9 Facts About Shiba Inu
With fox-like looks, cat-like agility, and mischievous antics, the Shiba Inu is a popular dog. Here are a few more facts about Shiba Inu:
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Breed Characteristics
Average Size: Small
Average Lifespan: 13-16 years
Kid/Pet Friendly: Sometimes
Registry: aca,akc
Activity Level: high
Shedding Level: moderate
Grooming Level: moderate
Trainability: high
Good For Novice Owners: moderate
Adaptability: moderate
Prey Drive: high
Watchdog: very alert
Breed Information
Overview
The Shiba Inu is a strong-willed, bold, and courageous spitz breed. This breed is somewhat affectionate with its family, but will be reserved with strangers and people outside the family circle. The Shiba Inu's roots are strong as a hunting breed, which means a high prey drive. That being said, early socialization is vital if there will be small pets or other dogs in the household; otherwise, the Shiba Inu could react negatively to the other animal's presence.
The Shiba Inu is one of just a few ancient dog breeds that still exist today. DNA testing confirms that the Shiba Inu and other Asian spitz-type breeds date back to the 3rd century B.C., making them one of the oldest dog breeds. Although somewhat small in stature, they are agile and strong canines that were originally bred for hunting in the mountains of Japan.
Due to distemper and wartime bombings in Japan, the Shiba Inu was brought to the brink of extinction by the end of World War II, but survived the scare and continued to be viewed as a precious natural product in Japanese culture.
Imported by a military family to the United States in 1954, the AKC recognized the Shiba Inu in 1992 and added the breed to the Non-Sporting Group in 1993. Still the number one companion dog in Japan, they have become a popular breed for U.S. dog owners looking for a smaller version of the Akita.
Temperament
The Shiba Inu is a strong-willed, bold, and courageous spitz-breed. Although they are one of the most independent dog breeds, they do bond closely with their families and are affectionate and loving with them. As long as they have been properly socialized, they tend to get along well with children that know how to interact with dogs and other dogs in the family.
They do have a high prey drive, so they will need extra socialization and training when it comes to smaller pets in the household. They are also initially wary with strangers, but tend to warm up quickly once introduced if they are well-socialized. They don’t tend to bark a lot unless they have been trained into it.
Did You Know?
Based on the famous “Doge”, a now-classic Shiba Inu-themed social media and meme phenomenon, the Dogecoin became one of the popular early and widespread cryptocurrencies. It is considered the first “meme coin” and the first “dog coin”.
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