the shikoku stands 17–21 inches (43–53 cm) high and comes in sesame (red, black), black and tan (nonstandard color), or cream (nonstandard color). these colors consist usually of a light brown, a light red-brown, or a light black-brown. in addition, there is a cream colored coat that tends to be very rare. in all of these colors there is usually a mixture of white found around the underside of the body, near the eyes, snout, and legs. the shikoku tends to shed its coat at least one to two times a year. the dog has a fairly thick coat with pointed ears and a curved tail. the body conformation is typically of the spitz-type: the square body, the wedge-shaped head, the prick triangular ears, and feathered curled tail.