Ryukyu dog
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| Ryukyu Inu | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other names | Ryukyu Dog, Ryukyu Ken, Okinawa dog. | ||||||||||||
| Origin | Okinawa, Japan. | ||||||||||||
| Breed status | Not recognized as a breed by any major kennel club. | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||
The Ryukyu Inu (琉球犬) is a medium sized breed of dog that originates from Okinawa, Japan. It is an Okinawan Natural Monument and is Okinawa's only pedigree dog breed. It is a rare dog and is slowly declining in Numbers. There are as few as 400 Ryukyu Inu as of 2015[1]. Unlike dog such as the Kai Ken, the Ryukyu isn't protected by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai.
Description
Appearance
The Ryukyu Ken is a Medium Sized Dog, it shares similarities with the Kai Ken, however, unlike the Kai Ken the Ryukyu is leaner and taller. Ryukyu are also unique in that they possess Rear Dewclaws, whilst it is unknown why they have rear dewclaws it is said the reason is so they can climb trees to evade Hurricanes and Typhoons.
The stop is shallow with pricked ears with wide spacing between the ears. The chest is thick, and white spot on Chest is common and allowed, White on the paws while undesirable, does happen often especially when there is a lot of white on the chest.[2]
The tail can be either Sickle like the Kai Ken, Curled like an Akita or held over the back similar to a Papillon. Sickle Tails are more common than Curled or Held over.
Colour
The Ryukyu Inu comes in 9 colours. There are 5 Original colours and 4 newer recognised colours. The 5 original colours are
- Aka-in (Black Mask)
- Aka-in (Golden Eye)
- Shiro-Tora (White Brindle)
- Kuro-Tora (Black Brindle)
- Aka-Tora (Red Brindle.
The newer, non-official colours are
- Kuro (Pure Black)
- Shiro (Pure White)
- Aibori (Ivory)
- Sesame
Temperament
The Ryukyu Ken is described as a quiet dog that is capable of hunting in a group. They are agile, brave and not sensitive. They are natural hunters and have high prey drive. Despite being a hunting dog, owners say they are Obedient, Playful and good with children.
History
The Ryukyu Inu originated in Okinawa, Japan. It's history isn't well documented and there is varying stories, the more interesting version of the History is that the Ryukyu Inu was thought to be extinct after World War 2 due to Food Shortages. In the early 1980s however a small pack was found to be thriving in the northern Rainforests of the Yonbaru region of Okinawa. The pack was caught and scientists tested them to see if they were a distinct breed and the test came back that they were, hence the Ryukyu Breed was born and in the 1990s the Ryukyu Inu Preservation Society was founded.[3]
It is believed that the years of living in the rainforests is why the Ryukyu Inu has a Dewclaw on the back of the foot, because of the back dewclaw they can climb trees, which would have been evolutionarily favourable to them because of the high incidences of Tsunami in Japan they could climb trees quickly to evade the floods.
Ryukyu Inu Preservation Society
The Ryukyu Inu Preservation Society is a breed club dedicated to the preservation of Ryukyu Inu, it was founded in the 1990s and is the only Ryukyu Inu breed club and the only establishment that recognises the Ryukyu Inu thusfar. The Ryukyu Inu Preservation Society has become inactive in recent years due to difficulties in breeding Ryukyu Inu, it is not certain whether this is due to infertility issues because of high inbreeding and small population or whether it's because of the decline in breeders or reluctance to stud the breedable dogs out. [4]
Health
The health of the Ryukyu Inu isn't well documented. Unlike in western countries, Japanese breeders don't tend to test for things such as Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Glaucoma, etc. However, because of the high level of inbreeding and what common issues the sibling breeds have it's likely they suffer from Allergies, Collie Eye Anomaly, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia and Hypothyroidism.
Grooming
Because of the Ryukyu's short coat, they don't need to be groomed much, brush once a week with a rubber brush or bristle brush and bath every month or two shall suffice.
References
- ^ http://www.nihonken.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/188902#Comment_188902.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website=|title=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ http://okinawa-dog.seesaa.net/article/15140952.html.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://goyarepublic.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/every-dog-has-his-day-unfortunately.html.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2017/04/11/26751/.
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