The Shiba Inu originated in Japan and was bred to hunt birds. They are related to the Akita Inu as both are fierce working dogs but differ greatly in size. These little dogs became very close to extinction in the 1930′s but were specifically bred to become re-populated and are now known and owned all over the world. The Shiba Inu’s name translates to “small dog” or ” shrub dog” which is where they would flush their prey from.

These little dogs have an athletic, muscular body and a sharp muzzle. Their ears are medium sized and pricked upward giving them a constant alert expression. The Shiba Inu has toned, straight legs which give them their speed when on the hunt, and a coiled tail that curls over to touch their lower back. These little dogs are the spitting image of their larger relatives, the Akita Inu and are often mistaken for Akita puppies!

Responsive, spirited and outgoing, the Shiba Inu is a great companion! They bond very strongly with one person but will be friendly to family members or family friends. Around strangers they will be weary and stand off-ish but this will pass once they have a few meetings. These dogs make great family pets because they get along very well with children, but should be the only pet in the household. The Shiba might be aggressive towards other dogs, especially those of the same sex and should not be around small family pets such as cats or hamsters because they have a high prey drive and might attack.

Breed Group

Non-Sporting

Size

Males: 14-17 inches high
Females:13-16 inches high

Weight

Males: 20-30 lbs
Females: 18-28 lbs

Color(s)

The Shiba Inu comes in any colour combination but most commonly seen is the cream or red.

Coat

These little dogs have a thick coat that has 2 layers. The outer layer is soft, dense and straight while the under coat is thick and plushy giving them extra insulation for colder climates. The Shiba Inu is a generally clean dog but will need weekly grooming to upkeep their coat.

Life Expectancy

About 12-15 years.

Personality

The Shiba Inu is an energetic, clever little dog that will make a great companion! They will excel greatly in not just obedience, but agility, tracking, and hunting. They are known to pick up little tricks very quickly and enjoy entertaining their masters with their skills. The Shiba Inu will need to be socialized thouroughly as a puppy, especially around other dogs and people. Cats and smaller animals should be introduced at a young age as well to ensure they can co-exist with them as adults.

This breed will make a fine working dog if their skills are put to use. Hunting game or rodents is what their breed was originally used for and they will still carry on these characteristic hunting abilities even today. Most commonly they are used for companionship and are standard household pets in their birth country! The Shiba is growing in popularity everyday and makes an excellent little dog for people who want an independent yet affectionate pet.

Care

The Shiba Inu will need to be brushed 2-3 times per week and bathed every 1-2 months. They are clean animals but will need to have the dead fur removed from their coat on a weekly basis. This breed is prone to luxating patella’s, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and a few eye ailments such as cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy and glaucoma. For the most part they are a very healthy breed but potential owners should have the parents medical history checked before buying a puppy to see if there are any health problems their dog might inherit at an older age.

Training

This little dog will need a persistent and calm owner who will be able to show dominance and firmness when it comes to teaching them basic obedience. They can have a stubborn attitude but with consistency and repetition will grasp obedience quickly. The Shiba Inu is an intelligent breed and it will not take long before they learn what it is their owner is wanting to teach them. These dogs are known to pick up training techniques quickly and are also fairly simple to housetrain.

Activity

The Shiba Inu will need about a half an hour of exercise per day which can be done at an off-leash park or on a long walk. These dogs play during the day so do not need an excessive amount of exercise in the evening. They will be comfortable in an apartment because they don’t require an entire household of room to live in, and a backyard would be preferable just so there is an outdoor area to roam.

The Japanese Chin originated in Japan and was bred to be a companion dog. This little dog was given as gifts to royalty and was thought to have become quite popular in the mid 1800’s when two were given as a present to Queen Victoria. Originally the Japanese Chin was called the Japanese Spaniel and was inducted into the AKC in 1977.

This little dog has an under bite making their jaw look protruded like that of a bulldog. They have a large forehead and a turned upward nose making their nostrils look wide. Their legs are short and slender giving them a charming little gait. The Japanese Chin has a thick, lustrous coat and their tail is loosely curled over.

This breed is an animated and charismatic dog that is full of life! They are well behaved and cheerful but may act aloof around people they’ve never met. Once they are introduced a few times they will become much more friendly and outgoing. This breed usually bonds to one person more so then any others making them a one person dog.

Breed Group

Toy

Size

Males: 7-11 inches

Females: 7-11 inches

Weight

The Japanese Chin will come in 2 weight varieties, the over 7 lb variety and the under 7 lb variety

Males: 4-15 lbs

Females: 4-15 lbs

Color(s)

The Japanese Chin has patches throughout their body which come in brindle, lemon, sable, black and red. The remainder of their body is white.

