The Shiba Inu
Japan's Hunting Dog
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.
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.