A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SHIBA INU
Originally, Shibas were bred to flush birds and small game and were occasionally used to
hunt wild boar. Now they are primarily kept as pets, both in Japan and the United States.
There are more Shibas in Japan than any other breed. Around 7000 BC the ancestors of
today's Shiba may have accompanied the earliest immigrants to Japan. Archaeological
excavations of the shell-mounds left by the Jomonjin, or Rope-Pattern People (a name derived
from the pattern found on their earthenware), show that they had small dogs in the 14 1/2 to 19
1/2 inch range. In the third century BC, a new group of immigrants brought their dogs to
Japan. These dogs then interbred with the descendants of the Jomonjin dogs, and produced
canines known to have pointed, erect ears and curly or sickle tails.
In the 7th century AD, the Yamato Court established a dogkeeper's office that helps maintain
the Japanese native breeds as an integral part of Japanese culture. Although the country was
closed to foreigners from the 17th through 18th centuries, some European dogs and a breed
known as the Chinese Chin were imported and crossed with native dogs living in the more
populated areas. Dogs in the countryside, however, remained relatively pure. Originally there
were three main varieties of Shiba; each named for its region of origin. Although similar, the
Shibas from each area contributed to differences in breed type seen today. From the original
Japanese native dogs, six distinct "breeds," in three different sizes developed.

They are:
*Large Size - The Akita
*Medium Size - The Kishu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, & Kai
*Small Size - The Shiba

The small size dog has been called the Shiba since ancient times, with several theories
surrounding the development of that name. One popular explanation is that the word Shiba
means "brushwood," and the dogs were named for the brushwood bushes where they
hunted. Another theory is that the fiery red color of the Shiba is the same as the autumn color
of the brushwood leaves. A third conjecture is related to an obsolete meaning of the word
shiba referring to its small size. These explanations are often combined and the Shiba is
referred to as the "little brushwood dog."

World War II nearly spelled disaster for the Shiba, and most of the dogs that did not perish in
bombing raids succumbed to distemper during the post-war years. While the Mino and Sanin
Shibas became practically extinct, more of the Shinshu Shibas survived. After the war, Shibas
were brought from the remote countryside, and breeding programs were established. The
remnants of the various bloodlines were combined to produce the breed as it is known today.