Is a Shiba Right for You?
Watch the video About the Shiba Inu for 5 minutes of interesting facts.
The Shiba Inu is one of the
six original dog breeds of Japan. These 6 breeds are the: Shiba Inu, Shikoku, Kishu, Kai, Hokkaido and Akita. The Shiba Inu’s origins are said to date back over 9,000 years. They are the oldest and smallest of the Japanese breeds.
The origins of their name are unclear.
“Shiba Inu” is a Japanese term that translates to “Brushwood Dog” in English. This name is thought to have originated from the breed’s early history in Japan. The Shiba Inu was often used for hunting small game in dense shrubbery or brushwood areas, and its small size and agile nature made it well-suited for this purpose. As a result, the name “Shiba Inu” may have been inspired by the dog’s hunting environment. Another theory is that their name comes from an old translation of the word “shiba” which meant small in size. They were once called the “little brushwood dog”.
The Japanese were very
protective of their native breeds and followed strict standards to insure the purity of the dogs. They named the Shiba Inu the national dog of Japan and declared them a national treasure in 1936.
Even though the Breed
existed in Japan for thousands of years, they did not make their way to the United States until the 1950’s. They did not receive full recognition by the AKC until 42 years later-in 1992.
According to FCI Breed Standard
the Shiba Inu can reach up to 16.5 inches in height and 23 pounds in weight. Accepted coat colors are:
“Red, black and tan, sesame, black sesame, red sesame. All colours must have Urajiro : Whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks, on the underside of the jaw and neck, on the chest and stomach and the underside of the tail, and on the inside of the legs.“
Shiba Inu-Dog or Cat?
The Shiba Inu is a clean dog and is often found licking and cleaning themselves. Unlike most other breeds, who will walk through puddles, the Shiba will generally walk around them. Giving them a bath, cutting their nails or a vet visit can result in some serious “drama queen” behaviors and the unique “Shiba Scream”. And don’t be surprised if your Shiba perches themselves on the back of the couch or other high spot to survey his kingdom.
Growing Up Shiba Inu
Have pictures of your dog as a puppy and an adult? We give-away free random videos of dogs growing up every month. You can enter pictures here!
In this Same Research
the Shiba Inu ranks 25 out of 124 breeds in aggression towards other UNFAMILIAR dogs. Essentially, if an unknown canine enters their territory, they may react by barking, growling or bearing of teeth. In extreme cases they may lunge or snap. They rank even higher in displaying hostility towards other FAMILIAR dogs in the household.
Shiba Inu Humor!
In the Landmark Book
entitled, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Shiba Inu ranks 93rd out of 138 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands in 80 to 100 repetitions and obey first commands less than 25% of the time. This puts them in the “lowest working and obedience intelligence” category. In contrast, the most intelligent breeds will learn the same command in 5 repetitions or less!
Are Shiba’s Natural Swimmers?
In one word “NO”. Shiba Inu are not a water breed. They will step around puddles and act like bath time is torture time! Even though many do not like the water, they CAN be positively socialized to swimming. Some like to swim and can swim very well!
Take a Fun Shiba Inu Quiz!
