About The Breed
Originating in Japan, the Shiba Inu is a dog breed known for its distinct appearance and spirited personality. Shibas are small to medium-sized dogs with a compact muscular build, curled tails, and small triangular ears. Their thick double coat comes in colors such as red,
black & tan, cream, and sesame. Shiba Inus are known for having an independent and confident nature, as well as for showing loyalty and affection towards their owners. They are generally good with children and can adapt well to diverse living environments, especially when given early socialization and training.
History of the Shiba
The Shiba Inus are one of the oldest dog breeds in Japan. The breed’s origin can be traced back to when the first settlers came to Japan around 7000 B.C.They were initially introduced to hunt small game such as rabbits, foxes, and wild poultry in the underlying brush of the mountains. Samurai also used them as hunting dogs and companions.
Modern Shiba Inu still retain their hunting instincts; however, they are now popular pets and pop culture icons. Their likeness appears in collectible gacha form, viral Doge memes, and even cryptocurrency.
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The Three Shiba Inu Bloodlines
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Before World War II, there were three types of Shiba Inu: the Mino, the Sanin, and the Shinshu. The modern Shiba Inu is a combination of all three original Shiba breeds.
The Sanin had mottled black coats and were larger than modern Shiba Inu. Their aloof personalities translated into the independence and feistiness of today’s Shiba Inu.
Smaller than the Sanin, the Mino type had notable fleshy, triangular, and erect ears and angled eyes. These characteristics were passed down to the Shiba Inu we know today. They also had sashi-o, or pointed tails, which differ from the curled tail of most Shiba Inus.
The Shinshu type had mostly red coats, a soft and dense undercoat, and a bristly outer coat. Unlike the modern-day breed which has pointed eyes, Shinshu had round eyes.
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Origin of the Name
While “Inu” means dog in Japanese, “shiba” means brushwood. It’s possible the breed is named after the terrain where they hunted, or the color of their coat- which is the color of autumn brushwood. Their name also means “little brushwood dog” based on an etymological translation of their name from a Nagano Prefecture dialect.​
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Becoming the World’s Darling
The Shiba Inu first arrived in the US in the 1950s, but only gained American Kennel Club recognition in 1993. They have become increasingly popular not just in America but around the world for their cat-like personalities and lovable features.
The Shiba Inu initially went viral in 2013 as the face of the "Doge" internet meme.
The breed's popularity was increased by prominent public figures such as Elon Musk, who adopted a Shiba Inu named "Floki" in 2021.
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