Shikoku vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed Comparison

Shikoku vs Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic - Breed ComparisonIstarski Ostrodlaki Gonic is originated from Croatia but Shikoku is originated from Japan. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic may grow 33 cm / 13 inches higher than Shikoku. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic may weigh 26 kg / 57 pounds lesser than Shikoku. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic may live 3 years less than Shikoku. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic may have more litter size than Shikoku. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic requires Low Maintenance. But Shikoku requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Sporting dog
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Croatia
Japan
Height Male:
43 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
17 - 27 cm
6 - 11 inches
Height Female:
43 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
14 - 24 cm
5 - 10 inches
Weight Male:
12 - 27 kg
26 - 60 pounds
42 - 53 kg
92 - 117 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 27 kg
26 - 60 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 12
4 - 6
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Istrian wire-haired or short-haired scenthound
Kochi-ken • Shikoku-Ken
Colors Available:
White with orange markings
and red sesame (ground color of red mixed with black hairs)., black sesame (more black than white hairs), Sesame (equal mix of black and white hairs)
Coat:
Short and smooth or medium length and wiry
Sesame (equal mix of black and white hairs), black sesame (more black than white hairs), and red sesame (ground color of red mixed with black hairs).
Shedding:
Minimal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

istarski ostrodlaki gonicThe Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic, also referred to as the Istrian wire-haired or short-haired scenthound is a very ancient dog breed. Apparently the dog has been found in paintings that go way back to the early 1700s.

The dog can either have a short, smooth coat or a rough, wiry longer coat. He has always been popular with hunters, used for hunting rabbits and fox.

An interesting fact with this dog is the correlation between the Dalmatian dog and the Istrian short-haired hound. According to veterinary investigations, there are strong likenesses between the two breeds.

The truth is, the origin of the Istrian has been a matter of dispute for some time but in 2003 the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed as hailing from Croatia.

shikokuThe Shikoku is from the Shikoku Island in Japan and they are very much like the Japanese Shiba Inu. There are six native Japanese dog breeds and the Shikoku is medium sized and sits in between the smaller Shiba Inu and the very large Akita Inu. All of the Japanese native breeds are members of the Spitz family. The Japanese have sorted their six breeds into 3 categories by size. Being medium size, the Shikoku is a member of the Shika-inus group. Others in this group are the Ainu Ken, the Kai Ken and the Kishu Inu. There are small differences between the three dogs in the Shika-inus group.

The Shikoku was bred to be a hunting dog in Kochi Prefecture to hunt boar and deer. Other names for the breed include Kochi-ken and Kishu dog or boar hound. This dog is considered to be the purest of the Japanese native dogs or Nihoken. They are today very , very rare. There are very few outsides of Japan, but some in North America are attempting to save the breed.

The are od Kochi Prefecture is a mountainous region with rough terrain that anyone outside of the area would have a hard time accessing. That is why the Shikoku is considered to be so pure as they were pretty well isolated in the mountains. The breeders were also isolated by the mountains and there was very little interbreeding. Although breeding the same dog, these different groups developed different lines of the Shikoku.

Documentation tells us that the number of originals lines was just two and these were the Western and Eastern Shikoku. The Western dog was known as the Mount Ishizuchi Shikoku and the Eastern as the Mount Tsurugi Shikoku. Within these two lines of Shikoku there are additional strains.

Within the Eastern line there is the Tokushima (lya) and the Koci-Aki strains. Within the Western line there is the Hata Uwahara, the Ehime-ken Shuso-gun and the Honkawa. Among these lines and strains, there are different coats and different colors; some heavier and some taller, but all figure into the development of the breed.

Finally, in the Showa Era the Japanese established the Dog Protective League and they began collecting the native dogs from around the country. They protected them so that the breed will go on. The Shikoku is today recognized as Foundation Stock by the AKC and it is fully recognized by the Japan Kennel Club, the Canadian Hound Club and the Shikoku has been declared a living Japanese “natural monument”.

Two bloodlines became the way the Shikoku were know after the war – the Honkawa and the Hata lines The Honkawa line were the descendants of the Choshun-go and the Hata line were the descendants of the Matsukaze-go. They bred the lines separately until 1955, when they mixed them to make the breed stronger. They are no longer considered separate in any way.

Because they are such primitive dogs, the Shikoku are good watch dogs and quite reserved with strangers. They need a lot of socialization to be a family pet but once they are, they make great companions. Intelligent, quick to learn and eager to please. Of the two lines of Shikoku dogs from the Western strains, the current Shikoku owes much of its current development to the Honkawa and Hata strains.

The Shikoku are recognized by the following organizations.

The American Canine Association Inc.

The United Kennel Club.

The Canadian Kennel Club.

The American Rare Breed Association

The AKC Foundation Stock Service Program.

The Japanese Kennel Club.

The Dog Registry of America Inc.

Description

istarski ostrodlaki gonic puppy - descriptionMedium in size, the Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic stands at roughly 43 to 60cm at the withers and weighs roughly 12 to 27kg. The chest of the dog is broad and deep, the skull slightly rounded while the muzzle is strong and rectangular shaped. The nose is dark brown or black.

