As some of you might already know, NurseNibble & I are Akita lovers, but came across info & pictures of another Japanese breed, medium in size between the Shiba Inu and the Akita. Found this great old woodcut image & updated my avatar with it...anybody know what it is?

The 1st correct answer will WIN either a Parker Rialto Metallic Gray FP in Fine pt. or a Parker Place Vendome/88 Matte Burgundy (w/Teal ends!) FP in Medium pt....YOUR CHOICE & FREE no matter where you are around the globe (that does rule out Mars, Pluto or the planet Goofy)!

Just send your answer in reply form below so that it posts to this thread!

HINT: No known 'registered" breeders listed in the U.S., in Japan, yes (of course!) and only one in Canada...

Good Luck!
DocNib

It is a Shikoku Inu.

Kai Ken, that is also known as Tora Dog ?

Its a circus dog that can walk on one paw

Stan, did you have Miki-San read the writing

AND WE HAVE A WINNER! Mr. Moderator, Stan...CONGRATS!

Shikoku Inu is the correct answer, also known as the Kochi Ken. Kai Ken is another breed, originally from the Kai region and the 3-legged circus dog, well, that one's not even in the running (but fun read on the image!).

Stan, PM me with the choice of pen you'd like and the mailing address!

Thanks for playing,
DOC
PS--For those interested in Japanese breeds, check out www.japanesedogs.bulldoginformation.com and all info will be at your fingertips!

Rats! And I knew that one too...but disqualified because of the planet Goofy thing. Still, even on Goofy, it's good to be the King!

Kai Ken is a different Japanese breed, but not familiar with the "Tora" name. If you mean "Tosa" then I know that one...Japanese Mastiff. Picture a Bull Mastiff head on a Great Dane body & weighing up to 200-lbs.!!

Thanks,
DOC

Sorry, had to exclude the Planet Goofy because my wife is from there (so she says!). But I do ship to inter-planetary space stations...

Thanks,
DOC

Hi Taki!

My wife posed the same type of question, would somebody translate the writing on the picture? Alls fair in Love, War & Free Pens!

Best,
DOC

Hi Doc, it says "Shikoku Inu, how agile it is!"

Miki is from Kochi. Her niece has one.

Doc

There are a number of reference to the Kai Ken being known as the Tora Dog or Kai Tora-Ken. Unfortunately not knowing the breed of dog, I cannot hazard a guess where the name originated except from the reference material below.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Ken
http://japanesedogs.bulldoginformation.com/kai-inu.html
http://www.dogguide.net/kai-ken.php

When you described the dog breed as Japanese, medium in size between the Shiba Inu and the Akita I thought this fitted the description, although it was a total guess and wrong!

Regards

Shane

I'm from Shikoku but the other side of the island, and didn't know about the breed till today!!

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Thanks Shane!

My apologies, I missed the line about the Kai Tora Ken in the middle URL. Beautiful dogs too, but doesn't seem to have the exaggerated curl to the tail (at least from the pics!). The two Akitas we own have very tight curled tails, which we find. They both rotate like helicopter blades when wagging...very visually appealing!

The Shikoku has that nice curl, but will straighten out like the Akita when on it's guard or protecting, so like an early warning system! Now the hard part is when our pups are too old & go to that big pet playground in the sky, where to find a breeder with Shikoku pups, not too many places to choose from? But that's hopefully at least about 5-6 years down the road!

Thanks,
DOC

Miki is from Kochi. Her niece has one.
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I'm from Shikoku but the other side of the island, and didn't know about the breed till today!!
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Taki,

Thanks for the translation on the woodcut! If you come across anybody who breeds this line in the U.S., please don't hesitate to contact me. It's kind of like an adoption where it can take some time to complete the whole process!

Best Regards,
DOC

Never mind on this post, messages just crossed...Thanks Stan!

DOC