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History
Shiba Inu is a small agile dog that was initially bred for hunting bear,
small wild game and boar. The dog originated from Japan while its ancestors
were from China. From the ancestors came six other breeds including Shiba
Inu and the Akita. In Japanese, the breed’s name means brushwood dog. This
is because it was used to hunting in brushwood terrain. The breed could have
become extinct to during the Second World war were it not for the breeding
programs initiated afterwards.
Description
The dog is the smallest among Japanese breeds and was originally created to
hunt by scent and sight in Japan’s mountainous terrain. Although it is
similar to the Akita, it is much smaller. The dog has a double coat with a
straight outer coat and a thick and soft under coat. Normally, the dog’s
coat comes in red or a mixture of black and red. The coat can also come in
black with a mixture of tan. Regardless of the color of the coat, the dog’s
cheeks, throat, chest, underside and muzzle edges have cream or white
markings. Other body areas where white is allowed include the legs, above
the eyes and the tail tip. The lips, nose and the eyes edges of the Shiba
Inu are black. They have uniformly aligned teeth forming a scissors bite.
The dog’s big, round eyes and triangular ear give it a friendly yet vigilant
appearance. The breed has broad shoulders, large chests and thick necks
giving them a stronger appearance.
Temperament
The Shiba Inu is devoted and affectionate. They prefer being around their
owners and receiving their attention. The dogs are beloved by children and
provide great company especially for children. The dog is bold, loving, kind
and alert. It is also fearless and full of courage. The dog bonds closely
with their owners but is reserved towards strangers. This breed can live
comfortably with dogs, cats and other pets but is prone to be aggressive
towards dogs of the same sex. Although the dogs are known to bark a lot,
they are otherwise very gentle. The dog should be socialized and trained
when it is still a puppy to instill tolerance and patience and prevent it
from being aggressive towards other animals. The dogs are adorable and sweet
but often regard themselves as being smarter than the owner. The owner
should be firm and confident when handling such a
breed.
Pets4You offers listings of
Shiba Inu breeders with puppies for sale. |
