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Shiba Inu History
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DNA analysis has confirmed that the Shiba Inu, which is of Japanese origin, is one of the oldest breeds. How it got its name is in question: Shiba can be translated as “small” or “brushwood” in Japanese, so the name may simply mean “small dog” or “brushwood dog,” paying homage to the dog's great skill at hunting in the Japanese underbrush, as well as the resemblance its coat shares with the underbrush. The Shiba Inu is thought to have been used as a bird flusher and, occasionally, hunter of wild boar as early as the 4th century BC. Historically, the Shiba Inu has been divided into three bloodlines based on geographic area: the Sanin Shiba of the northeast, the Shishu Shiba of the Nagano Prefecture, and the Mino Shiba of the Gifu Prefecture.
By the end of World War II, the Shiba Inu was so close to extinction the three bloodlines had to be interbred to ensure the survival of the breed. This new commingled Shiba caught on quickly, and today is the most popular breed in Japan. In 1936, the Cultural Properties Act declared the Shiba Inu a precious natural product of Japan. The breed was first documented in the United States in 1954, but the first known American litter was not born until 1979. On June 1, 1993 the Shiba Inu won American Kennel Club recognition as a member of the Non-Sporting Group.
