Shiba Inu (Japanese Shiba Inu)
Shiba Inu
Japanese Shiba Inu
Basic Information
- Category: Pet Dog
- Origin: Japan
- Body Type: Medium-sized
- Height: 35-41cm
- Hair Length: Short-haired
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Ratings
| Trainability | ⭐️⭐️ |
| Affection Level | ⭐️⭐️ |
| Barking Level | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Shedding Level | ⭐️⭐️ |
Breed Introduction
The Shiba Inu is a medium-sized and one of the oldest Japanese dog breeds. Shiba Inu can handle steep hills and mountain slopes, possessing keen senses that make them excellent hunting dogs. Originally, Shiba Inu were used to hunt large game, but now they are used to hunt smaller animals. They can be seen in cities, suburbs, and rural areas of Japan.
The name ‘Shiba’ originates from the central highlands of Japan and was adopted in literature by the publication ‘Nihon Inu’ of the Japanese Dog Preservation Society during the early Showa period. ‘Shiba’ refers to small firewood used by woodcutters. Because Shiba Inu can skillfully navigate through brush to assist in hunting, and their reddish-brown coat resembles dried brush, they were named as such.
Some believe that the ancient term ‘Shiba’ refers to the origin from the Shiba village in Shinshu. It is said that their ancestors have the bloodline of the Shikoku breed and are also said to have been bred from the Chinese Squirrel Dog and the native Japanese Kishu breed, introduced to Japan from China around 2000 years ago.
Shiba Inu are mainly distributed in areas such as Nagano (Shinshu Shiba), San’in (Sekishu Shiba), Gifu (Mino Shiba), and Gunma (Jisshu Shiba). Another special type of Shiba Inu called the San’in Shiba Inu originates from the San’in region of Japan (Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture, etc.) and is a rare breed that is endangered. The San’in Shiba Inu also has essential differences from the regular Shiba Inu; generally, the San’in Shiba Inu is slimmer and has longer legs. They resemble local dogs, but they are most famous for developing gray fur during seasonal changes.
Historically, due to the outbreak of the Pacific War, this breed was once on the brink of extinction, but there is a San’in Shiba Inu Breeding Association in Japan that is working hard to preserve this rare breed. Because San’in Shiba Inu have a longer estrus period and can only give birth to 2 to 3 puppies at a time, it becomes very challenging to increase their numbers.
