Japanese Terrier
Kobe Terrier, Japanese Fox Terrier, Mikodo Terrier, Nihon Teria, Nihon Terrier, Nippon Terrier, Oyuki Terrier
Unlike other terriers, the Japanese Terrier was designed exclusively as a pet. A true companion, they were often carried when their owners went out. They remain a rare breed today, even in their homeland.
Japanese Terrier Standards
- 8-13"
- 5-9 lbs
- thin, v-shaped ears drop forward
- tail is docked at third or fourth joint where legal
- coat is smooth, dense and glossy
- tricolor
- white with black markings
- white with tan markings
History of the Japanese Terrier
The exact ancestry of the Japanese Terrier is unknown. However, legend states it began with a Smooth Fox Terrier that traveled from Holland to Japan on a merchant ship in 1702. The ship arrived at the port of Nagasaki and the dog bred with native small dogs to create a basis for the breed. In the early 1900s these terriers were selectively bred with other dogs that probably included the Toy Manchester Terrier, Toy Bull Terrier and Italian Greyhound.
The Japanese Terrier has almost become extinct twice. First as a result of WWII and then again around 1948 when imported breeds were becoming more popular.
Related Breeds: