The smallest (20–30 lb) of the Japanese native dogs, it was bred as a hunting dog. A medium-sized, muscular dog with a thick coat in all solid colors but often red. See also nippon inu.

Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.