Shiba Inu
Utility

Group:

Utility

Size:

medium

Lifespan:

12-15 years

Exercise:

medium

Grooming:

medium

Trainability:

low

Watchdog ability:

very high

Protection ability:

medium

Area of Origin:

Japan

Date of Origin:

ancient times

Other Names:

Brushwood Dog, Japanese Small-Size Dog

Original Function:

hunting and flushing small game

History

The Shiba Inu originated in Japan around 1000 BC, making it a grand old breed. It was first used for hunting small game, and to trail larger game such as dear, boar and bear. Similar in style to the much larger Akita, its name translates from the Japanese as "small dog." Until 1920, they were considered one breed, the "Japanese Dog" and were divided according to size. Now they have separate registration.

Temperament

The Shiba Inu is an independent and strong-willed dog breed who requires consistent training. Affectionate and loyal to its owners, the Shiba Inu can be initially reserved with strangers. The Shiba Inu may not do well with cats and other small pets.

Upkeep

The Shiba Inu needs a daily workout, either in the form of a vigorous game in the yard, a long walk or a good run in a safe area. It can live outdoors in temperate or cool climates, given warm shelter, but it does best when allowed to divide its time between inside and out. Its double coat needs brushing one or two times weekly, more when shedding.

Official Breed Standard

CHARACTERISTICS:
Gifted with great agility, the Shiba Inu is a graceful and friendly dog, lively and gay but also obedient, faithful, sensitive and attentive.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A small dog, well shaped, compact and muscular with more of a rustic look about him than elegance. Males must be masculine and females feminine.

Size:
Height at the withers: males 15 - 16 in (38.1 to 40.6 cm); females 13.7 - 15 in (35 to 38.1 cm). These size limits should be observed as strictly as possible. Larger dogs are acceptable only when in exceptional form.

Head:
The forehead is wide, the median furrow pronounced; cheeks well formed; muzzle pointed, neither too short not too long. The nose is dark coloured, with a straight bridge. The teeth are solid, neither undershot not overshot. The stop is well defined but not exaggerated.

Eyes:
Small, triangular in shape, dark brown.

Ears:
Small, triangular, carried erect and slightly to the fore.

Forequarters:
A well-developed and quite oblique shoulder. The forearms are straight, the elbows close to the body. The pasterns are very slightly inclined. The forefeet are round, with close toes. The pads are hard, the nails hard and black.

Body:
The chest is deep, the ribs well rounded. The back is short and straight. The loins are wide and powerful. The belly is slightly drawn up; the genitals must be without abnormality.

Tail:
Thick and strong, the tail is curled or carried as a sickle tail. It is long enough to reach the hocks when straight.

Hindquarters:
Thighs and legs well developed. The hock is well directed. The feet, nails, and pads are the same basically as in the forequarters.

Coat:
Hard and straight, with a fine undercoat. Colour red, salt and pepper, red-peppered, black-peppered, black, black-brown, brindle, or white. All colours must have "Urajiro", a whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks, on the underside of the jaw and neck and on the chest and stomach, on the underside of the tail and on the inside of the legs.

Gait:
Light, lively and energetic.

Faults:
(a) Not serious: nose different in colour from coat; slight overshot condition; teeth marked by distemper; pale eyes; long hair. (b) Serious Faults: distinctly overshot jaw; more than 5 teeth missing; timidity; flat ears; naturally pendant tail; short tail.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.