Of the six breeds that originally came from Japan, the Shiba Inu is considered to be the smallest. This breed is said to have been brought to this country by early migrants during the Jomon Period which was about 8000 BC to 200 BC. This breed flourished in the mountainous regions near the Japan Sea and this is one of the reasons why the modern Shiba can strive well in mountainous terrains.

Originally, this breed was used as a hunting dog, flushing out rabbits, birds and other small animals from their dens. Breeders say that the Shiba Inu is a big dog trapped inside a small dog’s body. It is only 23 pounds for male and 17 pounds for female but it is strongly independent, intelligent and stubborn.

Training a Shiba can be quite difficult due to their stubborn and independent nature but once you expose and socialize them early on, it would somehow ease the learning process along the way. If owners are successful in socializing and training the Shiba from puppyhood, it is likely that this dog will grow up to be sweet, amazing, affectionate and lively. However, this dog has been a fervent hunter for centuries and it is manifested even now through its overwhelming hunting drive.

To be an effective owner of a Shiba, one must be equipped with the same levels of persistence and authority as the Shiba. This dog has a habit of running away without heeding commands to come back and so experts always advise to hold them in a leash. As the Japanese breed standard dictates: The dog has a spirited boldness and is fiercely proud with a good nature and a feeling of artlessness. The Shiba is able to move quickly with nimble, elastic steps.

Although this breed may be a tough cookie in training, it is however considered a fastidiously clean breed. It likes to keep itself clean and odorless by means of licking its paws and coat just like how a cat cleans itself. Moreover, the Shiba’s intensity in hygiene goes as far as it going out of its way in the purpose of evading a puddle, mud or dirt.

Additionally, hygiene is not the only amusing fact about the Shiba but also its unique and distinct high pitched and loud sound called the ” shiba scream”. It screams in this way whenever it feels great unhappiness, disapproval of mistreatment, or it could also be that it feels utterly happy and excited about something. Some things that make the Shiba wail is when a long gone master is finally coming back or a favorite person is coming for a visit.

The Shiba Inu has a double coat which is soft and waterproof, the outer coat being straight and the inner coat being soft and dense. This dog also appears in shades of red, black, tan, sesame, cream, buff or grey. It sheds excessively twice a year but on a regular basis, it sheds but not strongly and thus needs daily brushing as a form of coat maintenance.

The Shiba Inu, according to DNA testing of experts, is one of the oldest breeds in the world because of its existence that dates back as early as 3rd century BC. In Japan, this dog is considered as a national symbol and was declared to be so in 1936 through the Japanese Cultural Properties Act. It was first brought to the United States in 1954 by migrating families from Japan and in 1992 it was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

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