable. Feed three times per day.

2.Feeding the adult He is a high energy dog so feed a high energy food designed for a medium sized dog. Feed in two meals each day.

3.Points for Good Health The breed has remarkable endurance.

4. Games and Exercises You will need a fenced yard for this breed and time to play with them. If not, you would need time to walk her more than once a day. They love to play indoors as well, chasing balls, learning new things. The breed make great companions for hiking, swimming, play frisbee or catch outside. They do well at agility, rally, obedience and flyball.

Exercise:

utonagan dogs - caringThese are very high energy dogs and they will need exercise every day. While they will love a walk, they would be happier with something more vigorous such as a hike.

Swimming, ball games and hide and seek will all need to be on this dog’s menu of events. It is why it’s a dog that is better suited to life in the country as opposed to life in the city.

Diet:

If you opt to buy this dog commercially manufactured food, he will need to have a high quality one high in vitamins and minerals and designed for energetic dogs. Try and avoid the inferior brands as they are packed with ingredients that can be of no value to your pet. There are ingredients which can actually make him sick.

Home-made food is always a good thing for dogs, especially when it is simple, nutritious food that won’t aggravate the stomach.

You can’t go wrong with foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice, and vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato. A little bit of raw meat added in occasionally can be excellent as well. Always make sure that a bowl of fresh water is available to your pet around the clock.

Grooming:

This is such a beautiful dog, you want to keep him that way. His thick coat is going to require regular brushing to keep it free from matting. Not only that, grooming stimulates the skin. You can also check him over at the same time for ticks and fleas and make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps on the body.

This type of dog values the grooming session as it is a bonding time for him, making him that much happier and content.

Other grooming needs will include taking care of his nails and checking inside his ears and mouth for signs of infection.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Shikoku vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Shikoku vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Shikoku vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
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  5. Shikoku vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Shikoku vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Shikoku vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Shikoku vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Shikoku vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Shikoku vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Shikoku vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Shikoku vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Shikoku vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Shikoku vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Shikoku vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
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  17. Shikoku vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Shikoku vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
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  22. Shikoku vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Shikoku vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Shikoku vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Shikoku vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Utonagan vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Utonagan vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Utonagan vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Utonagan vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Utonagan vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Utonagan vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Utonagan vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Utonagan vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Utonagan vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Utonagan vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Utonagan vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Utonagan vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Utonagan vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Utonagan vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Utonagan vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Utonagan vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Utonagan vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Utonagan vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Utonagan vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Utonagan vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Utonagan vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Utonagan vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Utonagan vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Utonagan vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Utonagan vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison