The Kai Ken, also known as the Tora Dog, is an ancient breed of Japanese origin but was not recognized in Japan until 1931 and the breed is still considered very rare. In 1934, the Kai was designated as a "National Treasure" in Japan and is protected by law. The breed was first imported into the U.S. in the early 1990's. He was originally bred as a hunting dog working with big game hunters of deer and wild boar.
He is a medium sized, muscular, spitz-type dog with the typical wedge-shaped head and prick ears. The tail may be typically curled over the back or carried over the back in a sickle position. He has a harsh, straight coat of medium length and is brindle in colour. The breed's colouring is a very distinctive characteristic of the breed. Puppies are born black with the brindle markings developing as the pup grows and continues to develop up to about five years. It is believed that the brindle colour was to enable him to blend more easily into his surroundings of trees and rocky surfaces when on the hunt, thus allowing him to sneak up on his prey and protect him from predators.
The Kai is highly intelligent, very brave and agile — They have been known to climb trees and swim in pursuit of their prey. They are natural hunters, good guard dogs and very devoted and loyal to their families. While they may be somewhat reserved toward strangers, Kais are known to be very friendly, generally very good with children, and not aggressive with other dogs.
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Health Issues:
If you are considering the adoption of a Kai puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Grooming Information:
- Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
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Training the Kai:
It is very important that the Kai be well socialized, starting at birth, and continuing well into adulthood. He should be exposed to different people, places and situations as much as possible.
The Kai is very intelligent and fairly easily trained using positive training methods.
Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Kai, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes information on several dog sports and activities as well as listings of non-breed specific clubs from across Canada. (For breed specific clubs, see the Breed Clubs section.)
- Working Dogs — Dedicated to the working dog. This section includes tributes, information on various dog jobs, and listings of organizations from across Canada.
