The Kai Ken (also called the Tora Inu or Tiger Dog) is a breed of dog from Japan where it is a national monument. It is a rare dog even in its native land and is one of the six native Japanese dog breeds protected by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai.
Appearance
The Kai Ken is a medium-sized dog with a wedge-shaped head and pricks ears. Males are typically 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder, while the females are slightly smaller, 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder. The tail may be curled over the back, or carried in a sickle position. Limbs should be strong and hocks should be well developed reflecting the dogs’ history of mountain life. The coat is of harsh texture, medium length, and comes in various shades of brindle (tiger stripes). The red is the Aka-Tora, the black is the Kuro-Tora and between them, the Chu-Tora. Puppies are born a solid colour and their brindle markings develop as they age, sometimes taking as long as five years before fully showing.
Temperament
The Kai Ken is intelligent, agile, alert and brave. They are natural hunters and make good watchdogs, being reserved with strangers but loyal to their families. They are friendly, often good with children and are not usually aggressive towards other dogs. Many love to swim, and have been known to cross rivers and climb trees while chasing their prey.
History
The Kai Ken was split off from the Nihon Ken (Japanese Dog) landrace during the creation of the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (NIPPO) and named after Kai Province in Yamanashi Prefecture where the breed is said to have originated.
Being an agile and effortless climber, the Kai Ken was used to hunt in steep mountainous terrain in Yamanashi where’s its primary quarry was the Japanese serow (Kamoshika), deer, wild boar, and occasionally bear.
After the creation of NIPPO in 1928, the Kai Ken has designated a national monument in Japan in 1933. In 1931 the Kai Ken Aigokai (KKA) was formed and became the primary Preservation Society for the breed in Japan and still is today.