The Shiba Inu is a sturdy, medium-sized, Spitz-type dog (i.e. he has prick ears, a thick coat, and a curled tail). A smaller version of the Akita, the adult male stands at around 39.5cm and adult females at 36.5cm. The thick, soft undercoat is covered in a hard, straight topcoat that comes in red, red sesame (red with black guard hair), black and tan, or white.
An alert, active and friendly dog, the Japanese Shiba Inu dog breed can be quite independent and often has a strong hunting instinct. Early, thorough socialisation is essential, particularly to help them be sociable with other dogs. An unusual feature of the breed is 'the Shiba scream' – a high-pitched vocalisation emitted when excited or agitated.
Bred to hunt and flush small game in the mountains of Japan, the Shiba Inu dog breed is a smaller version of the Akita – indeed, Shiba Inu translates as 'small dog'. One of the oldest known breeds, dating back to the 3rd century BC, the Shiba Inu dog almost died out entirely in the Second World War but the small number of dogs who had survived bombing raids and a distemper epidemic were bred to save the breed.
