Short History of the Shiba

The Shiba Inu developed on the steep slopes of the Japanese mountains and was used to hunt both large and small game for many centuries. They were especially adept at hunting birds, although occasionally boar, bear and deer were their targets. There may be some Chow Chow in this breed’s history. The breed officially got its present name sometime in the 1920s. The first breed standard was written in 1934. In December of 1936, the breed was designated as a precious natural resource of Japan, through the Cultural Properties Act.

The Shiba Inu was entered in dog shows starting in the early 1930s. Most of these dogs came from the Yamanashi or San In areas of Japan, brought down from the mountains, and they were rough and variable in type and temperament. World War II almost extinguished the Shiba Inu breed. The war was closely followed by a massive outbreak of distempter in 1952 that almost finished the task. Those few dogs that were left were from three distinct bloodlines: the San In Shiba, the Mino Shiba and the Shin Shu Shiba. The modern Shiba Inu descends from these three lines. Today’s Shibas are elegant and very consistent in type. They retain their hunting instincts and remain independent, aloof and affectionate only to those who earn and deserve their respect.

The first known Shiba in America arrived in 1954, brought by an American soldier from Japan. In the late 1970s, more Shibas were imported from Japan by breed fanciers. The first litter was born in the United States in 1979, with both sire and dam imported by Julia Cadwell. The Shiba Inu was admitted to the Stud Book of the American Kennel Club in April of 1992. It became eligible to compete in the Miscellaneous class in June of 1992 and received full eligibility for regular classification in the Non-Sporting Group in June of 1993.

Temperament

Shiba’s tend to exhibit an independent nature and sometimes show dog aggression. This is more prevalent between female Shibas and is influenced by the breed’s strong prey drive. The Shiba Inu is best in a home without other small dogs or young children, but consistent obedience training and early socialization can make all the difference. The breed also interacts fairly well with cats.

From the Japanese breed standard:

A spirited boldness, a good nature, and an unaffected forthrightness, which together yield dignity and natural beauty. The Shiba has an independent nature and can be reserved toward strangers but is loyal and affectionate to those who earn his respect. They can be aggressive toward other dogs.

The terms “spirited boldness” (悍威 kan’i?), “good nature” (良性 ryōsei?), and “artlessness” (素朴 soboku?) have subtle interpretations that have been the subject of much commentary.

The Shiba is a relatively fastidious breed and feels the need to maintain itself in a clean state. They can often be seen licking their paws and legs much like a cat. They generally go out of their way to keep their coats clean, yet thoroughly enjoy swimming and playing in puddles. Because of their fastidious and proud nature, Shiba puppies are easy to housebreak and in many cases will housebreak themselves. Having their owner simply place them outside after meal times and naps is generally enough to teach the Shiba the appropriate method of toileting.

A distinguishing characteristic of the breed is the so-called “shiba scream”. When sufficiently provoked or unhappy, the dog will produce a loud, high pitched scream. This can occur when attempting to handle the dog in a way that it deems unacceptable. The animal may also emit a very similar sound during periods of great joy, such as the return of the owner after an extended absence, or the arrival of a favored human guest.

Grooming & Bathing

The Shiba has a clean, coarse, stiff, shorthaired coat that is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush to remove the dead hair and bathe only when absolutely necessary as it removes the natural waterproofing of the coat. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.

Exercise & Training

The Shiba Inu is an undemanding dog that will adapt to your circumstances, so long as it gets a daily walk. It is a very active dog and will be healthier and happier with regular exercise. This breed can walk for hours on end as it has tremendous endurance. The Shiba is a trainable breed but it should be kept in mind that they are also a very independent type of dog. They are best trained when the training begins early. This is important especially if the home has children or other animals in the house.

One of the issues that owner’s need to train the dog on concerns the Shiba’s instinct to be aggressive toward other dogs, especially those of the same sex. Neutering the dog will go a long way in taming this instinct but it will not completely remove it. For those Shiba’s that are no neutered, owners must be on alert when the Shiba is in close proximity to other dogs.