Coat

This breed has a thick, fluffy coat that will keep them and their owners lap warm. Their fur is long and silky with the tail hair fringed and tossed over the dogs body. They have shorter fur on their face, ears, and legs but longer thicker hair on their necks which is used for warmth.

Life Expectancy

About 10 years.

Personality

The Japanese Chin is a happy, responsive dog that was bred for nothing other than human companionship. Their job is to keep their owners company and entertain them as best they can. They will make great pets for a family with no children, or much older children as they do not like to be man handled or roughhoused with. These dogs are delicate and should be respected for their size and breed purpose. The Japanese Chin gets along well with other dogs and smaller family pets! They are well mannered, bright and do not have a spoiled doggy attitude.

They are obedient with their masters and will not bark often like some of the smaller breeds. As small as this breed may be, they will make great watch dogs because they have the instinct to protect their beloveds. The Japanese Chin wants to be part of the family at all times and if this dog is left alone often, they will become depressed.

Care

This breed has a long coat which will need to be groomed almost daily. Their fur is quick to tangle so brushing is very necessary. Bathing is up to how often the owner would like this done but should not exceed more then once per month. This breed is prone to breathing difficulties which is due to their smaller face and pushed in nose. They are also prone to eye problems, hypoglycemia, heart murmurs, luxating patella’s, and the Distemper disease which should be discussed with the vet as soon as the dog is brought home.

Training

The Japanese Chin is a more trainable breed than some Toy breeds because they are more responsive and obedient. With consistency and a positive methods, this breed can become very good at basic obedience training and even tricks. They will need to have several small training sessions in order to retain all of the obedience information but with practice will be very successful.

Activity

The Japanese Chin will need daily walks in order to keep them happy and in shape. Trips to an off-leash dog park would be great so they can socialize with other dogs while they use up their energy! They will do well in an apartment as they are small dogs that don’t take up too much space. A backyard is not needed as long as they get their regular exercise.

The Akita Inu breed is native to the island of Honshu in the regionof Akita, is considered as a natural monument and a national treasurein Japan, is also one of the oldest dog breeds (recent DNA analysisconfirms that this is one of the most primitive breeds of dog).

Imperial, in appearance, the Akita inspires immediate respect, in the past each noble houses kepted a kennel of this large and mighty dog to hunt boar, bear and deer in the mountainous areas of Japan.

The Akita Inu are the biggest of the Spitz-type breeds and is an impressive and powerful animal with an uncomparable shape; a massive bear-like head, deep muzzle, small eyes, erect and triangular ears uniquely positioned and a large curled tail.

Breed Group

Working

Size

24 – 28 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

75 – 120 lbs

Color(s)

Rich, brilliant and clear, the most common colors of the Akita coat are pure white, red, brindle, sesame and pinto.

Coat

The Akita is a thick double-coated, waterproof breed. The outer coat is straight, harsh, and stands out slightly from the bottom off the body. The under coat is soft, dense and shorter than outer coat.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

The Akita is a first class guard dog renown for his loyalty and
obedience to his owner, however this strong willed, instinctual and dominant breed is not a dog for everyone. The Akita is particularly aggressive to other dogs and animals, if teased, Akita’s may bite, however most Akita tend to be docile, quiet and keep to themselves, but sometimes spontaneous.

Careful and very affectionate he may tolerate and be good with children from his own family, but he may not accept children they don’t know, also they are wary and aloof of strangers. It’s a powerful, alert, responsive, intelligent, dignified and fearless dog.

Care

The rough, stiff, short-haired coat needs moderate grooming. Bathe only when required as bathing removes the natural waterproofing of the coat. This breed sheds heavily twice a year, use a firm bristle brush. The Akita is subject to hip dysplasia and problems with the knee, immune diseases like VKH (uveodermatologic syndrome), hypothyroidism, allergic skin disease and possible congenital eye problems.

Training

The Akita is not recommended for the owners who are easygoing and compliant, it is absolutely imperative that they know who their master is. They require a huge amount of attention and must receive socialization and obedience training from a very early age. These dogs tend to get bored quickly and are capable of ferocity, then training requires patience, kindness, fairness, and consistent leadership, Akita do not respond to harsh or heavy-handed training methods.

Activity

The Akita need space and should not be confined, however he will do okay in an apartment if it is moderately but regularly exercised. Daily walks, occasional swimming (Akitas have webbed feet and are very good swimmers) and freedom to run in a large securely fenced yard is important for him to stay in shape. Be aware to avoid really active exercises until when there joins are fully grown, usually about three years old.