Shikoku — breed guide
A Japanese boar-hunting dog from the mountains of Kochi — more biddable than a Shiba, and genuinely rare outside Japan.
At a glance
- Group
- working
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 16–26 kg (35–57 lb)
- Life span
- 10–12 years
- Coat
- Harsh, straight double coat, sesame
Living with a Shikoku
- High energy — needs real exercise every day, not a stroll.
- Regular grooming — brushing a few times a week.
- Heavy shedding, especially in season.
- Trainable with consistency.
- Vocal when there is a reason.
- Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
- Usually fine with a familiar dog; strange dogs need managing.
- Can live with a cat, with a slow introduction and an escape route for the cat.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Average heat tolerance.
- Handles cold well.
Temperament
Energetic · Alert · Loyal · Primitive
Health to watch
- Hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Epilepsy
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Shikoku good with kids?
With care. Shikokus generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.
Is a Shikoku good with cats?
It can work, with management. Introduce them gradually, feed them apart, and make sure the cat has vertical space the dog cannot reach. Plan to manage it rather than assume it.
How much exercise does a Shikoku need?
An hour or more of proper exercise every day.
Can a Shikoku handle hot weather?
About average — use normal hot-day sense.
Leash Life keeps a Shikoku's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.