What is Shiba Inu

Shiba Inu is a dog breed that is native to Japan. While there are a ton of basic information already available about this dog breed, it is one of the most misunderstood breeds.

Basic facts

Here are some of the basic facts about Shiba Inu:

It is considered one of the oldest breeds in the world.
Shiba Inu is one of the official national treasures of Japan.
They were used to hunt small and sometimes larger games such as birds and wild boars. Because of this, they tend to have high prey drive.
It is one of the six Japanese Spitz-type dogs which also includes Akita, Hokkaido, Kishu, Shikoku, and Kai. Akita being the largest and Shiba Inu is the smallest in that group.
Their signature physical characteristics include curly tail, triangular pointy ears, short yet dense double-coat fur, “button” eyes and nose.
They constantly shed and are not considered to be hypoallergenic.
Average weight of adult Shiba Inu is 23 lbs for male, 17 lbs for female.
The average life expectancy is 13 – 15 years. According to the Guinness World Records, one of the world’s oldest-living dogs actually was a Shiba, who live to be three months shy of being 27!
Their coats are usually “red” (which is the most common), “black and tan,” “white” or “cream” and “sesame.” They typically have “urajiro” which translates to ‘white underside’ in Japanese. If you flip them on their backs, they all are mostly white!

What is it like to own a Shiba Inu?

If you are considering owning a Shiba, please do your research to make sure that it is the right breed for you and your family. As I have come to love and appreciate Shiba Inus, I realize that this breed isn’t for everyone. Read our article on 7 things you should know before owning a Shiba Inu.