I recently went 2200 miles with 3 Kishu and 1 Shikoku from Portland, OR to San Diego, CA and back-- and stopped at a dog show along the way. Here's some of our trip.

crispette

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Cúchulainn, the 1 year old Kishu Ken, waiting for the next time we stop for an adventure.

The outside of Angeles National Forest

Stopping for breakfast at a super-fabulous I-5 gas station between Sacremento and Los Angeles somewhere...

Camping in an oak grove! We don't normally camp in grass forests! The camp was very refined for my tastes... but the dogs loved it! We woke up to the bugling of what I thought was an elk with how loud and deep it was, but I don't think elk are native to where we were, anymore, so it must have been deer...

Cúchulainn, the 1 year old Kishu Ken, and TK, the 10 year old Shikoku Ken, got to sleep with me and my friend in the tent. My other 2 Kishu got to sleep in their wad of comfortable blankets in my Jeep parked just outside. 4 dogs and 2 humans is a lot for my little tent...

Fionna, a nearly-3-year-old Kishu Ken, enjoying the oak grove.

A water break for Nami, a 5 year old Kishu Ken.

TK and Cúchulainn having their morning sparring session.

More sparring!

Fionna alert-barking to show us strangers approaching. I like this behavior out of my dogs. All the Kishu are extremely human-friendly, but I like to know if people (or animals) are nearby! She was easy to stop with an "alright! Thank you, Fionna!" once I had seen what she was barking at.

Nami, the Kishu Ken, at the dog show.

Fionna, the Kishu Ken, at the dog show.

Beautiful, rolling mountains! They look so naked!

Cúchulainn, looking for adventure.

The way back up I-5: Mount Shasta playing peek-a-boo in the trees.

ipromiseialwaysupvotedog

I always upvote dog

9 years ago |

Weyely

Questions. How do you control the smell in the vehicle? Also do you pronouce fionna as 'fee-onna' or 'fee-owna' or something else?

The dogs don't have strong odor. I clean the car and the dogs prior to road trips to cut down on stink. Their food smells more than they do.

As one last response... I do actually have an odor-neutralizing can/air freshener under my driver's seat at all times. Road trip or no.

I suppose I pronounce both of those ways you've written the same... but my accent makes it have more of a long vowel sound. Like "Fee(own)a"

munkieac

Upvoting b/c Japanese breeds are awesome...it's difficult to find something outside of Shibas in Ohio

They are hard to find, sometimes, but we're out there!

mmaatt8

And I would walk 1100 miles and I would walk 1100 more just to be with my 4 dogs and one human in my car

MELODIOUS.

Haraiman719

I haven't heard of those breeds. Could you tell me more?

Primitive hunting dogs from Japan, in a nutshell! They are both medium-sized, double-coated, and very active dogs. Good outdoors-dogs. (1/3)

Kishu are somewhat higher energy. They're bold, confident dogs that are generally approachable. Still used to hunt wild boar in Japan. (2/3)

Shikoku are somewhat more sensitive & tractable. Easier to motivate. They are a bit more aloof and seem to be longer-lived, when healthy.

Thank you. They are beautiful dogs!

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