rianova
Kennelrianova
KennelThe Japanese Terrier receives his name from
his country of origin, Japan. His origin is the same as most other
terrier breeds, these vivacious little rascals were
all called "terriers", a name borrowed from the French,
and going back to Latin, meaning, literally, "to go to earth".
The toy terriers were originally bred as ratters and are said
to have excelled in this occupation. Other terriers that were
bred down to toy size are: The English Toy Terrier, The Yorkshire
Terrier, The American Toy Fox Terrier and The Rat Terrier, all
bred for hunting vermin. In the middle of the Edo Era, around
1700, a small terrier-type of dog appeared in Japan. It was the
result of an out-cross breeding from Japanese small type dogs
with a primitive type of English smooth fox-terrier, which was
brought by Dutch sailors to the port of Nagasaki (Japan). At this
time the Nagasaki port was the only harbour open to western countries,
especially for the Dutch. After several generations, some o
f the offspring of these dogs were mated to some
sort of Italian Greyhound. Around 1900, at the end of the Meiji
Era, some of the best of the above dogs were seen in the Kobe
district, and were called "Kobe Terriers". Their type
was something between the modern smooth Fox Terrier and the today's
Japanese Terrier. Although they were not yet so refined, they
were the first Terriers bred in Japan. This "Kobe Terrier"
and some of its ancestors were also called "Oyuki Terriers"
and "Mikado Terriers" and it is told that they were
kept lovingly by the local people and also by foreigners. Around
1916, in the Nada district, near Kobe, an ancestor of the Japanese
Terrier appeared, a dog named "KURO", which means "black"
in Japanese. This dog was born from an out-cross breeding of an
English Toy Terrier and a Toy Bull Terrier, both imported from
western countries. From careful selection of the offspring of
these two dogs and of the above Kobe Terrier bitches, a very short-haired,
slim, small, terrier-type dog was born, lately receiving the name
of Japanese Terrier. In those days, in
-breeding
and line-breeding were carried out by the leading fanciers in
the Osaka district and in 1930, thanks to their efforts, the type
of the breed was fixed and firmly established. The Japanese Terrier
did not become popular until 1940, when they were often seen in
most of the main Japanese cities. The Japanese Terrier was widely
adopted because he satisfied a need. He became popular during
a period when towns were springing up all
over
and with these towns came an increased demand for a smaller, more
active dog than the large watch-dogs. The Japanese Terrier was
ideal for the town dog fancier and thus, he became fashionable.
On two occasions throughout its history it has been faced with
extinction. First, during World War II, and again, recently, around
1948, through loss of popularity among the Japanese, since other
western breeds are now more fashionable. The J.K.C. Japanese Kennel
Club) recognised the breed around 1930, and a Japanese Terrier
Club was founded. Although recognised by the F.C.I. (Federation
Cynologique International), the breed has never been seen in European
countries until 1991, when a pair of Japanese Terriers arrived
in France, at the request of Mme. Delaye. Few months after, a
new European fancier has joined this adventure: Mr. Roberto Verde
from Naples (Italy) already owns several beautiful Japanese Terriers,
who enjoy the Mediterranean sun.