Essential qualities (type) and their expression

Kan'i, Ryousei and Soboku are the essence of the Japanese dog and are of immense importance. Kan'i is spirited vigour and dignified majesty; Ryousei is faithful devotion and gentle obedience; Soboku is rustic, sober and unadorned elegance. A good Japanese dog possesses and expresses these fundamental inborn characteristics by its very nature. In addition to this expression, the small- and medium-sized dogs have a sharp intuition, nimble movement, jaunty gait and flexibility. The large-sized dog is massive, composed and dignified in its conduct. These are their respective definitions.

General appearance

The general appearance is that a male is masculine, a female feminine; the sexual dimorphism is very important. The body construction is balanced, the skeletal structure tightly-knit. The musculature is well developed; the height to length ratio is 100 to 110, giving a somewhat rectangular figure. The female is somewhat longer than the male.

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BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

 A dog of marked endurance, keen in sense with a naive feeling, energetic and highly alert; an enthusiastic hunter; docile towards his master. 

HEAD CRANIAL REGION

Skull: Forehead broad. Stop: Shallow, but defined.

FACIAL REGION

Nose: Black. Muzzle: Rather long, wedge-shaped. Nasal bridge straight. Lips: Tight. Jaws/Teeth: Teeth strong, with a scissor bite. Cheeks: Well developed. Eyes: Nearly triangular, not too small, and dark brown in colour. The outer corners of the eyes are slightly upturned. Ears: Small, triangular, slightly inclining forward and firmly pricked.

NECK

Thick and powerful.

BODY

Withers: High, well developed. Back: Straight and strong. Loin: Broad and muscular. Chest: Deep, ribs well sprung. Belly: Slightly tucked up.

TAIL

Set on high, thick and carried over the back vigorously curled or curved like a sickle. The tip nearly reaches the hocks when let down.

LIMBS FOREQUARTERS

Shoulders: Moderately sloping with developed muscles. Upper arm: Forming a moderate angle with shoulder blade. Elbow: Set close to the body. Forearm: Straight and clean cut. Metacarpus (Pastern): Slightly oblique. Feet: Tightly closed with well arched toes. Pads thick and elastic. Nails hard and black or dark in colour. HINDQUARTERS

General appearance: Powerful, with muscles well developed. Hocks: Moderately angulated and very tough. Feet: Tightly closed with well arched toes. Pads thick and elastic. Nails hard and black or dark in colour.

GAIT / MOVEMENT

Resilient and light. Action is quick and turning is possible.

COAT

Outer coat rather harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense. The hair on the tail is rather long. Colour: Sesame (well mixture of black, red and white hairs in whole), red, black and tan.

SIZE

Height at withers: Males 52 cm. Females 49 cm. There is a tolerance of + 3 cm.

FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. • Lack of sexual dimorphism. • Slightly overshot or undershot mouth. • Long hair. • Shyness. • Pinto colour. DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

 • Aggressive or overly shy. • Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified. • Extremely overshot or undershot mouth. • Ears not pricked. • Hanging tail, short tail.

N.B.

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.