How to Identify a Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu, the smallest Japanese breed, is a good-natured dog breed with dignity, forthrightness and a spirited boldness. It is an independent breed, and is reserved toward strangers, but is very loyal and affectionate to its family. It may be aggressive to other dogs. Since this breed was developed to hunt in dense undergrowth, it is agile and alert. The Shiba Inu makes a great watchdog and family companion.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the general appearance of the Shiba Inu. The compact frame supports well-developed muscles. Males tend to be 14 ½ to 16 ½ inches tall at the shoulders, but are not coarse. Females are 13 ½ to 15 ½ inches tall at the shoulders, but should not portray a weak structure. Males weigh about 23 pounds and females weigh about 17 pounds. The female is a bit longer than the male, helping give her a feminine look.

2. Make sure the head portrays a good-natured and confident expression. The triangular shaped eyes are set deeply into the skull. The triangular ears are set far apart and stand up straight, but with a forward tilt. The fully pigmented nose is black.

3. Check that the neck is thick and sturdy. Its moderate length leads into a well-muscled forechest and moderately angulated shoulders. The chest is slightly deep and broad enough to allow moderate spacing between the forelegs. The feet are cat-like in appearance and are fitted with well-arched toes and thick pads. The rear is angulated to match the front angulation and are equipped with strong hind legs. The thick tail is carried like a sickle over the back. When the Shiba Inu is at rest, the tail hangs and just about reaches the hock.

4. Pet the double coat. The stiff topcoat is straight and covers a soft, thick undercoat. The topcoat is actually quite short--1 ½ to 2 inches in length. The undercoat is gray, cream or buff. The topcoat can be red, black, sesame or an orange-red color. The markings are a creamy color and are found on the cheeks, sides of the muzzle, inside the ears, under the jaw, on the upper throat, inside the legs, around the vent, on the bottom of the tail and on the stomach area.