by Jason Clark

Of all the six dog breeds that were originally developed in Japan, the Shiba Inu is considered to be the smallest. Dating as early as the Jomon Period (8000 BC to 200 BC), the Shiba is said to have been brought along by early Japanese settlers. In the mountainous areas near the Japan Sea, this breed flourished and became the modern day mountainous-terrains-expert Shiba Inu.

Originally, this breed was used as a hunting dog, flushing out rabbits, birds and other small animals from their dens. Breeders say that the Shiba Inu is a big dog trapped inside a small dog’s body. It is only 23 pounds for male and 17 pounds for female but it is strongly independent, intelligent and stubborn.

The Shiba is hard to train because of its independent and stubborn nature so the key to an easier training session is to expose and socialize them early on in their childhood. Shibas that are not socialized are less likely to be hard headed when masters are trying to impose one simple command and also, this breed will become lovable, obedient and sweet to the people it knows when socialized as a puppy. Additionally, it is in the nature of this dog to hunt and so even up to now, its drive to hunt unsuspecting preys is still strong.

To be an effective owner of a Shiba, one must be equipped with the same levels of persistence and authority as the Shiba. This dog has a habit of running away without heeding commands to come back and so experts always advise to hold them in a leash. As the Japanese breed standard dictates: The dog has a spirited boldness and is fiercely proud with a good nature and a feeling of artlessness. The Shiba is able to move quickly with nimble, elastic steps.

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The Shiba might be an independent spirit but it is one of the few breeds you can consider naturally hygienic and it is fastidious and keen about keeping itself clean. This dog is often seen habitually licking its paws and coat, just like how a cat licks itself clean and in fact, the Shiba is often compared to a cat. The Shiba is also amusing in its attempts to evade being dirty by means of going out of its way in order to avoid stepping in to mud, dirt and puddles.

An additional quirky fact about this dog is it emits a distinctly loud, wailing and high pitched sound and is called the “shiba scream”. The dog screams in this fashion whenever it wants to convey to the master the message that he is either unhappy or mistreated; but it could also mean that he feels great joy or excitement. One of the moments that he is at its happiest, and therefore screams the shiba way, is when the long absent master is finally coming home or a very favorite person arrives for a visit.

This breed has a short and waterproof double coat, being that its outer coat is straight while the inner coat is soft, thick and dense. Common colors for the Shiba Inu are red, black, tan, sesame, cream, buff or grey. It sheds excessively during the start and end of each season but in between these times, the coat sheds only fairly average and daily brushing is needed to keep its tresses clean and pretty.

The Shiba Inu, according to DNA testing of experts, is one of the oldest breeds in the world because of its existence that dates back as early as 3rd century BC. In Japan, this dog is considered as a national symbol and was declared to be so in 1936 through the Japanese Cultural Properties Act. It was first brought to the United States in 1954 by migrating families from Japan and in 1992 it was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

About the Author:
Discover a lot of interesting information about the Japanese Shiba Inu. Go to author Jason Clark’s website today and read about Shiba breeders, Shiba puppies and a lot of!