Shiba Inu’s are THE dog you think of when you think Japanese breed. They’re certainly not the only dog breed to originate in Japan but they are the most iconic. Nobunaga, similarly, was one of many daimyou and didn’t even achieve his goal of unifying Japan yet he is still the face of the Sengoku Era. They were and are both considered to have fiery personalities and be very intelligent. If there was any dog breed that could take over Japan, it would be the adorable but capable Shiba Inu!

You might see bulldog and think “Ok, a warlord as a bulldog, I can see it. But why a French Bulldog and not an American Bulldog?” While they share many similarities, French Bulldogs are known to be much friendlier with people and other dogs as well. Date was a fierce warrior but also a worldly man, eager to learn about other people and cultures and invite foreign dignitaries to his castle. His implementation of western fighting strategies gave him a leg up against his enemies. He was also much more accepting of Christianity as opposed to Nobunaga or Tokugawa. Strong and determined enough to fight for their beliefs yet gentle enough to attract all kinds of people to them, the French Bulldog and Date Masamune have a lot in common.

Pomeranians are probably not going to be the first breed you think of when you think of warlords, but it’s surprisingly fitting for Takeda Shingen. They may seem like prissy, weak dogs but they handle cold weather well which would be a good trait for a ruler of Kai. Takeda Shingen may have eventually banished his own father, but growing up, he was a valuable member of the family and helped his father in securing victories. Pomeranians are known to be very affectionate with their families but that friendliness does not extend to everyone. Takeda Shingen was very concerned with his people’s welfare and was a fearsome enemy on the battlefield. With his incredible military prowess, he could take on bigger armies, something a Pomeranian would also do out of sheer stubbornness and confidence in their abilities.

The beautiful, regal Borzoi seems to immediately capture the late Uesugi Kenshin’s rumored elegance and grace. Borzoi are highly sensitive breeds that don’t respond well to frantic or upset people. Uesugi became a warlord because, while he did not himself want to fight, he couldn’t ignore the pain of others around him. This does not mean that Borzoi and Uesugi make bad fighters, though. Borzoi are efficient hunters and have a strong prey drive even though they are usually content to calmly enjoy time with their masters. Uesugi often meditated and only moved to action when other daimyou moved against him or neighboring regions, hoping to fight only to maintain peace.

Dachshunds’ little bodies are perfect for invading the holes of foxes and badgers much as Imagawa invaded the lands of Mikawa and Owari to expand his territory. He was a much better political figure than a warlord but that didn’t stop him from trying. He was very good at figuring out how to better rule and manage his people and dachshunds are definitely loyal and friendly to their owners even if they think they’re the rightful doggy rulers. Another trait Imagawa shared with the dachshund is confidence, to the point of putting themselves in danger. It was due to this overconfidence when fighting Oda that Imagawa met his end.