typically of the spitz-type: the square body, the wedge-shaped head, the prick triangular ears, and thick curled tail. The Shikoku dog is somewhat unusual in its appearance. It looks similar to a Siberian Husky dog physically, but differs in its size and color. The Shikoku Inu ranges (male; approximately 20 inches tall; female; approximately 18.5 inches tall). This dog would be considered medium-sized. Varieties Out of the reconstruction effort, three distinct lines of the Shikoku were developed: the Awa, the Hongawa and the Hata all named after the area they originated from within the Kochi prefecture. More recently the distinction between these lines has been blurred as remote areas where the dogs originated became easier to access and lines were cross-bred. The modern Shikoku is thought to descend mainly from the Hongawa and Hata lines as the Awa line essentially disappeared as a result of the hardships caused by World War II and a lack of quality specimens due to cross breeding with outside dogs. See also Dogs portal List of dog breeds References External links North American Shikoku Club (NASC) FCI breeds Spitz breeds Dog breeds originating in Japan