Raon House Heuk Soo
IntCH NatCH Nat/Int/HnrJRCH
ATT BCAT CGCA CGCU TKA VHMP VHMA VWSE TL-I UL-I
Registries: KKF (FCI), AKC-FSS
Kūpa’a (aka Pa’a or 파) is a pedigree Korean Jindo Dog imported with the generous assistance of Yooshin Kennels and several friends in South Korea. He is a son of the 64th Jindo Colored Dog Champion, HeukYaSu (흑야수) and a very nice black and tan female named Cherry (체리). We’re hopeful he will help add new genetics to the US gene pool and serve as a great breed ambassador.
Pa’a is an outgoing puppy with high prey drive, high toy drive, and medium food drive. In public he is environmentally solid and people and child friendly (he has yet to meet a human he did not like). He currently lives with a neutered male dog, intact female dog, two indoor cats, and regularly coexists with boarding and training clients in his home varying in age, gender, size and breed. Due to his level of drive, he has been fun to train and is eager to please. As with many male Jindo Dogs, he can be less tolerant of unfamiliar dogs reacting at him. But as he matures he has impressed us with his ability to stay level headed and work around other dogs and distractions.
Pa’a has a great off switch in the home, travels well, and adapts to new environments without blinking an eye. We’re dabbling into several sports and activities with him and actively show him in AKC Open Shows in California.
Fun Fact… “Kūpa’a” is a Hawaiian name meaning; Steadfast, firm, constant, immovable; loyal, faithful; determined.
Health
We are planning on having applicable health screening done at 1 y/o (preliminary tests to assist in choosing future sports for him) and 2 y/o (finals) in accordance with the Korean Jindo Dog Association of America’s guidelines. Click on the result hyperlink to view certificates and documents.
Eyes : Normal
Cardiac: Normal/Clear
Patellas: Normal
Thyroid: OFA Equivocal (cert pending) as of 7/12/2025*.
Elbows: Normal
Hips: OFA Good (Prelims) / PennHIP: Right DI = 0.33, Left DI = 0.31
Allergies : No signs of environmental or food related allergies.
Other Health Notes : Degenerative Myelopathy [SOD1A ‐ chr31], carrier status (not at risk) with 1 copy of the DM mutation identified, confirmed via Embark and UC Davis VGL.
*Thyroid details: “OFA Equivocal” in Sep 2024. Retested in Dec 2024: OFA Abnormal (Positive Autoimmune Thyroiditis, asymptomatic). Back to “OFA Equivocal” in July 2025. Pa is asymptomatic of any thyroid issues (confirmed by two veterinarians) and our current theory is his “normal” or baseline may be lower-than-standard thyroid function. This is common and well-studied in some other breeds, but our data on Thyroid function in Jindo Dogs is lacking. He will be retested in Sep 2025 when his OFA hips/elbows finals are submitted.
Pa’a at 7 months old (photo by Ryan Ritter)
Achievements
Jan 20-21 2024: National International Honors Junior Champion (Nat/Int/HnrJRCH)
Pa’a earned 5x SG-1 ratings from 5 different judges at the Golden State Sieger IABCA Show in Santa Rosa, CA, achieving his Nat/Int/HnrJRCH title.
Feb 2024: AKC Trick Dog Novice (TKN) title earned.
Feb 2024: AKC Virtual Scent Work Beginner (VSWB) and Intermediate (VSWI) earned.
Feb 2024: AKC Virtual Home Manners Puppy (VHMP) earned.
Feb 23-25 2024: 2x Best of Breed and 2x Group 3 Placements at the AKC Silver Bay Dog Show in Del Mar, CA. These wins earned him 4 points towards his Certificate of Merit (CM) title.
Mar 2-3 2024: Earned his Trailing & Locating I (TL-I) title with the North American Sport Dog Association (NASDA).
Mar 14-17 2024: 1x Group 3, 2x Group 4 and 1x Group 2 placement at the Shasta Kennel Club’s Open Show in Anderson, CA. Because he was the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best 6-9 Month Puppy and Best of Breed all four days of the show.
Mar 22-24 2024: 3x Group 3 placements at the San Mateo and Oakland Kennel Clubs’ Open Show in Corning, CA. Because he was the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best 6-9 Month Puppy and Best of Breed all three days of the show.
Mar 27 2024: Earned his AKC Virtual Home Manners Adult (VHMA) title.
April 13-14 2024: 2x Group 2, 1x Group 3 and 1x Best in FSS Group (equivalent to Group 1) placement at the Sacramento Kennel Club’s Open Shows in Lodi, CA. As the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best 9-12 Month Puppy and Best of Breed in all four shows.
May 6 2024: AKC Virtual Scent Work Experienced (VSWE) title earned.
May 18-19 2024: 1x Group 3, 1x Group 2, 2x Best in FSS Group (equivalent to Group 1) placements and 2x Best in Open Show placements at the Coyote Hills Kennel Club’s Open Shows in Turlock, CA. As the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best 9-12 Month Puppy and Best of Breed in all four shows.
May 24 2024: Earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title.
May 25 2024: Earned his Urban Locating I (UL-I) title with the North American Sport Dog Association (NASDA).
July 5-7 2024: 2x Group 2 placements at the Lost Coast Kennel Club’s Open Shows in Ferndale, CA. As the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best 9-12 Month Puppy and Best of Breed in both shows.
July 20-21 2024: International Champion (IntCH) title earned with IABCA.
Pa’a earned 5x VG-1 ratings from 5 different judges at the 2024 Golden State Summer Sieger Show in Dixon, CA. 3x of the ratings (two being from international judges) earned him his IntCH title.
July 26 2024: Earned his AKC Community Canine (CGCA) and Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU) titles.
October 18 2024: Passed two AKC Temperament Tests at the Harvest Moon Classic in Santa Rosa, CA, earning his ATT title.
Oct 20 2024: Earned his BCAT title at the Harvest Moon Classic.
Dec 2024: AKC Trick Dog Intermediate (TKI) title earned.
Apr 14 2025: 1x Best in FSS Group (equivalent to Group 1) placement at the Sacramento Kennel Club’s Open Shows in Lodi, CA. As the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best Open Dog and Best of Breed in all six shows.
May 17-18 2025: 2x Best in FSS Group (equivalent to Group 1) placements at the Coyote Hills Kennel Club’s Open Shows in Turlock, CA. As the only Korean Jindo Dog entered, he also earned Best Open Dog and Best of Breed in all four shows.
June 10 2025: AKC Trick Dog Advanced (TKA) title earned.
July 20 2025: National Champion (NatCH) title earned with IABCA.
Pa’a earned 3x VG-1 ratings from 3 different judges at the 2024 and 2025 Golden State Summer Sieger Shows.
