Shiba Inu is a very popular dog breed especially in the East-Asian countries like Japan, Greater China et cetera. But when we talk about southern Asian regions, then these dogs are not very common to be found. In India, the Shibu Inu has a mediocre availability in the big cities like Mumbai, Delhi and some more, but if we move toward the smaller cities, then the demand and availability of this breed are minimal and the reason being their hefty price. These dogs can go very high in price depending on different breeders, but it is also important to bring them home only from a reputable one. Shiba Inus have no problem thriving in hot and humid places as they have a good resistance to heat as well as cold. Therefore, the ones that can afford the extravagant expenses in raising this breed will be very happy with their decision to bring such a charming dog in their lives.
Shiba Inus are well-balanced canines who are considered to be the smallest of the dog breeds originating in Japan. The male and female Shibas have a fair amount of differences between them with the male Shiba Inu being masculine without any roughness and the female being more graceful without any weakness of structure. Official standards for the Shiba Inu are given as follows:
On average, the Shiba Inu weigh anywhere around 6.5-11 kilograms. The males are generally slightly heavier than the female Shibas. They also boast a relatively decent height which on average is around 13.5-16.5 inches (at the shoulders).
|
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
|
MALE |
08-11 kg |
14.5-16.5 inch |
|
FEMALE |
6.5-09 kg |
13.5-15.5 inch |
The Shiba Inu is a double coated canine. Its undercoat is thick and soft while the exterior coat is straight and stiff. The coat is shorter in length but evenly spread on the legs, ears, and face. The strands of hair are slightly longer on the tail. Its coat is found in several color combinations with all the colors being quite profound and clear.
They have a well-muscled body without a hint of roughness or sluggishness. Their neck is strong, thick and medium in length. The chest area is well-developed with moderately sprung ribs and the back region is quite firm and straight. The forelegs and hind legs are sturdy and are in balance with each other.
Their head is of medium size but in proportion with the rest of the body. They have deep set eyes which are somewhat triangular in shape and are mostly dark brown in color. The ears are small, placed well apart, firmly pricked and are also triangularly shaped.
Their Jaws are well-made with evenly aligned strong teeth that close in a scissors bite. The muzzle is full, firm and slightly round with the bridge of the muzzle being straight.
Shiba Inus are generally good-natured and confident dogs that like to keep themselves quite clean and tidy. A Shiba owner will likely see their dog licking its paws and legs to keep them neat more often than not. Shibas are also known to be independent thinkers and thus can become slightly hard to train, hence consistent obedience training from an early age is necessary for them. These dogs are quite watchful and aware as well and prove to be very good watchdogs for any owner. Shibas are warm and friendly towards their family members but they do not show the same level of affection to any stranger or any other canine. General character traits of the Shiba Inu are listed below:
The Shiba Inu is considered to be the most popular companion dog in the land of the rising sun. They share a close resemblance to a fox because of their alert and attentive expressions and the coloring and markings present on their coats (especially the white markings present on a red or tan coat).
They are often confused with other Japanese breeds like the Hokkaido or the Akita Inu because of their looks but they are quite different than those breeds in terms of temperament, size et cetera. Shiba Inus are also very adaptable dogs as they are comfortable (mostly) in any kind of weather condition and are also quite apartment-friendly.
But, they are not very comfy when they are in a company of some other canine and may sometimes show signs of aggression especially toward the dogs with the same gender. They require a good amount of obedience training as they tend to be a bit headstrong and bold. But, they also prove to be quite functional and resourceful because of their guarding instincts and their watchdog ability.
Different types of Shiba Inus are based on various colors that they are found in which are given below:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
*** |
|
Affection Level |
**** |
Potential for mouthiness |
**** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
***** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
*** |
Energy Level |
**** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
*** |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
*** |
|
Child Friendly |
*** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
**** |
|
Grooming Needs |
** |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
*** |
Stranger Friendly |
*** |
|
Trainability |
*** |
Watchdog Ability |
***** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
*** |
Tolerates Cold |
**** |
Shibas should be given a high-quality diet which can be home cooked or commercially produced. Their food is mostly kept on a trial basis at first, as some Shibas are a little picky and may not like the taste of the feeding material being given to them, hence it should be changed. Overfeeding is to be avoided as Shibas do tend to get overweight more often than not.
Shiba Inus are fairly energetic dogs that love to be involved in some kind of physical task or activity. They like to go on walks and runs with their owners and when in the mood, they like to play various games as well. They do not get frustrated or hyper if they do not receive the required amount of exercise, but an owner should provide them with regular exercise as it is very beneficial for their health.
Shibas are not very easy dogs to train. They can be a little stubborn while learning new things and for that early discipline training is required. It is also important to note that they should never be taken outside the house without their leash as they tend to run away if they are off the leash. The good thing about the Shibas is that they require minimal to no amount of potty training as from a very young age, they are determined to go outside the house or far away from their resting place to relieve themselves.
To keep the Shiba looking neat and tidy, weekly brushing of its coat, occasional baths, and trimming of nails is more than enough. But, during the shedding period, which comes at least twice a year and lasts for a long time, the Shibas shed a lot and the brushing should be done regularly to remove the extra hair and control the shedding process.
These Japanese dogs are normally very healthy and fit and only suffer from a few health-related issues which are common in them like:
The Shiba Inu rarely requires the assistance of a veterinarian and thus visits to a vet’s clinic are quite few and far between.
The Shiba Inu was bred in Japan to hunt wild animals and birds. They helped the hunters by tracking and forcing small games and birds to leave their hiding places so that the hunters could have an easier target to aim.
There are quite a few speculations and theories about how they received their name but the two which are most famous are largely considered to be true. The first one states that the leaves of a tree or shrub named Brushwood which turns red in color just like the color of Shiba’s coat were the inspiration behind their name. The second theory is based on their size as Shiba in some regions means “small” and Inu is translated to “dog”.
During the second world war, just like with many other breeds, Shiba’s numbers declined at a very high rate. But, because of various breeding programs that worked for a long period of time, their numbers gradually rose. When they moved outside of Japan, they were widely accepted and appreciated because of their abilities and charming nature. And, they were finally registered by the AKC in the year 1992.
