Petzlover
Redbone Coonhound is originated from United States but Shikoku is originated from Japan. Redbone Coonhound may grow 43 cm / 17 inches higher than Shikoku. Redbone Coonhound may weigh 21 kg / 46 pounds lesser than Shikoku. Both Redbone Coonhound and Shikoku has almost same life span. Redbone Coonhound may have more litter size than Shikoku. Redbone Coonhound requires Low Maintenance. But Shikoku requires Moderate Maintenance
The Redbone Coonhound has always had a busy life hunting bear, deer and cougar. It is thought that this dog descends from from Bloodhounds, Foxhounds and Irish Hounds.
Hailing from America, this dog has been registered with the American Kennel Club since 2009.
It was during the 18th century that many European-type hunting dogs were imported to America. Over time, Southern hunters bred with stamina and this ultimately lead to the emergence of coonhounds.
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.
This beautiful, shiny red dog is medium-sized and stands at between 53 and 70cm at the shoulders and weighs between 20 and 32kg.
The dog’s coat is short and smooth with maybe just a tiny bit of white found around the feet and chest area. He is lean and muscular with strong, straight legs and a deep chest. The ears are floppy and the tail, traditionally docked, is often left long these days.
The paws are large and webbed and when the dog is excited, the tail is held high
The Redbone Coonhound is an affectionate dog who wants to please his owners. He just loves his human family and would be beside himself if he were locked outside day after day.
He is a social dog who should be allowed time indoors and out. They make splendid playmates for children too, and get along well with other animals in the house.
Because they’re independent and strong willed, he will need to be trained and socialized to ensure he is well mannered and obedient.
He is an active dog and will require a good bout of exercise. He is vocal, known for his baying type of bark, and training will keep this kind of baying under control. Training is also necessary as this dog is stubborn. He is intelligent enough to learn, and once trained, is gentle and calm.
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 Redbone loves the company of his human family. He is such a friendly dog,getting on well with everyone in the family, including the children and other pets.
He is a hunting dog and always ready to be part of any activities his human family is involved in. He is gentle and easy going, and and having him in your life is guaranteed to bring in a lot of joy and sunshine.
The Redbone Coonhound is generally a healthy breed that can reach 12, 13, 14 years of age if well cared for.
There are some common dog illnesses that this do can succumb to and which are worth knowing about as they affect so many dogs. These are cancer, bloat, skin allergies, ear infections and hip dysplasia.
If you notice that your active dog is subdued and lethargic, it is your responsibility to get your 4-legged child to the vet to be looked over.
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.
Hunting dogs such as the Redbone Coonhound will need a good deal of exercise to stay happy and healthy. The breed is best suited to the countryside or suburbs as opposed to city dwelling.
He won’t be content with just a walk every day but is the kind of dog that will want to be free from a leash and be running far and wide. When at home, involve him in some rope- and ball games.
The Redbone Coonhound isn’t going to be a dog that you have to fuss over. His short coat can be brushed twice a week to keep him looking beautifully shiny. When you brush him, make sure you check for any unusual lumps.
He has floppy ears, so look inside his ears for signs of redness and discharge. This could be an indication of an ear infection. Also check inside his mouth as he could have a rotting tooth which could be causing him a lot of pain and also be poisoning his body.
You want to ensure your beautiful Redbone Coonhound stands every chance to enjoy good health. Every dog owner should try to feed their dog the best food there is.
There are some good commercially manufactured foods on the market and these are wonderfully convenient to use for your dog. However, you want to provide him with some good homemade food too.
Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency with their diets because then it prevents upset stomachs. Some home-cooked food such as boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be perfect for him.
Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week. Raw meat can also be added in occasionally to promote good skin health. Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
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.
