Kai Ken Care

The Kai Ken (nicknamed the "Tiger Dog" because of its striped, brindled coat pattern) is an extremely rare, intelligent, athletic breed native to Japan. Since it has historically been used as a hunting dog, Kai Ken care will need to include daily exercise and early training and socialization.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Kai Ken, including puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. If you're lucky enough to adopt a Kai Ken, the answers to your questions are here. Read on!

Kai Ken exercise requirements aren't too extensive. These dogs will need a variety of activities that both condition them physically and stimulate them mentally. They make good jogging companions as well.

The typical adult Kai will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your Kai Ken puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks.

Precautions to consider:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard
• Leash is recommended
• Yards should be securely fenced

It's important to exercise your Kai Ken every single day. Without consistent physical and mental stimulation these dogs will become bored and restless, leading to destructiveness and disobedience. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 15-minute walks (or 10-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
• Hide-and-Seek: Good indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Kai can excel at obedience or agility trials and other events
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Kai enjoy the company of other dogs
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Kai Ken access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a daily exercise routine for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate care. Kai Ken shedding is seasonal--fair for most of the year, but heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons. Drooling isn't an issue.

Kai Ken have medium-length, thick and soft, double-layered coats that shed a fair amount most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall, the shedding can be heavy. Owners can brush their Kai once or twice a week with a pin brush to minimize the shed, and cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary now and again. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more often during shedding season.)

A Kai Ken rarely drools, though. If your Kai is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Kai Ken diet should include animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best Tiger Dog food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed nutrients.

Three recommended brands are Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild, all of which carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

The typical adult Kai will need about two cups of premium food per day, divided into two meals. Kai puppies will need a bit less: about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals until six months old.

For further info on feeding a Kai Ken, see this feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult formula to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Try to stick to the above-listed portions. These dogs can become overweight if constantly overfed--and a fat Kai Ken will have numerous health problems and a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Kai's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Kai Ken is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means more exercise and less food.