The Shiba Inu (柴犬, Japanese: [ɕiba inɯ]) 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.
Its name literally translates to "brushwood dog", as it is used to flush
game.
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