Shiba Inu

In Japanese, Shiba Inu can mean "small (柴, shiba) dog (犬, inu)" but can also be interpreted as "shrubland (しば) dry (ドライ) brown (ブラウン) clear (クリア)". The Shiba is originally a hunting dog for small game and birds. The cradle of the breed is located in mountainous regions facing the Sea of Japan. Depending on where it came from, there were small physical differences between specimens of this breed. Indeed, three types of Shiba can be distinguished: the Shinshū Shiba, the Mino Shiba and the San'in Shiba. The names of these Shibas are linked to the Japanese regions from which they come:

The Shiba standard describes it as a faithful, very attentive dog, it does not like to be alone and is very alert. In Japan, this small dog is said to be "one-quarter dog, one-quarter man, one-quarter cat and a last quarter monkey". The Shiba is a particularly clean animal; for this reason, it is not uncommon to find that at the age of eight weeks, a puppy can already be completely housetrained and autonomous at this level. This breed seems to deliberately avoid places likely to stain its coat and prefers a path free from dirt. It is a very intelligent and keen-witted dog, with a playful temperament, however, it can show aggression toward other dogs, particularly certain molossoids such as Bulldogs whose unusual face can inspire fear and unexpected reactions in Shibas. Shibas are particularly prone to escape due to their hunting instinct and their independence; to remedy this, regular and varied activity is important.

The Shiba is a small-sized, well-proportioned dog. Of solid construction, the bone structure and muscles are well developed. The eyes are fairly small, almond-shaped and dark brown in color. The ears are relatively small and triangular in shape: they are slightly inclined forward and well set. High-set, the tail is thick, and carried firmly curled or bent in a sickle shape. The tip almost reaches the hock when the tail is extended downward. The guard hair is hard and straight with a soft and dense undercoat. On the tail, the hair is slightly longer and erect. The coat colors allowed by the standard are red, black and tan, sesame, black sesame and red sesame as well as white/cream which are allowed by NIPPO as long as the dog brings to the breed. All coats must carry the urajiro: the urajiro is defined by the presence of whitish hair on the lateral faces of the muzzle and on the cheeks, under the jaw, on the throat, chest and belly, on the underside of the tail and on the inner face of the limbs.

Shiba Inus are very clean, so grooming needs will likely be minimal. They naturally tend to hate being wet or bathed, so it is very important to get them used to it when young. The coat of a Shiba Inu is rough (short to medium length), with the guard hair measuring 2.5 to 3.2 cm (1 to 1 1⁄4 in) long, and is naturally waterproof, so there is little need for regular baths. They have a thick undercoat that can protect them against temperatures well below freezing. Shedding, also known as coat renewal, can be a nuisance. Shedding is most significant during seasonal changes and particularly during summer, but daily brushing can mitigate this problem. It is recommended that owners never shave or trim the coat of a Shiba Inu, as the coat is necessary to protect them from both cold and hot temperatures.