Help Build a Nihon Ken Online Pedigree Database
Donation protected
My name is C.J. and I have volunteered to help Shigeru Kato (Nihon Ken Blog, Japan Dog Export, Shikoku Pedigree Online) fundraise for his next project to develop and build up the same online pedigree databases for the Kishu Ken and Kai Ken, then use any additional funds to help build the same for the Hokkaido Ken.
These pedigree databases are invaluable resources for owners and breeders alike. They will help track ancestry further than our current pedigree system permits, and are a public resource for anyone to use.
I will be responsible for managing this GoFundMe and transferring funds, but he is doing the heavy lifting.
The following is a message from Shigeru regarding this project.
The 6 aboriginal Japanese breeds (the Nihon Ken) are the Akita, Shiba, Kishu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, and the Kai. As most of you are aware, there is no testing for health issues being done on the breeding stock here in Japan. As with all breeds, hereditary health issues exist. The key is to be aware of them, and collect as much data possible to track and reduce/remove these issues from the Nihon Ken. Better breeding, leading to happier dogs and owners.
As more of the Nihon Ken have been exported or born out side of Japan, breeders and dog owners overseas have been discussing and reporting the health issues that have popped up. It is in the best interest of the Nihon Ken for all of us to work to better the health of these breeds. To track the health issues, a pedigree database that has this capability is essential.
As rare breeds with small populations, the Nihon Ken also suffer from a lack of genetic diversity. A 4 or 5 generation pedigree is a very meager tool for a breeder to try and make healthy decisions regarding the direction of their breeding program, what dogs to use, which to remove. We've got modern tools to help us head in the right direction (COI, AVK calculation, DNA diversity testing), but none of the current online breed pedigree databases had the capability to calculate COI/AVK.
I've been involved with the Nihon Ken for over 10 years now, starting with my own interest in hunting with them, then blogging to correct a lot of the online misinformation about the breeds.
My original blog http://tora-inu.blogspot.com/
Current blog http://nihonken.blogspot.com/
Japanese blog (just started recently to try to increase awareness about the breeds within Japan) https://www.yamainu.co/
As time went on I realized with the lack of interest in the Nihon Ken within Japan, and the increasing interest in the breeds overseas, it was important to help get good dogs overseas and establish solid gene pools. So I started helping with exporting the Japanese breeds.
http://www.japandogexport.com/
One of these days the overseas gene pools will likely save some of the breeds from extinction. Obviously we want these gene pools to be healthy as possible, so as part of this effort last year I finally got a pedigree database online for the Shikoku Ken that calculates COI, AVK, and collects data on health issues. If you haven't already, please take a look.
https://shikokuken.pedigreedatabaseonline.com
This was made possible through the help and advice of a lot of people. Thanks to Nico Reimerink for blazing the path with the first Shikoku database, Tetsuji Ishihara for collecting decades worth of Shikoku pedigree data and making it available, Laura Quadri for her programming expertise, Ann Kim for her advice and knowledge, and the good folks over at https://pedigreedatabaseonline.com/ for setting up the system. It took a lot of my time, work, and cash to get it up and running, and there are also the yearly fees to keep it maintained (and the work to continue adding data). I'm currently tracking issues in the Shikoku like hip dysplasia, entropion, the dreaded lipid storage disorder, and epilepsy etc.
Recently, there has been an uptick in reported issues in the Kai (PRA and other eye issues) and in the Kishu (thyroid and allergy). The Hokkaido also has collie eye anomaly, cataracts, and PRA that need to be tracked. I've known that we need to move quickly to collate the data, and that a copy of the database I set up for the Shikoku would be very useful for everyone. What was holding me back is the amount of work and cash that will go into this project. So here we are. Help me help you and the Nihon Ken and 'Pay Shig To Make a Nihonken Pedigree Database!' Catchy, I know. I will do this regardless of how much everyone donates, and 2000USD is just a number that will pay for databases for the Shikoku, Kai, and Kishu and keep them up for the next 2 years. With any extra time/cash I will set one up for the Hokkaido next, and if I ever feel extremely adventurous I will add the Akita and Shiba.
