Current News    

December 2010 All of us here at Shikoku Canada wish each of you the very best for the holiday season and health and happiness for 2011. As 2010 comes to a close we would like to leave you with this:

Just A Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog." They don't understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have been brought about by "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog", and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog" then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise", or "just a promise".

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but the embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man".

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog" just smile, because they "just don't understand".

Author Unknown
November 2010 Hybrid vs. Crossbred: Ever wonder about claims that by breeding two distinct breeds you gain the benefit of the "strength of a hybrid". Fact is that the offspring produced as a result of breeding animals of one breed with other animals of another breed are crossbreeds or mixed breeds not hybrids. Crosses between animal variants above the level of breed (species, subspecies, even different genera) are referred to as hybrids, in other words, as an example, a Wolf or Coyote or Fox bred to a dog would be a hybrid, a Poodle bred to Cocker Spaniel would be a crossbreed or mixed breed no matter how cute a name attached to it. Another example of a hybrid is the Mule, the result of breeding a horse and a donkey (did you know that all mules are sterile?). Now that we know the difference what about purebred vs. crossbred? The single most important aspect of purebred breeding is that you know in advance what you will get. You know the type, the build, the purpose, the temperament, the weaknesses and the strengths. When you crossbreed you are tossing the dice. Some of the offspring may be similar to one parent, some may be similar to the other parent but in fact all will simply be a surprise; an unknown quantity with respect to health, type, purpose and temperament. For a more in depth look at this subject follow the link Oodles of Doodles
October 2010 Shikoku Canada is a step closer: The club constitution is finally complete and Shikoku Canada hopes to fill the club's founding Officers positions in the next month or so. When that is complete we can finally forward our application to the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). On approval Shikoku Canada will become the official non-event breed club for the Shikoku in Canada.

In order to meet the requirements of the CKC we are looking for volunteers to fill several positions on our founding board. Qualifications include a current CKC membership, residency in Canada and most importantly an interest in the Shikoku. If you are interested please contact us at info@shikokucanada.org .
September 14 & 19 2010 Litters Arrive: Katja Weber (Akashima Kennels) celebrated the arrival of two litters this month. The eight pups (3 from Sachi, 5 from Aiko) are all doing great although two of Aiko's pups were quite small and needed some hands on help. "Getting up every three hours to feed those two little ones sure drained my get-up-and-go" commented Katja, "but it is worth the effort. The two of them are really feisty and doing well now." The pups will soon be going to their new homes... some of which have been waiting for over eighteen months for their arrival!
June 2010 Article Published: Canine Review, the publication dedicated to Canada's competitive purebred enthusiasts since 1978 published a feature article entitled  "A Thousand Years of Breeding" about the Shikoku in it's June issue. Although much of this article is aimed at the conformation Judge, breed fanciers will  without doubt enjoy the article as well. The article in .pdf format is presented here with permission of Canine Review and is copyrighted.

                                                go to "A Thousand Years of Breeding"
February 2010 Semen Collected: To help reduce the stress of travel and as a result of the ongoing increases in shipping costs, surgical semen implantation (SSI) and artificial insemination (AI) and the related collection and storage costs have become manageable for dog breeding. Katja Weber (Akashima Kennels) and Corina Gonzalez (Airreyalis Kennels) recently had semen collected. Katja had semen collected by ICSB Vancouver Island. Corina supplied semen to Katja for SSI breeding while Katja shipped  semen to Izyda Bach-Zelewska (Akita u. Izis Kennels) in Poland for SSI and AI and also shipped semen to Brad Anderson (Yamabushi Kennels) for AI. Unfortunately none of the breeders had a successful breeding. In all likelihood these SSI's and AI's are a world first for Shikoku breeding. Please use the following links for more information about SSI, AI and semen collection and storage.

Link to ICSB International

Link to ICSB Vancouver Island

February 2010

 New Future Breeding Male Imported:

Yamato Go Nadai Iwaorisou (at 12 months old)

Peggy Graham  (O'Ikon Nihon Ken) and Katja Weber (Akashima) joined forces and imported a male puppy from Japan. Yamato Go Nadai Iwahorisou (3 months old) will currently be living with Peggy in Ohio. Both breeders will carefully monitor his development and have health testing (CERF, OFA hips & patellas) and temperament evaluation done before reaching a decision as to breeding with him. If all goes well Yamato should be available for live breeding and semen collection early in 2012.

If you are interested in Yamato's services contact us so that we can forward your information to the breeders.
August 8, 2009 Shikoku Canada Releases Judging Information on CD    Shikoku Canada recently completed production of a short “Power Point” presentation entitled Introducing the Newest Member of the Hound Group: The Shikoku: A National Monument of Japan. This CD provides background information about Shikoku dogs as well as a copy of the FCI and Canadian Kennel Club Shikoku Breed Standard. The CD is intended for Judges and Dog Fanciers interested in a more in-depth knowledge of the breed. Interpretation of the standard and pictures showing common faults are included on the CD.

The CD is a compilation of information sourced from interviews with and information submitted by Mr. Kadota Chief Judge of the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (Nippo) Club, Mr. Kan (breeder) Ehime-Ken (Shikoku Island) Japan, Chieko Sugiyama (breeder) Madrid Spain and Katja Weber of Akashima Shiba Inu & Shikoku Kennels.

For more information on ordering a CD please go HERE >>>

 ORDER CD

August 2009

Official launch of www.shikokucanada! 

Congratulations! to the Canadian Shikoku Association on the launch of their official website.  I enjoyed learning about the breed while working on the site.  It was a pleasure working with you!

. . .  Andrea Erickson, Kivalina Web Design

info@shikokucanada.org

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