Hokkaido Dog Names

Because the Hokkaido dog is considered not just a primitive breed but also a rare breed, there has been preservation societies set up to ensure this Japanese breed does not become extinct. Kaiju Kennels in California has partnered with the Hokkaido Association of North America (HANA) Project to help promote and preserve the Hokkaido dog. Their first step in aiding the HANA Project was to import Minira or HKC JCH Ruri Hiroo Hokushinsou into the United States. HANNA began as a group of breeders and owners of the Hokkaido within the United States and Canada who had a shared vision to see the breed’s popularity grow within North America. It took almost a year of searching and planning before Kaiju Kennels could finally put plans in motion to bring Minira into the United States. Minira was born in Japan and then purchased by Krisztina Illes of Hungary as a young puppy. Illes agreed to sell Minira to Kaiju Kennels for the purpose of using her in the HANA Project after she was finished showing Minira to her Junior Championship in Hungary. Illes had also had Minira’s health clearances completed while in Hungary and Minira tested excellent on her hips and was deemed genetically clear for Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA).

Aside from the HANA Project, Kaiju Kennels also works closely with the Hokkaido Ken Hozonkai (DOKENHO) and the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (NIPPO), breed preservation societies based in Japan. All of their Hokkaido dogs and Akita dogs are dual registered with the DOKENHO and NIPPO as well as with the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service (AKC FSS). All Hokkaido puppies produced from Minira are NIPPO, UKC, and AKC FSS registered. The DOKENHO does not recognize puppies born outside of Japan therefore, any Hokkaido puppies born on foreign soil are not eligible to be registered through the DOKENHO. The HANA Project has begun working with the DOKENHO to create a North American branch of the DOKENHO so Hokkaido dogs born in North America can be eligible for registration through the DOKENHO. However, since the population of Hokkaido dogs within North America is so low, it will probably take many years before this branch is fully established. It is very difficult to find the Hokkaido outside of its native Japan and there has only been an estimated 900 to 1000 yearly registration of Hokkaido through NIPPO outside of Japan versus the 10,000 to 12,000 yearly registrations through NIPPO for Hokkaido living in Japan.