Petzlover
Dalmatian is originated from Croatia but Shikoku is originated from Japan. Dalmatian may grow 34 cm / 14 inches higher than Shikoku. Dalmatian may weigh 21 kg / 46 pounds lesser than Shikoku. Both Dalmatian and Shikoku has same life span. Both Dalmatian and Shikoku has almost same litter size. Dalmatian requires Low Maintenance. But Shikoku requires Moderate Maintenance
The history of the Dalmatian dog is also fairly scant, and the information you get is often unclear.
The name Dalmatian wasn’t used until the end of the 18th century, although it seems as though, according to murals on ancient tombs, there were white hounds then with specks over the body.
It does seem firm that the modern Dalmatian is because of breeding of the English nobility. They used these dogs to accompany them on their carriages. The dogs were also bred with the purpose of getting an exquisite spotted pattern.
It was in 1890 that the first Dalmatian Club was established in England and the dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888.
The 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 Dalmatian is a medium sized dog with its beautiful white coat with black or liver spots being its main feature. The coat is short and dense and the Dalmatian pretty much sheds all year round.
It is notable that at birth, the puppies are pure white, with their spots starting to form about 4 weeks later.
Both the male and female stand at anything between 56–61cm in height and weigh between 22 to 35kg. He is a slender, muscular dogs with plenty of stamina. The ears of the dog are floppy, he has brown eyes and a long tail.
With his human family, the Dalmatian is an active, playful dog. He has the reputation of being somewhat unfriendly and aloof, but many who have kept him as a pet say this isn't so. He loves to take part in games and gets on well with children in the home.
He is intelligent, but when it comes to strangers, the Dalmatian is reserved and even aloof. If you want to get the best from your Dalmatian, make sure that he is trained and socialized as he then knows how to behave well around people. He makes a good watchdog too.
Today’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.
The Dalmatian is such a beautiful dog, energetic and playful and he is good with pets and children in the home.
He is intelligent too and training and socialization for him will be easy and promise to bring out all his good points.
The Dalmatian became popular in the 1800's when they were used as coach-dogs, and their popularity has been enhanced because of films from Hollywood such as ‘101 Dalmatians’.
Unfortunately many people receive Dalmatian puppies as gifts after seeing movies like this and then hand their dogs into rescue centers when they grow up and are no longer the cute little puppy they first met.
Be a responsible dog owner. A Dalmatian has feelings and you need to commit to caring for him for up to 15 years. You’ll be rewarded by having a wonderful, loyal canine friend.
Dalmatians, with good care, can live to be about 10 to 15 years. However, just as with other breeds, the Dalmatian is prone to certain health problems that are more specific to their breed. Some of these problems are skin allergies, deafness and urinary stones.
Dalmatians are known to have sensitive skin and they are prone to topical allergies. When you brush your dog, you should check his skin for redness and also check for fleas and ticks.
Red bumps on his skin could mean an allergy and can be distressing for your pet. Your pet may be scratching excessively and the skin may be red and moist with runny, itchy eyes. It is time to get your dog to the vet, who may prescribe an antihistamines to get the itching and allergies under control.
Unfortunately, the Dalmatian is a dog which has a tendency to form stones in the kidneys and bladder. A genetic mutation causes the raised uric acid levels which is more prevalent with the male Dalmatian. Straining to urinate can be tremendously stressful for your dog and you will need to get him to the vet immediately.
Being 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.
Otherwise this is an agile and hardy breed with no known congenital health issues.
The Dalmatian is an easy dog to maintain and brushing twice a week will get rid of loose hairs. What is notable with the Dalmatian is that not only does he look like a well groomed dog, he also doesn’t have that typical dog smell around him.
No matter what kind of dog you have, a high-quality dog food is always beneficial for your dog’s health. Home-made food is always good for your dog and wholesome food such as brown rice, vegetables and some cooked chicken will delight your pet and keep him interested in his food.
There are also excellent manufactured foods and kibble is a good food to have when you select it according to your dog’s age and energy levels.
These foods, especially the top quality ones, ensure your pet gets all the nutrients he needs. Adding some raw meat into the diet can be highly beneficial for your pet and will keep him bright eyed, bushy tailed and with a wet nose.
Feeding 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.
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.
