Ryukyu Inu vs Danish Swedish Farmdog - Breed Comparison

The Ryukyu Inu is a medium-sized dog that comes from Okinawa, Japan.

It’s a dog that is fairly rare having been used to track boar. There isn’t much information on the dog’s history but after its numbers declined after World War II, there was an urge in the 1980s to save the breed.

The dog isn’t recognized by any major Kennel Clubs.

The Danish Swedish Farmdog has over the centuries been a versatile dog, working on farms. The history of this dog goes way back to the 1700s, being found in Denmark and Sweden where they originated.

Today these dogs are also found in other countries. As life changed, the dog’s functions on the farm became less and the dog seemed to disappear somewhat. Both the Danish and Swedish Kennel Clubs worked together to bring back the breed, resulting in the first breed standard in 1987.

The Danish-Swedish Farmdog was also recorded in the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Services in 2011. Today, most of these dogs are owned as family or companion dogs.

Japanese dog breeds end with the word ‘Inu’ or ‘Ken’ . It means ‘dog’.

The medium sized Ryukyu Inu stands at between 46 to 50cm in height and weighs between 15 to 25kg. He has a black nose, dark brown eyes and erect ears. The tail is long and curls over the back.

The dog’s coat is short and you get the single- and double coated varieties. The coat can be brindle, red, white, liver or black. Some of the dogs have tiger-like stripes in the coat. People are amazed at these dogs as they have incredible climbing abilities and are even capable of climbing a tree.

Temperament:

These dogs are quiet, unobtrusive dogs. The Ryukyu Inu looks very much like a wild dog, which gives the impression of being un-trainable and ferocious but they are easily trained and make splendid pets.

Many people who have had them as pets say they would choose this dog over and over again. They are brave too and get on well with children or pets in the home. They don’t look for trouble, and their kind, stable natures make them excellent therapy dogs.

They’re intelligent dogs and will require plenty of mental and physical stimulation. They will also need to be trained and socialized as they are confident, strong-willed dogs who might not obey you if left to do what they want.

Nobody could be blamed for thinking that the Danish Swedish Farmdog is a Fox Terrier, because he looks very similar. He also has a short, smooth coat which is odor-free and he is a wonderfully low maintenance breed. The coat does however shed throughout the year.

The coat’s main color is white with patches of black, fawn or chocolate brown. He can also be tri-colored. He is a small to medium sized dog with a compact body, standing between 32 - 37 cm and weighing about 7 – 12kg. He has a deep chest while the head is lean, small and triangular shaped. The ears are semi erect or they can be floppy while the tail is long.

Temperament:

The Danish Swedish Farmdog is not only intelligent, but he has other excellent characteristics that make him such a splendid pet. He isn’t aggressive, he is playful, loving, loyal, social and energetic.

He therefore makes an exceptional pet. He is an amusing pet who will prove to be entertaining too. He loves being part of all the family’s activities and gets on well with children and pets in the home.

You want to be sure that you provide him with exercise and games so that he doesn’t become bored, frustrated and destructive. After all, he is a breed that is used to be busy and he won’t do well with a family who puts him in the back yard and just leaves him.

This dog has always been a hunting dog so he will want to have his fair share of good exercise – long walks as well as ball and rope games.

He makes a splendid pet because he has an amicable nature wanting to please. He is quiet, loving and loyal, and with such a dog in your home and heart, you just keep discovering what a wonderful pet this 4-legged friend can be.

The Danish Swedish Farmdog has got everything going for him that makes him such a wonderful pet to have. He fits well into city- or country life, although wherever you live, you’ll need to ensure he is well exercised.

He is a child-friendly- and pet-friendly pet and he also happens to be low maintenance. You just need to brush him twice a week. You aren't likely to spend much on vet's fees with him either.In exchange for his love and devotion, make sure that you give every everything he needs to ensure his health and happiness.

These Japanese dogs are thought to be fairly healthy dogs, but like with most other dogs, you would need to be aware of hip dysplasia, bloat, caner and hypothyroidism.

The Ryukyu Inu, with its 10 to 12 years lifespan, will be prone to minor ailments, but with good care he is not likely to succumb to any of them.

Cataract:

Cataracts have a number of causes in dogs. This disease of the eye can occur at any age, and can develop over weeks or even years.

Cataracts can occur in just one eye or both eyes and a disease such as diabetes can bring on a cataract.

Good nutrition is important for a dog to build a strong immune system, and nutritional supplementation can certainly help to enhance lens health. Cataract surgery can be performed to remove the cataracts.

Danish-Swedish Farmdogs have a lifespan ranging from 11 to 15 years. They are hardy dogs, not suffering from any breed specific genetic issues.

However, it pays off to know of some of the common dog illnesses there are. If you provide your dog with high quality, nutritious food, good exercise and plenty of love and care, he can reach 15 years of age. Some of the more common dog illnesses to look out for -

Hip Dysplasia:

It is always a good idea to have this testing for your dog. In fact, hip testing can spare you a great deal of anguish later on with your pet.

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disorder in dogs and although it is more prevalent in large dogs, smaller dogs can also get it.

You’ll notice your pet running with a strange gait and sometimes when he lies down, he’ll battle to get up again.

Recognizing the clinical signs of hip dysplasia is important to spare your dog a whole lot of pain, discomfort and even lameness.

The coat of the Ryukya Inu requires brushing twice a week to remove loose hairs. At the same time check your dog over for new lumps and check inside his mouth for bad teeth. Bad teeth can cause lots of pain and toxins within the body. You can also choose to have the teeth seen to and cleaned by your vet.

Provide him with his own warm, dry place to sleep.

Provide him with top quality food. There are some excellent commercially manufactured foods on the market that make a point of ensuring good ingredients in them. Your Ryukya Inu needs good food to ensure longevity and health.

Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your pets dry kibble once or twice a week. Your dog will love it.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Have him neutered or spayed if you aren’t wanting puppies.

Keep his vaccines up to date against some deadly canine diseases.

Get him to the vet when he is injured, in pain or sick.

Grooming:

The Danish Swedish Farmdog isn’t going to be requiring too much grooming. He has a short, smooth coat which actually repels dirt.

Because his coat is odor-free, he certainly can get by without bathing. This is good news, as bathing a dog strips the skin of its natural oils. You can always just wipe his coat down with a damp cloth to rid it of dust and give his coat a good brushing twice a week to remove it of loose hairs.

General Grooming tips:

It is always a good idea to check your pet’s ears to see that they remain free of debris and wax. There are ways and means to do this, and if you’re not sure how, your vet or doggy parlor can explain the process.

Check his nails to ensure they don’t get too long. This is prone to happen when your pet runs constantly on grass and doesn’t come into contact with a hard surface which files the nails down naturally.

Also, dental care is most important, and you need to brush your pet’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week with special toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Bad teeth don’t only affect the mouth of the dog, they can be detrimental to every part of your dog’s body.