Silver Fox Dog, also known as Japanese Silk (Velvet) Dog, Japanese Sharp-Snouted Dog, English name Japanese Spitz, Japanese Silver Fox Dog originated in Japan in 1920 and first officially appeared to the public eye at the dog show in Tokyo in 1921. Silver Fox Dog was officially listed as a precious animal in Japan in 1931.
Its iconic features are: erect ears, curled tail, a slightly curved snout, almond-shaped eyes, long eyelashes on the upper eyelids, similar to double eyelids. Its back is straight, its limbs are strong and powerful, and its body is sturdy. It comes in various colors such as white, tiger pattern, and spotted.
Silver Fox Dog reaches sexual maturity at 6-8 months and physical maturity at 12 months. After reaching physical maturity, it can mate and reproduce. It goes into heat once in spring and fall each year. The gestation period is 58-65 days, and each litter consists of 4-6 puppies.
Silver Fox Dog is intelligent, lively, and cute. It likes to bark and has a high sense of vigilance. When strangers approach, it has a keen sense of perception. It is quite loyal to its owner. If the owner is changed, it will not obey the new owner for a long time. Silver Fox Dogs have strong learning ability and enjoy playing with people. They are very friendly to children and other pets.
Silver Fox Dog began to be kept by people in the Stone Age. The initial Silver Fox Dog was a large white German Sharp-Snouted Dog, which was brought to Japan through the Siberian continent and northeastern China around 1920. Around 1921, this breed first appeared at the dog show in Tokyo. However, during the long history of development, due to people's lack of attention to the pure bloodline of the Silver Fox Dog, it has been continuously mixed, resulting in confusion in the breed.
Later, due to this confusion, some dog lovers organized the "Silver Fox Dog Preservation Society", mainly to collect purebred "Silver Fox Dogs" from various places for cultivation and breeding. After a long time of unremitting efforts, there has been a qualitative improvement in the purebred phenomenon of "Silver Fox Dogs", and in the early 20th century, the breed and bloodline of the Silver Fox Dog were basically stabilized. The "Silver Fox Dog", known as a "natural monument", was probably obtained by crossing a white German Fox Dog with a Silver Fox Dog in the 13th year of the Taisho era in Japan.
Then, from around 1925 to around 1936, Japan has been importing related breeds from Canada, the United States, Australia, and China, which has resulted in the hybridization of these dogs' descendants and the creation of even better breeds. After World War II, the "Nippon Ken Kyū Kyūkai" (Japan Dog Preservation Society) established unified breed standards in 1948, which are still effective today, and in 1952, this breed was officially recognized as an independent breed.
The Silver Fox Dog is highly cautious of strangers and loyal to its owner. It is very friendly towards children and small animals, making it very suitable for family and apartment living. However, due to its lively and active nature, it also requires ample freedom and space for activities.
Toes Inflammation
Symptoms: Dogs frequently lick their toes, which become red and wet in between. Severe cases can result in limping.
Preparation: Iodine tincture, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar.
Method of use: Wear the Elizabethan collar, remove the hair on the feet, wash with soapy water or wipe with iodine tincture. After the inflammation area is completely dry, apply erythromycin ointment between the toes once a day, repeat for a week.
Ear Mites
Symptoms: Dogs will scratch their ears, shake their heads, and have a strong sour smell in their ears. accompanied by increased tear stains, hair loss in the ears, and dark brown secretions and earwax.
Preparation: Ear cleanser, ear wash.
Method of use: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, pour ear cleanser or Vicks ear wash into the ear canal, gently massage the ear root for 30 seconds, wait for the dog to shake out the ear wash, use a cotton ball to wipe off the secretions, and gently clean the auricle and ear canal.
Skin Disease
Symptoms: Dogs feel itchy, their skin becomes red and itchy, dogs scratch themselves randomly, their fur becomes dull and rough, dandruff increases, and even large patches of fur fall off.
Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or skin spray, vitamin B.
Method of use: Put on the Elizabethan collar to prevent the dog from scratching and licking. Trim the problem skin and surrounding hair, then rinse with saline solution for sterilization. Then apply ointment or use spray, along with antibiotics and vitamin B.
Silver Fox Dogs' habit of overeating may be related to their past life in the wild. Because there was no established feeding in the wild, they often went hungry or full, so they developed a habit of overeating. When they are eating, they instinctively protect their food from foreign animals or companions, so if you have a Silver Fox Dog at home, do not let children approach a Silver Fox Dog that is eating.
In the first month after birth, Silver Fox Dogs are mainly fed with mother's milk. After 3 weeks of birth, the puppies begin to teethe. In addition to feeding them mother's milk, they should also be given some weaning food. During the weaning period, the owner must provide them with sufficient nutrition. You can use commercially available weaning dog food or add some hot water or canine milk to the puppy food to make it soft. The kibbles should be small and easy for the puppies to digest. The feeding frequency is about 4-6 times a day, which may vary depending on the individual differences of the puppies during the weaning period.
1. Cannot bathe frequently
Giving dogs a bath, of course, cannot be too frequent. Giving dogs a bath depends on the dog's hygiene. If the weather is hot in summer, you can bathe them one or two more times. You can reduce it by one or two times in winter, but in total, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage their fur and skin!
2. Regular grooming
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when they shed more. Grooming regularly is an important step in maintaining good hair growth. Pet owners can use specialized combs to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Grooming them once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of dogs' fur. Besides making their fur more shiny, letting them sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dogs exercise a bit, which can improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Having poor hair quality is also closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dogs' bodies, depriving them of nutrition, so deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. It is also important to note that deworming medication can cause significant damage to the dogs' intestines and stomach. Therefore, it is recommended to pair it with probiotics to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for dogs to have beautiful fur, it is necessary to lay a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food that is suitable and sufficient for their needs. On the other hand, you can also give them a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.
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