Shikoku vs Gordon Setter - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Shikoku vs Gordon Setter - Breed ComparisonGordon Setter is originated from United Kingdom but Shikoku is originated from Japan. Gordon Setter may grow 43 cm / 17 inches higher than Shikoku. Gordon Setter may weigh 17 kg / 37 pounds lesser than Shikoku. Gordon Setter may live 3 years less than Shikoku. Both Gordon Setter and Shikoku has almost same litter size. Both Gordon Setter and Shikoku requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Sporting dog
undefined
United Kingdom
Japan
Height Male:
65 - 70 cm
25 - 28 inches
17 - 27 cm
6 - 11 inches
Height Female:
65 - 70 cm
25 - 28 inches
14 - 24 cm
5 - 10 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 36 kg
70 - 80 pounds
42 - 53 kg
92 - 117 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 36 kg
70 - 80 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
4 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Gordons, Black and Tans
Kochi-ken • Shikoku-Ken
Colors Available:
Black and tan
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)
Coat:
Straight and silky and wavy
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).
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

gordon setterThe Gordon Setter includes mixes of the English Setter and the Irish Setter. The original purpose of the breed was to hunt game birds.

The dog breed hails from Scotland with a history that dates back to the 17th century. The dog was developed in Gordon Castle by the Duke of Gordon IV.

The dog became popular among hunters in the early 19th century. He is the biggest of the setter breeds. It was in 1884 that the American Kennel Club recognized the Gordon Setter.

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.

Description

gordon setter puppy - descriptionThe Gordon Setter is a large dog, capable of reaching up to 69cm in height and weighing up to 36kg in weight.

He belongs to the Setter family and is somewhat heavier than the other Setter breeds. Setter dogs are classified as sporting- or gun dogs. He is a beautiful dog with a pitch black coat with tan markings found around the chest, muzzle and paws as well as those two familiar tan dots above each eye.

Sometimes you can find a small amount of white on the chest. The coat is straight and silky but it can be slightly waved with feathering around the legs, chest, ears and tail. Both the tail and the ears of the dog are also long and feathery. The Gordon has an intelligent, dignified look about him.

Temperament:

The Gordon Setter is a confident, fearless, loyal and affectionate dog. They do well with their human families, when there are other pets in the house as well as children.

He can be a boisterous dog so training and socialization will become necessary. Your Gordon Setter is an intelligent dog and also a dog ready and willing to learn. He is calm and even-tempered but playful too.

He isn’t a dog suited to life in the city if there isn’t an adequately sized garden. He is essentially a country life dog well suited to farms or large fenced gardens.

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.

Characteristics

gordon setter dog - characteristicsBeautiful to look at, the intelligent and even-tempered Gordon Setter has everything to be confident about. He loves the attention he gets from his human family and is always looking for a pat.

He can be stubborn and he certainly won't like the idea of being left cut off from his family for long periods of time as he is a social dog with those he knows and loves.

The Gordon Setter is energetic and playful so he will need regular exercise. When you bring a Gordon Setter into your home, you bring in a wonderfully loyal pet and companion.

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

Health Problems

gordon setter puppies - health problemsLife expectancy for the Gordon Setter is usually about 10 to 12 years and with good nutrition and care, your Gordon can easily reach 12 years of age.

Every dog is prone to some common health issues and these include among others hip dysplasia, gastric torsion or bloat, retinal atrophy and ear infections.

Hip Dysplasia:

Large dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia. The disease is a malfunction of the hip joints causing pain and loss of function in the rear legs.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This eye conditon just gets worse over time and can lead to vision loss.

Hypothyroidism:

An under-active thyroid causes a decrease in metabolism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs include weight gain, obesity, cold intolerance, changes in the skin and coat like hair loss and your dog is lethargic.

Gastric torsion or Bloat:

This can be very dangerous with your pet as the stomach is swollen and the stomach rotates and twists and can lead to death.

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.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

gordon setter dogs - caringGordon Terriers are energetic dogs so he is going to require a good deal of exercise each day. Take him with you on your walks and make sure that you give him lots of ball games and rope games.

Grooming:

All Gordon Setters shed, and their coat will require a good brushing at least twice a week. Check nails, teeth and ears regularly. Brush teeth at least twice a week to prevent dental decay.

Diet:

As a working dog your Gordon Setter has a special need for a high fat content diet. You can include some raw meat in his high-energy dog kibble. He can also have some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables added into his kibble from time to time. Make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.

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.

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
  4. Shikoku vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  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
  16. Shikoku vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Shikoku vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Shikoku vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Shikoku vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Shikoku vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Shikoku vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  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. Gordon Setter vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Gordon Setter vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Gordon Setter vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Gordon Setter vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Gordon Setter vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Gordon Setter vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Gordon Setter vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Gordon Setter vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Gordon Setter vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Gordon Setter vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Gordon Setter vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Gordon Setter vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Gordon Setter vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Gordon Setter vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Gordon Setter vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Gordon Setter vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Gordon Setter vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Gordon Setter vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Gordon Setter vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Gordon Setter vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Gordon Setter vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Gordon Setter vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Gordon Setter vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Gordon Setter vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Gordon Setter vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison