ORIGIN : Japan.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD : 13.03.2001.
UTILIZATION : Companion dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION :
Group 5 Spitz and primitive type. Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds. Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE :
Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well balanced and with much substance ; secondary sex characteristics strongly marked, with high nobility and dignity in modesty ; constitution tough.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The ratio of height at withers to length of body ( from the point of the shoulders to the point of the buttock) is 10 : 11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in dogs.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT :
The temperament is composed, faithful, docile and receptive.
HEAD CRANIAL REGION :
- Skull : The size is in proportion to the body. The forehead is broad, with distinct furrow. No wrinkles.
- Stop : Defined.
FACIAL REGION :
- Nose : Large and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment accepted in white dogs only, but black is always preferred.
- Muzzle : Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but not pointed. Nasal bridge straight.
- Jaws/Teeth : Teeth strong with scissor bite.
- Lips : Tight.
- Cheeks : Moderately developed.
- Eyes : Relatively small, almost triangular in shape due to the rising of the outer eye corner, set moderately apart, dark brown : the darker, the better.
- Ears : Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips, set moderately apart, pricked and inclining forward.
NECK :
Thick and muscular, without dewlap, in balance with head.
BODY :
- Back : Straight and strong. Loin : Broad and muscular.
- Chest : Deep, forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung.
- Belly : Well drawn up.
Set on high, thick, carried vigorously curled over back ; the tip nearly reaching hocks when let down.
LIMBS FOREQUARTERS :
- Shoulders : Moderately sloping and developed.
- Elbows : Tight.
- Forearms : Straight and heavy-boned.
HINDQUARTERS :
General appearance : Well developed, strong and moderately angulated.
FEET :
Thick, round, arched and tight.
GAIT :
Resilient and powerful movement.
COAT HAIR :
Outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense ; the withers and the rump are covered with slightly longer hair ; the hair on tail is longer than on the rest of the body.
COLOUR :
- Red fawn,
- Sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips),
- Brindle
- White.
All the above mentioned colours except white must have « urajiro ». (Urajiro = whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of the legs).
SIZE :
Height at the withers : Dogs : 67 cm, bitches : 61 cm. There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less.
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.
- Bitchy dogs / doggy bitches.
- Undershot or overshot mouth.
- Missing teeth.
- Blue or black spotted tongue.
- Iris light in colour.
- Short tail.
- Shyness.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
- Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
- Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
- Ears not pricked.
- Hanging tail.
- Long hair (shaggy).
- Black mask.
- Markings on white ground.
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.