Oak Meadow Kennel

Shiba Inu History

The Shiba Inu is the smallest of the six original and distinct breeds from Japan.

They are a small agile dog and were originally bred for hunting. They look similar to and often mistaken for other Japanese breeds like the Akita or Hokkaido.

The Shiba Inu is double coated with the outer coat being stiff and the undercoat soft and thick. Fur is short even on the fox-like face, ears, and legs. The Shiba is a relatively fastidious breed and feel the need to maintain itself in a clean state. They can often be seen licking their paws and legs much like a cat. They go out of their way to keep their coats clean. Because of this, Shiba Inu puppies are easy to housebreak and in many cases will housebreak themselves.

The Shiba Inu has been around longer than most modern breeds dating back as far as 8000 years. The Shiba Inu became nearly extint during World War II with only 3 bloodlines surviving. All Shiba's were bred from the only 3 remaining bloodlines. The Shiba Inu was named the National dog of Japan and is held as a national treasure protecting the breed. 

They are the only breed in which there is a distinct difference in the appearance of the male and female. The males are bigger and more musclular than the slinder female of the breed. The average litter of a female is 2 to 4 puppies.

Naka-Go was born in 1948 in Japan in an effort to save the bred after World War II. Today, practically all Shiba Inu bloodlines can be traced back to him.