The Hokkaido is a beautiful dog with many amazing qualities. Many experts consider this breed to be one of the oldest dogs in existence today and are quite rare outside of Japan where they originated. These pups are extremely dedicated and loyal to their entire family, and it is no wonder why they are so admired and loved by everyone that meets them.
This Spitz-type dog originated from the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Their original purpose was for hunting, and they proved to be very effective when it came to catching prey or defending their people from larger predators. The Hokkaido weighs between 45-65 pounds, but they are fearless animals and will have no issue standing their ground against bears or other large beasts. These working dogs still have a strong prey drive and love nothing more than sniffing around in the outdoors looking for something to catch.
The breed goes by a few other names as well such as “Ainu-Ken”, “Seta” and “Ainu-dog”. These purebred pups are considered to be highly intelligent and are very trainable. They have a desire to please their people and will be ready to learn and cooperate with just about any commands that you give them. For the Hokkaido, their family is the most important thing and they will be ready to protect them at all costs. They are pack-oriented at heart, and if anyone threatens their pack, in this case, their humans, you can be sure that they will not rollover.
The Hokkaido is a loving dog that will display endless amounts of affection to its family. They have a pleasant nature and are simply wonderful companions to have around. The breed's playfulness, combined with their active personalities, makes them the perfect fit for anyone that loves to play with their dog at the park. If you take them to a nice nature park with plenty of interesting smells you may notice your Hokkaido howling, this is often their response to feeling happy or excited!
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