History of Breed
The Shiba Inu has been with the Japanese people for centuries. They are considered the smallest and oldest of Japan's dogs. The ancestors of today's Shibas were those hardy survivors of Japan's mountainous regions which are very difficult for men to penetrate. Ancient Shibas were bred to flush birds and small game and were occasionally used to hunt wild boar and other large game. Now they are primarily kept as pets, both in Japan and the United States, although their ability to maneuver through steep hills and mountain slopes, together with their keen senses, have repeatedly shown them to be a superb hunting dog. Japan has more Shibas than any other breed. They make an excellent watchdog and have established themselves as the number one companion dog in Japan. Around 7000 BC, the ancestors of modern Shibas may have accompanied the earliest immigrants to Japan.
Archaeological excavations of the shell-mounds left by the Jomonjin, or Rope-Pattern People (a name derived from the pattern found on their earthenware), show that they had small dogs in the 14.5 to 19.5 inch high range. In the 3rd century BC, a new group of immigrants brought their dogs to Japan. These dogs interbred with the descendants of the Jomonjin dogs, and produced canines that had pointed, erect ears and curly or sickle tails. In the 7th century AD, the Yamato Court established a dog keeper office which helped maintain the Japanese native breeds as an integral part of Japanese culture. Although the country was closed to foreigners from the 17th through 18th centuries, some European dogs and a breed known as the Chinese Chin were imported and crossed bred with native dogs living in the more populated areas. Dogs in the countryside, however, remained relatively pure.
Originally there were three main varieties of Shiba, each named for its region of origin: the Shinshu Shiba, from the Nagano Prefecture, the most popular in Japan past and present; the Mino Shiba, from the Gifu Prefecture; and the Sanin Shiba, from the northeastern part of the mainland. Although similar, the Shibas from each area contributed to differences in breed type seen today. From the original Japanese native dogs, six distinct "breeds" in three different sizes developed. They are the Akita (large size); Kishu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kai (medium size); and the Shiba (small size).
The small sized dog has been called the Shiba since ancient times. Several theories surround the development of that name. One popular explanation is that the word Shiba means "brushwood" and that the dogs were named because of their skill in freely moving and hunting in Japanese brushwood bushes. Another theory is that the fiery red color of the Shiba is the same as the autumn color of the brushwood leaves. A third conjecture is related to an obsolete meaning of the word Shiba, referring to its small size. These explanations are often combined and the Shiba is referred to as the "little brushwood dog". Shiba first came by its current name in the 1920's.
Most of the Shibas being shown in the 1930's came from the Yamanashi or San In areas, where they had brought down from the mountains to the more populated areas. Since these dogs had been used mostly for hunting, their appearance was somewhat different from the present Shiba. They were large boned and rough looking, unlike the elegant modern Shibas. In December of 1936, through the Cultural Properties Act, the Shiba was designated as a precious natural product of the Japanese nation, giving the breed official recognition.
World War II nearly spelled disaster for the Shiba. Most of the dogs that did not perish in bombing raids succumbed to distemper during the post-war years. While the Mino and Sanin Shibas became practically extinct, more of the Shinshu Shibas survived. After the war, Shibas were brought from the remote countryside and breeding programs were established. The remnants of the various bloodlines were combined to produce the breed as it is known today.
The first documented Shiba in the United States was in 1954. The Shiba Inu was admitted to the American Kennel Club (AKC) Stud Book on April 1, 1992, with exhibition in the Miscellaneous Class on June 1, 1992 and regular classification in the Non-Sporting Group on June 1, 1993.
