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The Shiba Inu dog is a foxy looking medium sized Spitz type breed, with the pricked ears, a thick coat, and curled tail typical of the type. As the name suggests, this popular breed is native to Japan and is among the world’s oldest dog breeds. Bred to hunt small game like rabbits or birds, the Shiba Inu still have very strong prey instincts as they will run after pretty much anything that catches their attention.
If you’re interested in getting a Shiba Inu as a pet, you’ll be happy to know that they make excellent companions as they are very loyal, charming, and affectionate. However, given their high energy and bold nature, they’re not recommended as a first-time pet.
The Shiba Inu is generally a robust breed but can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Glaucoma which is a painful condition where the pressure in the eye builds up.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Eye testing for pectinate ligament abnormality testing to look for signs that a dog is affected by glaucoma.
Sturdy in build, and resembling a smaller version of the Japanese Akita, the Shiba has a soft undercoat covered in a hard, straight topcoat. As for the Shiba Inu colours, the most common one is red, but you might also see them in black and tan or sesame colour. Their markings, however, are cream or white and can be found on multiple parts of their bodies such as the sides of the nose, cheeks, belly, inside the ears and legs, upper throat, and under the jaw and tail.
Compact and highly athletic, this breed is easy to recognize given their fox-like appearance and alert expression. Despite their intimidating appearance, the average Shiba Inu size is considered to be medium as they measure approximately 34–40 cm and weigh about 7-11 kg.
Active, friendly, and alert, the Shiba Inu dog can be quite an independent thinker and can have a strong hunting instinct. Early socialisation with children, other dogs, and livestock is essential.
A notable feature of the breed is the ‘Shiba scream’, a high-pitched vocalisation emitted when the Shiba is excited or frustrated! If well socialised and well trained, the Shiba is a fun little dog, capable of a variety of activities.
| Family-friendly: | 3/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 3/5 |
| Easy to train: | 2/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 5/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 3/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 4/5 |
Believed to be one of Japan’s most ancient breeds, bones matching the modern Shiba Inu dog have been found at an archaeological site dating from the Jōmon period, at least 500 BC. It is thought that later, around the 3rd century AD, these dogs were refined by mating with spitz type immigrant dogs, bringing in the pricked ears and curly tail.
This is one of the most popular companion breeds in Japan, established as part of Japanese culture by the 7th century, and used for hunting both small ground-breeding birds and even bigger game such as wild boar.
Due to the popularity of importing foreign breeds, the Shiba Inu became extremely rare by the 1920s, so hunters started a preservation programme in 1928. By 1934 the breed standard had been fixed, and by 1937 the Shiba Inu was declared a National Monument, which saw the breed rise steadily in number.
Although they suffered during the Second World War, and subsequent to that a distemper outbreak reduced numbers even further, the breed has risen again in number and popularity, becoming the most numerous of all the native Japanese breeds and now popular outside Japan, particularly in Europe, Australia, and North America.
Ideal Shiba owners will adore the clever, quick-witted nature of this neat, foxy breed, and crucially, be able to match that physical and mental speed to keep their Shiba well trained, exercised and entertained with plenty of enrichment. As with all Spitz types, a strong desire to vacuum frequently and the ability to groom outside is beneficial. Best suited to those without children or with older children who want to take part in exercise and training activities.
An hour per day of exercise, ideally more, and with training and games on top – the Shiba Inu is a clever and active dog, who will be far happier and much more pleasant to live with if kept well entertained both mentally and physically. Free running in secure locations is necessary on top of lead walks, so training a reliable recall is vital. They love their freedom and make excellent hiking companions so you can always count on them to be ecstatic whenever a running opportunity comes along.
Whilst small and compact in size, the Shiba Inu dog does need some space to run and play outside the house, so a very secure well fenced garden of a decent size is important. Indoors they are neat and clean, although their spitz-type coat will shed heavily at times so take this into consideration!
Due to their vocal nature on seeing anything exciting or unusual, or when frustrated, they are better in a quiet location, rural suburbs or countryside, as the constant busy-ness of inner city or town living may be too much — and you may not be popular with close neighbours!
Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape, and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. Proper nutrition along with care can contribute to a Shiba Inu lifespan reaching 15 years.
The Shiba Inu is a very clean breed – in fact, they are known for self-grooming rather like a cat. However, the coat does need brushing about once a week, and when the coat sheds, you'll realise how thick that undercoat really is!
Independent and clever thinkers and problem solvers, the Shiba Inu is a challenge to train to a high level, and progress will only be made with positive reinforcement methods and a lot of patience and consistency. An owner must invest time and effort to motivate their Shiba Inu to want to work with them, and if they succeed, the Shiba Inu is capable of, and will enjoy, a variety of doggy activities and sports such as scent-work, agility, and more.
With older, dog-wise children, the Shiba Inu can make an excellent pet, particularly if they are willing and able to take part in exercise and training. Shibas may find life with very small children and babies a bit too exciting, and as a result may be noisy and hard work to live with.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
The Shiba Inu also inspired a cryptocurrency coin as it’s the mascot of Dogecoin, a parody coin created by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer back in 2013. Since its release, Doge’s value has skyrocketed, reaching its highest value of $0.73 in May 2021. It’s also the only accepted cryptocurrency on the Tesla website.
Elsewhere in Japan, the Shiba Inu Shibao stars as lead news anchor in a series of news broadcasts that serve as advertisements for a banking service!
The word “inu” means dog in Japanese and Shiba means “brushwood”, but it’s not clear whether the breed was named for the terrain where they hunted or the colour of the autumn brushwood.
Prior to World War II there were three types of Shiba: the Mino, the Sanin, and the Shinshu. The Shinshu is the most similar to the Shiba Inu of today.
In 2004, a Shiba Inu named Mari saved her puppies and elderly owner when their house collapsed during an earthquake. This is now a Japanese film called “A Tale of Mari and Her Three Puppies”.
Can Shiba Inus be left alone all day?
Yes, a Shiba Inu can be left alone for up to eight hours a day, but they would have to be trained for this as they are usually very active and need plenty of exercise.
What are Shiba Inus afraid of?
As with many dog breeds, Shiba Inus have anxiety issues that can be triggered either by separation, noise, or certain social situations.
Do Shiba Inu dogs bark?
Yes, Shiba Inus can be quite vocal but only when necessary or when they’re very happy or mad.
Do Shibas like to cuddle?
Shibas are quite independent so even though they might seem clingy following you around everywhere, they only appreciate cuddles and affection on their own terms and whenever they feel like it.