The ears are floppy and are nearly always in the orange color while the tail is long and is carried low. The coat of the rough haired dog is of medium length. In fact the coat can either be short and smooth or longish and wiry with a woolly undercoat. The color of the coat is white with orange markings.

Temperament:

This breed of dog is sought after for his cheerful personality. He is loyal to his human family and is a social dog, loving to spend time around his family.

He is energetic, confident and strong-willed and this is why, as with most other dogs, he will benefit from training and socialization, as this makes him obedient and responsive to his owner. He is evenly tempered, being gentle and docile.

shikoku puppy - descriptionToday’s Shikoku is a medium sized breed with a Spitz like body – square with a head that is wedge shaped. The ears are pointed, and the tail is curved and feathered. They have arched toes and hard pads with dark, hard nails.

The two lines of the Shikoku are slightly different in built and look. The Honkawa strain is slender and athletic; agile and single coated. They have dark eyes and most of them are black and tan.

On the other hand, the Hata strain is much heavier boned, with the front more muscular than the rear. They have small ears, a wide skull and a strong undercoat. His eyes are shaped differently than the Honkawa. Their coats are also mostly red and tan.

Characteristics

istarski ostrodlaki gonic dog - characteristicsThe Istrian Wire-haired Scenthound or Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic as he is also referred to is a strong, well built hound which is elegant in appearance.

He has a remarkably striking coat - bright white with orange markings. He has always been an excellent hunting dog, even to this day. This background hunting of his will require that he receives ongoing exercise as well as mental stimulation.

Treat this beautiful dog well - exercise him, groom him, feed him well and love him and you will be rewarded with the loyal and devoted friendship of an amazing dog.

shikoku dog - characteristics1.Children friendliness – They might be a little aloof with children. They are hunters.

2.Special talents – speed and endurance.

3.Adaptability with your commitment to exercise they can live anywhere even in an apartment.

4.Learning ability - highly intelligent fast learners

Health Problems

Dental Disease:

istarski ostrodlaki gonic puppies - health problemsThere are people who don’t take dental disease seriously in dogs as they think that it simply affects the teeth, when in fact dental disease can affect the dog’s entire body.

Dental- and gum disease is to be regarded with concern as it can be painful and even life threatening. It affects many dogs, and unfortunately your Istarski is also likely to have problems with his teeth. Tartar build-up and infection of the gums can lead to tooth loss but also damage to the kidneys, heart and joints.

Dogs need to have their teeth attended to regularly and if this is something new to you, speak to your vet and find out about special canine toothpaste and toothbrush and how to use them.

Infections:

Dogs can be susceptible to bacterial and viral infections such as rabies, distemper and parvo, and that is why visits to your vet are so important. These life-threatening diseases for your Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic are preventable through vaccinations.

shikoku puppies - health problemsBeing isolated as they were, the Shikoku was a fairly healthy breed, no genetic testing has been done. Despite this they suffer a few of the same potential issues as other breeds their size.

  • Hip, knee and elbow dysplasia.
  • Food allergies.
  • Gland infections.
  • Digestive or urinary infections and issues.

Otherwise this is an agile and hardy breed with no known congenital health issues.

Caring The Pet

istarski ostrodlaki gonic dogs - caringTaking care of an Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic dog is much like caring for a child – doing everything you can to keep him healthy and happy, after all, he is a member of your family.

You want to be watching his diet and making sure that it is the best quality there is, full of vitamins and minerals to keep his eyes bright, his nose wet and his tail wagging.

There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market today and the best ones ensure excellent nutrition for your dog to keep him in optimal condition through each stage that he goes through. Try to include some home-made food into this kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables and it can be to his benefit to just to include some raw meat from time to time.

Make sure your Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic is well exercised, that you check his teeth and ears to ensure there are no infections and to call the vet immediately you suspect something is wrong. Make sure you have him examined as a puppy and that he gets his necessary injections as there are diseases that can kill your dog.

shikoku dogs - caringFeeding the puppy Be careful with feeding the puppy and adult as the breed is known to have a tendency toward obesity. Fresh food is better as it is what the breed has been used to, but a high quality puppy kibble is acceptable. Feed three times per day.

2.Feeding the adult He is a high energy dog so feed a high energy food designed for a medium sized dog. Feed in two meals each day.

3.Points for Good Health The breed has remarkable endurance.

4. Games and Exercises You will need a fenced yard for this breed and time to play with them. If not, you would need time to walk her more than once a day. They love to play indoors as well, chasing balls, learning new things. The breed make great companions for hiking, swimming, play frisbee or catch outside. They do well at agility, rally, obedience and flyball.

Comparison with other breeds

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  6. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  8. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
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  17. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  22. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Shikoku vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Shikoku vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Shikoku vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Shikoku vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Shikoku vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Shikoku vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Shikoku vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Shikoku vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Shikoku vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Shikoku vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Shikoku vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Shikoku vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Shikoku vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Shikoku vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Shikoku vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Shikoku vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Shikoku vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Shikoku vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Shikoku vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Shikoku vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Shikoku vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Shikoku vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Shikoku vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Shikoku vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Shikoku vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison