# Dogumentary TV Live w/ Brad Anderson

> Brad Anderson of Yamabushi Kennel details his preservation breeding strategy for Kai Ken and Tosa Inu, focusing on the critical distinction between Aigokai and Nippo registries, high-altitude conditioning in Colorado, and a unique retirement model to prevent kennel blindness.

### Breed Philosophy & Preservation: Aigokai vs. Nippo

* **The Registry Divergence:** There is a fundamental technical split in Kai Ken preservation between **Nippo (Nihon Ken Hozonkai)** and the **Kai Ken Aigokai**.
    * **Nippo:** Focuses on standardization and the "show ring" ideal. It often prioritizes aesthetic uniformity (e.g., coat color, tail set) over working function.
    * **Kai Ken Aigokai:** This is the breed's specific preservation society in Japan. Their priority is **"gameness"** and hunting ability. They function closer to a **landrace** preservation model, valuing the dog's ability to work (hunt boar/bear) over cosmetic perfection. [00:15:20]
* **Preserving the "Meat":** My breeding program at **Yamabushi Kennel** aligns strictly with the Aigokai philosophy. The goal is to preserve the "primitive" essence of the dog—its survival instincts and hunting drive—rather than softening it for the American pet market. [00:17:45]
* **The "Ginko" Import:** I imported **Ginko** from what was essentially the "last bear-hunting kennel" in Japan. This was a strategic move to inject genuine working genetics back into the North American gene pool, which was at risk of becoming purely cosmetic. [00:22:10]

### Management Logistics & Environment

* **High-Altitude Conditioning:** We are located in **Fairplay, Colorado** (previously Taos, NM), at an elevation of roughly 10,000 feet.
    * **Physiological Impact:** Raising dogs at this altitude naturally boosts red blood cell count and cardiovascular stamina without forced exercise. A dog conditioned here has a significant performance advantage at sea level. [00:34:00]
* **Predator Load:** The environment is not static. We have active populations of **bears, mountain lions, and coyotes**. The dogs are not just pets; they must possess the environmental awareness to survive and alert. This validates the "preservation" of their instincts daily.
* **The Retirement Model:** I utilize a strict retirement model to prevent **"kennel blindness"** and hoarding.
    * **Mechanism:** Breeding females are often retired to pet homes young (after 1-2 litters) rather than being kept until death.
    * **The "Why":** This prevents the kennel from becoming a "collection" of geriatric dogs. It forces me to constantly evaluate the *next* generation rather than resting on the laurels of past dogs. If I keep every dog I breed, I cannot physically care for the numbers required to maintain genetic diversity. [00:41:30]

### Genetic History & Working Selection

* **Genetic Bottlenecks:** The Kai Ken in North America faces severe genetic bottlenecks. Importing is not a luxury; it is a mathematical necessity to avoid inbreeding depression.
* **Selection for "On/Off" Switch:** A proper Kai Ken must have a distinct "off switch" in the home but extreme "gameness" in the field. This is the hallmark of the **Yamabushi** line—dogs that can live in the house but turn on instantly when they smell bear or boar.
* **LGD Integration:** I have utilized **Caucasian Ovcharka** (specifically **Luytiy**) for perimeter defense. The interaction between the primitive Japanese breeds (alert/hunting) and the LGDs (defense/stopping power) creates a layered security system. [00:48:15]

### Verbatim Nuance & Myth Busting

* **Tosa Inu Temperament:** The public perception of the **Tosa Inu** as a "mindless killer" is technically incorrect and dangerous.
    * **Sumo vs. Boxing:** I describe the Tosa's fighting style as akin to **Sumo wrestling**—it is about displacement, pinning, and dominance, not the "terrier-style" tearing and shredding seen in other fighting breeds.
    * **Sensitivity:** They are incredibly sensitive dogs that require a handler who understands "soft" correction. Heavy-handed training destroys a Tosa's temperament. They are "guard dogs" that engage, distinct from "watchdogs" that simply alert. [00:52:00]
* **"Kennel Blindness":** Most breeders suffer from this. It is the inability to see faults in your own stock. My refusal to keep a large permanent pack is my structural defense against this cognitive bias.

## Details

- **Category:** Interviews and media
- **Tags:** kai-ken, tosa-inu, kishu-ken, shikoku-ken, preservation, hunting, lgd, breeding, genetics, management, import, gameness, landrace, nippo, aigokai, yamabushi, japan
- **Date:** 2017-05-20
- **Originally published at:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYgYnYbBO-o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYgYnYbBO-o)

**Also read:** [All writing](https://bradanderson.org/writing?format=md) · [About Brad](https://bradanderson.org/about?format=md)

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