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The Shiba Inu (Shiba Ken) is the smallest of the six original and distinct Japanese breeds of dog.
A small, agile dog that copes well with mountainous terrain,
the Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. It is similar
in appearance to the Akita, though much smaller in stature.
The Shiba Inu nearly became extinct in the latter phase of
World War II, with all subsequent dogs bred from only three
surviving bloodlines known as the San'in, Mino, and Shinshu.
The name Shiba Inu is most commonly believed to be
referring to its size, with shiba meaning "small"
and inu simply meaning "dog". The word shiba,
however, can also refer to a type of red shrub. This leads
some to believe that the Shiba was named with this in mind,
either because the dogs were used to hunting in wild shrubs,
or because the most common colour of the Shiba Inu is a red
colour similar to that of the shrubs. The Shiba Inu is also
sometimes called the Shiba Ken, as ken also means dog.
Appearance: Shibas range in height from 14.5 to 16.5
inches (37 to 42 cm) at the withers for males, and 13.5 to
15.5 inches (34 to 39 cm) for females, with males weighing
approximately 23 lb (10 kg), and females approximately 17 lb
(8 kg).
They have double coats, with a straight outer coat and a
soft, dense undercoat that is shed two or three times a year,
producing a surprising amount of fur considering the size of
the dog. Shibas may be red, black and tan, or red with
black-tipped hairs, with a cream, buff, or grey undercoat.
They may also be creamy white or pinto, though this colour is
not allowed in the show ring as the urajiro, or "back
white", markings are unable to be seen.
Temperament: Shibas are generally independent and
intelligent dogs. They have a reputation for aloofness with
strangers, and obedience training is often difficult as they
can prove to be rather stubborn. Some Shibas have difficulty
socializing with other dogs, displaying aggressive tendencies
towards dogs of both sexes.
From the Japanese breed standard:
The dog has a spirited boldness and are fiercely proud
with a good nature and a feeling of artlessness. The Shiba
is able to move quickly with nimble, elastic steps.
The terms "spirited boldness" (勇敢
yuukan), "good nature" (良性 ryōsei)
and "artlessness" (素朴 soboku) have
subtle interpretations that have been the subject of much
commentary.
The Shiba is a fastidious breed and feels the need to
maintain themselves in a clean state. They can often be seen
to lick their paws and legs much like a cat. They generally go
out of their way to keep their coats clean and whilst walking
will avoid stepping in puddles, mud and dirt. Because of their
fastidious nature, the Shiba puppy is surprisingly easy to
housebreak and in most cases will housebreak themselves.
Having their owner simply place them outside after meal times
and naps is generally enough to teach the Shiba the
appropriate method of toiletting.
History: Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is
one of the oldest and most "primitive" dog breeds.
Health: Health conditions known to affect this breed
are cataracts, hip dysplasia, and luxating patella. Shibas are
also prone to food allergies. Epilepsy is also becoming common
in several bloodlines in Australia and the USA. Overall,
however, they are of great genetic soundness and few shibas
are diagnosed with genetic defects in comparison to other dog
breeds.
Miscellaneous: The Shiba Inu can be found in the
"Labrador and Friends" edition of the Nintendogs pet
simulation video game. This edition of the game was originally
released as "Nintendogs: Shiba and Friends" in
Japan, the Shiba being the more recognisable breed in that
country. A Shiba Inu also appears in the video game Silent
Hill 2 in one of the game's multiple endings. In this
"joke" ending, it is revealed that a Shiba Inu was
manipulating events from behind the scenes, much to the
surprise and anguish of the game's protagonist.
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