Feel free to contact me directly with any questions or advice you may have. I apologize in advance for the fact that I am notoriously slow in replying since I am generally swamped by correspondence regarding the Nihon Ken.
These pedigree databases are invaluable resources for owners and breeders alike. They will help track ancestry further than our current pedigree system permits, and are a public resource for anyone to use.
I will be responsible for managing this GoFundMe and transferring funds, but he is doing the heavy lifting.
The following is a message from Shigeru regarding this project.
The 6 aboriginal Japanese breeds (the Nihon Ken) are the Akita, Shiba, Kishu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, and the Kai. As most of you are aware, there is no testing for health issues being done on the breeding stock here in Japan. As with all breeds, hereditary health issues exist. The key is to be aware of them, and collect as much data possible to track and reduce/remove these issues from the Nihon Ken. Better breeding, leading to happier dogs and owners.
As more of the Nihon Ken have been exported or born out side of Japan, breeders and dog owners overseas have been discussing and reporting the health issues that have popped up. It is in the best interest of the Nihon Ken for all of us to work to better the health of these breeds. To track the health issues, a pedigree database that has this capability is essential.
As rare breeds with small populations, the Nihon Ken also suffer from a lack of genetic diversity. A 4 or 5 generation pedigree is a very meager tool for a breeder to try and make healthy decisions regarding the direction of their breeding program, what dogs to use, which to remove. We've got modern tools to help us head in the right direction (COI, AVK calculation, DNA diversity testing), but none of the current online breed pedigree databases had the capability to calculate COI/AVK.
I've been involved with the Nihon Ken for over 10 years now, starting with my own interest in hunting with them, then blogging to correct a lot of the online misinformation about the breeds.
My original blog http://tora-inu.blogspot.com/
Current blog http://nihonken.blogspot.com/
Japanese blog (just started recently to try to increase awareness about the breeds within Japan) https://www.yamainu.co/
As time went on I realized with the lack of interest in the Nihon Ken within Japan, and the increasing interest in the breeds overseas, it was important to help get good dogs overseas and establish solid gene pools. So I started helping with exporting the Japanese breeds.
http://www.japandogexport.com/
One of these days the overseas gene pools will likely save some of the breeds from extinction. Obviously we want these gene pools to be healthy as possible, so as part of this effort last year I finally got a pedigree database online for the Shikoku Ken that calculates COI, AVK, and collects data on health issues. If you haven't already, please take a look.
https://shikokuken.pedigreedatabaseonline.com
This was made possible through the help and advice of a lot of people. Thanks to Nico Reimerink for blazing the path with the first Shikoku database, Tetsuji Ishihara for collecting decades worth of Shikoku pedigree data and making it available, Laura Quadri for her programming expertise, Ann Kim for her advice and knowledge, and the good folks over at https://pedigreedatabaseonline.com/ for setting up the system. It took a lot of my time, work, and cash to get it up and running, and there are also the yearly fees to keep it maintained (and the work to continue adding data). I'm currently tracking issues in the Shikoku like hip dysplasia, entropion, the dreaded lipid storage disorder, and epilepsy etc.
Recently, there has been an uptick in reported issues in the Kai (PRA and other eye issues) and in the Kishu (thyroid and allergy). The Hokkaido also has collie eye anomaly, cataracts, and PRA that need to be tracked. I've known that we need to move quickly to collate the data, and that a copy of the database I set up for the Shikoku would be very useful for everyone. What was holding me back is the amount of work and cash that will go into this project. So here we are. Help me help you and the Nihon Ken and 'Pay Shig To Make a Nihonken Pedigree Database!' Catchy, I know. I will do this regardless of how much everyone donates, and 2000USD is just a number that will pay for databases for the Shikoku, Kai, and Kishu and keep them up for the next 2 years. With any extra time/cash I will set one up for the Hokkaido next, and if I ever feel extremely adventurous I will add the Akita and Shiba.
Feel free to contact me directly with any questions or advice you may have. I apologize in advance for the fact that I am notoriously slow in replying since I am generally swamped by correspondence regarding the Nihon Ken.
Fundraising team (1)
CJ McCammon
Organizer
Oregon City, OR
Shigeru Kato
Team member
