The Shiba Inu is a breed of hunting dog from Japan. A
small-to-medium breed, it is the smallest of the six original and
distinct spitz breeds of dog native to Japan. "Inu" is a Japanese word
for "dog".
A small, alert, and agile dog that copes very well with mountainous
terrain and hiking trails, the Shiba Inu was originally bred for
hunting. It looks similar to and is often mistaken for other Japanese
dog breeds such as the Akita Inu or Hokkaido, but the Shiba Inu is a
different breed with a distinct blood line, temperament, and smaller
size than other Japanese dog breeds.
Learn more about them on Wikipedia!