Shiba Inu

Shiba, Japanese Shiba Inu

Widely used as a companion or show dog, the Shiba Inu is also an excellent hunting dog. This beautiful little dog loves everyone and has great aptitudes and qualities to become an excellent dog for any kind of family or owner. Even if he is very independent by nature, the Shiba loves family contact.

Height 33 to 43 cm
Weight 6 to 12 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 15 years
Hair Loss High
Excercise Need Medium
Home country Japan

Quick Overview of the Shiba Inu

Temperament

  • Rather independent
  • Very friendly and affectionate
  • Adores family and children

Appearance

  • Very well proportioned size
  • Very sturdy structure
  • Muscular with good bone structure
  • Small triangular ears

Health

  • No particular pathology
  • Very solid and robust
  • Rarely ill, in excellent health
  • Long life expectancy

Temperament of the Shiba Inu

Of a rather independent character, the Shiba Inu is nevertheless very friendly and affectionate. He loves family and children. The Japanese call him 25% dog, 25% cat, 25% monkey and 25% man.

Even though he is a 100% canine specimen, he has several different personalities.

He is a good dog for children, a play dog, a guard dog and he even behaves like a cat from time to time. He is very sporty and totally tireless.

Even if he is not shy by nature, he has a slight tendency to be fearful if he is not taught to socialize very early in his education.

shiba personnalité

Breed Appearance

shiba

He is small in size, very well proportioned and robust, muscular and with a good bone structure. The Shiba Inu has the appearance of a miniature Akita Inu.

Height

Between 35 and 43 cm (13.78 to 16.93 inches) for the male
Between 33 and 41 cm (12.99 to 16.14 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 6 and 12 kg (13.23 to 26.46 pounds) for the male
Between 6 and 12 kg (13.23 to 26.46 pounds) for the female

Color

The coat of the Shiba Inu can be sesame, red or black sesame, black and tan, red and in the non-standard ones, pinto (fairly large white markings on the body), cream or white.

Hair

His coat is straight and hard on the surface, while the undercoat is rather soft and very dense.

Morphology

His head has a very wide forehead. His small triangular eyes are dark. His triangular ears are small and erect. His nose is black. His thick tail is tightly rolled up or drooping over the back.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 5, section 5 and is #257

Characteristics of the Shiba Inu

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Shiba Inu is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Shiba Inu puppy: between 1000 € / $ 1 / £1 and 1500 € / $ 1 / £1
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Shiba Inu: 80 € / $ 1 / £1
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Shiba Inu puppies near me

Shiba Inu pictures

Tips About this breed

The Shiba Inu is a very active dog. He adapts well to life in an apartment but still needs to run and exercise every day. As he is rather a noisy type, the neighborhood does not always appreciate him at his true value.

The Shiba Inu is friendly and cheerful and is an excellent companion for children. He loves them and their games without ever getting tired of them. In spite of his size, he is an excellent guard dog and he will have no issue protecting his family in case of danger.

Since he tends to be independent and not obedient, it is better to educate him at a very young age. He is very intelligent and easily understands what he has been taught.

Health of the Shiba Inu

No pathology affects the Shiba Inu. His very strong and robust and enjoys a good life expectancy. Rarely sick, his health is excellent most of the time.

GROOMING

Even if it is thick, his fur does not require any special maintenance.

History of this breed

In Japanese, there are two meanings for Shiba Inu: either "small dog" or "dry light brown bush". These two meanings represent well the The Shiba Inu.

Native to Japan, from a mountainous region facing the sea, the Shiba Inu has a coat that looks like light brown bushes.

This very old breed of which some traces were found around 500 BC, was used at the time for hunting birds and small game. Some differences existed between the breed specimens depending on the region where the animals came from.

Three ancient breeds created today's Shiba, including the San'In Shiba, Mino Shiba and Shinshu Shiba. This native Japanese breed was declared a "Natural Monument" in 1937.

This national symbol was officially preserved as early as 1928 after the foundation of the Japanese breed preservation club, the Nippo (Nihonken Honzonkai). The unified standard was established in 1937.

Hakuba no Gen, Tenkou, Matsumaru and Korotama are said to be the four major bloodlines that have contributed to today's Shiba Inu breed. Like many Asian dogs, the Shiba Inu carries several legends.

He is at the same time the gift to lovers, the Geisha's dog, the bird hunter or simply the gift of friendship. For the Japanese, he represents fidelity, love and respect.

Even if he is an excellent hunting dog, the Shiba Inu is also an excellent companion for the whole family.

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