ABOUT THE SHIBA INU

Welcome to the Shiba inu. This breed may be small in stature but it is gigantic in personality and style. The shiba inu is the product of Japan. The smallest of three main breeds in Japan, it is called the "Little Brushwood dog". The original purpose for the Japanese shiba inu was to aid the Japanese hunter in flushing small game and wild boar. It was their purpuse to hunt in packs to flush and surround the game making a tenacious spirit a requisite for their pupose.

Nowadays, Shiba Inu are rarely used for their begotton purpose, but the drive among Japanese breeders is to preserve the spirit and essence of a breed that was almost driven to extinction after WWII. In order to accomplish this a preservation society for Japanese dogs was founded called NIPPO (Nihonken Hozankai). Their primary goal was to gather breeders with the sole focus to maintain three main character qualities in the shiba inu Kan-i, Ryosei and Sobuku. These terms refer to the quiet spirit or essence that the shiba should portray along with the artlessness and simplicity inherent in the breed.

The breed was introduced to the United States in the 1980's but came to AKC recognition in 1992. At that time the National Shiba Club of America was founded and exists today as the parent club. There are two NIPPO preservation groups inthe United states as well; the Colonial Shiba Club and Beikoku. These groups aim to preserve the native Japanese registry of shibas. Through great efforts, these groups bring Japanese judges to the united states to judge and evaluate our breeding stock in an effort to facilitate open communication between the United States and the country of origin of this great little breed. When so many breeds in the US tend to deviate from their original bred purpose and standard, the shiba community, through the combined efforts of these groups, strives to keep the shiba in its most natural state.

The Shiba inu is a breed unto itself. They are often referred to as big dogs in little packages, mostly because someone forgot to tell them they were only about 20 lbs. They are tenacious and loyal which at times is both a pro and a con to owning the breed. If this is your first shiba, then listen closely. Shibas need to be raised like a large dog. They are cute and fuzzy at eight weeks, but they can unleash a whirlwind in your house shortly after arrivig if not tempered quickly. They will shower you with kisses one moment and growl and scream at you the next....OH the heavenly shiba scream!!! It is always so important to have your shiba understand who wears the pants in the family. Remember, what may be cute at 8 weeks is often not so cute at 1 year of age. Never accept nipping, growling or any other dominant behavior as part of playtime with a shiba puppy.

On the other hand, shibas are versatile agile and entertaining. They can hike for hours, run for days, and rough house with the best of them. They can put a 100 lb rottweiler in its place, yet sleep with you in creature comfort on the couch or bed with the face of an angel. They are loyal and proud. They are smart and deceptive. And brother, can they hold a grudge. They run like the wind with ears deaf to your screams...yet every person who has had one shiba touch their lives is left wanting more.

My dogs have given me so many grey hairs, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They live long lives but to me...never long enough. 10-15 years is still too short for an edeared friend, whose presence in your life leaves a mark so deep you could never erase it from your heart or mind.

If you want pleasure, pain, grief, joy and every emotion in between...investigate the shiba inu!!!!