A dog you won’t often see (if at all outside of Japan) is the Ainu, thought to be Japan’s oldest dog breed (and “wildest,” some would add).  The breed was named by a British gent, T. Blakiston in 1869 after the Ainu tribe, the former inhabitants of Hokkaido,  “Ainu” meaning “human.” These people were driven to the remote northern island of Hokkaido when the Yamoto people arrived, and for that reason, the breed is also known as the Hokkaido Dog (the Japanese sometimes shortened the name to “Dō-ken”) The Ainu is descended from dogs that came with the Ainu who arrived in Japan in the 1140s.

This is a strong, powerful dog by nature. He is a fearless hunter, and extremely devoted to his owner for whom he howls like a wolf to express his happiness. In 1937, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Breeds was able to get the Ainu designated not only as species protected by law in Japan, but as a “Japanese Natural Monument.” In 1996 it was recognized by the United Kennel Club.

Ainu image found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information.