The Shiba Inu originated in Japan. They are small in stature but BIG on attitude. They typically weigh 18-25 pounds with the males being larger than the females. Shibas are often referred to as big dogs in a small body. These dogs truly have NO FEAR which is not necessarily a good thing.

The name Shiba Inu means Small Dog or Brushwood Dog in Japanese. They were originally bred for hunting small game in the brush and they have retained these instincts through the years. Because of their strong prey drive and their lightening quick speed and reflexes, they can NEVER be trusted off-leash. One fast bunny rabbit can send years of obedience training right out the window. Most Shibas do not like the water or even to get their delicate little paws wet.

In the early 1900's, the Japanese named their native breeds. The breeds were mostly named for the location they came from. The largest breed was the AKITA, medium sized breeds were the HOKKAIDO, KISHU, SHIKOKU and KAI KEN, and the smallest breed became the SHIBA INU, the only breed not to be named for a geographic location. For more information on these native Japanese breeds, click HERE.

The Shiba has faced extinction twice in its history. The first time was after WWII when the Japanese could barely afford to feed themselves and their family. The second time came in 1959 when they suffered a devastating Distemper outbreak. Both times, they Shiba Inu was carefully bred back among the few lines remaining to develop the Shiba we know today.

The Shiba Inu comes in four colors: Red, Red Sesame, Black and Tan, and Cream. The cream color is not approved by the AKC and is not intentionally bred for. Even so, cream puppies occasionally appear in litters and are sold as pets. They are no less a Shiba than any of the other colors and carry no additional genetic disorders specific to the color as do some of other "white" breeds of dogs. Shibas have a beautiful, thick double coat that does not require a lot of grooming to look gorgeous. Generally, they "blow" their coat twice a year so you can expect quite a bit of shedding at these times.

For more information on the Shiba Inu, please visit the SHIBA INU HOME PAGE or the SHIBA LINKS page for links to other Shiba websites.