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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.