Hokkaido dog - Hokkaido

An animal of the order Carnivora, family Canidae. A breed of domestic dog. A medium-sized dog native to Hokkaido, Japan, formerly known as the Ainu dog. It is basically classified as the same as the Kishu dog and Shikoku dog, but due to the influence of its environment, it has a slightly different appearance from other dog breeds. That is, it has thick fur and slightly smaller ears than other medium-sized dogs. There are types with a slightly rounded forehead and types with a shallow stop (the step from the forehead to the muzzle). Also, some have black spots on the tongue. Coat colors include white, red, tiger hair, and black and tan. Height is 46 to 54 centimeters. It has a pointed or curled tail. Regarding the arrival of the Hokkaido dog, biochemical genetic research on blood has suggested that the dogs were brought to Japan by the indigenous people from the south when they migrated to Japan during the Jomon period, and moved north as people migrated, settling there, and there was little interbreeding afterwards. This breed has been used as a hunting dog for brown bears in Hokkaido, but there are also many fans who love them as family dogs.

[Mitsuko Masui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食肉目イヌ科の動物。家畜イヌの1品種。北海道原産の日本在来の中形犬で、かつてはアイヌ犬ともよばれた。基本的には紀州犬や四国犬と同列に列せられるが、環境の影響を受け、ほかの犬種とはやや趣(おもむき)が異なる。すなわち、被毛は厚く、耳介はほかの中形犬よりやや小さい。前額部がやや丸みをもつものと、ストップ（前額から口吻(こうふん)にかけての段差）が浅いタイプとがみられる。また、舌に黒斑(はん)を有するものがときどきある。毛色は白、赤、虎(とら)毛、ブラックエンドタンなどである。体高46～54センチメートル。差し尾または巻き尾。北海道犬の到来については、血液の生化遺伝学的な研究により、縄文時代に先住民族が南方から日本に移住してきたころ連れられてきたイヌが、人の移住につれて北上し定着して、その後混血がほとんど行われなかったとみなされている。本犬種は北海道ではヒグマ猟の猟犬として活躍してきたが、家庭犬としても愛好者は多い。

［増井光子］

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