Yakushima Hound

		Yakushima Hound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Japan
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
En français, cette race se dit			Chien de Yakushima
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar			Yakushima-Hund
En español, esta raza se dice			Sabueso de Yakushima
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd			Yakushima-hond

Originating from Shimagai Island, where dogs have been bred since time immemorial, crossbreeding with other breeds has never been practiced. Only purebred dogs, related to the Shimagai, have been bred on the island. Its origin and pedigree are unknown. Furthermore, World War II brought the Shimagai to Japan, initially for hunting, and later for breed improvement. Therefore, no purebred Yakushima Hound exists to this day. Broadly speaking, the term "purebred Yakushima Hound" can also refer to a Yakushima Hound resulting from crossbreeding with other breeds for improvement purposes.

Although the Yakushima Hound appears to be relatively pure among hunters, it is often sold as a hybrid of a hunting dog and a Yakushima Hound by the general public and pet stores, which use a vague definition. The ancestor of the Japanese "Jōmon-Hund" dog is believed to be a breed descended from wild dogs that hunted deer on the island. In recent years, their courage has led to their introduction to the mainland as hunting dogs, particularly for deer and wild boar. Numerous crossbreedings with other hunting dog breeds have also taken place.

The purebred Yakushima Dog is small to medium in size, slightly larger in improved breeds. Its coat is light to dark brown, with a white diamond pattern on the chest. Even for a medium-sized dog, it is relatively small, with a shallow stop between its forehead and nose. Its elongated muzzle resembles that of a fox, with a broad forehead and a prominent neck. Its deep-set, piercing, triangular eyes, large, strong ears tilted forward, moderately long and closed muzzle, large, sharp, firm teeth, and pointed tail are characteristic of the white diamond pattern on its chest. Swift and efficient, this creature, with its wild and primitive nature, is wise and courageous, displaying unwavering vigilance. Its master shows it blind loyalty and obedience.