Canine Spotlight: Shiba Inu

Is there a dog who acts more like a cat? Yes! The shiba inu is just such a puppy. Plus they are fun to look at. We should have a look at them right now, in fact.

The shiba inu is considered a domestic dog of the canus lupis variety. They are the smallest of the six original and distinct spitz breeds. They only stand at 17 inches tall and weigh up to 22 pounds. They are well-muscled with a double coat. The latter refers to its over and undercoat--the over being stiff and straight with the undercoat being soft and thick. The shiba inu also has a tail that curls back on itself. They originate from Japan; however, they have been exported to all parts of the world.

The most common color for the shiba inu is a cream color with white running down its face, neck and belly. They can also be red, black, and tan. They have very expressive faces that can show a wide range of emotion, but there are also actions that back these expressions up.

Unlike most domestic dogs who are quite submissive, the shiba inu is an independent animal who asks for as much respect as it gives. They are quite intelligent which makes them extremely easy to train; however, they may act out a revolt if they feel treated unfairly. With a good dog/human relationship, that is not likely to happen.

Similar to cats, shiba inus will groom themselves by licking. They can also be trained to go to the bathroom without needing to be walked. They can occasionally become aggressive. This is due to the creature having a strong prey drive. This is yet another aspect that places them near the realm of felines. In fact, they are so similar to cats, that they actually get along with them better than other dogs. Submissive dogs tend to annoy the shiba inu in a way that mimics a class system. They feel superior to them. Unfortunately, they feel similarly about little children, so it would be best to keep a shiba inu out of the house if you have kids.

Probably the most remarkable aspect of the shiba inu is something widely refereed to as the "shiba scream." This creature does not bark when it tries to communicate. Instead, it releases a high pitched screech that I am told is very hard on the ears. It actually rivals the famous "goat scream" in many respects. I encourage you to click the YouTube link below which shows a shiba inu being given a bath--which they do not enjoy, by the way. This scream is commonly emitted when the dog wants something dearly or when it is generally upset with its own situation.

Click here to hear the "shiba scream."

Shiba inus appear in movies from time to time, but there are few times where they are the actual star. The most obvious one I ran into was the 2009 movie "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" starring Richard Gere. I have not seen this film, however, and will simply leave you with a picture.

My personal view of shiva inus in fiction cast them as snobbish fellows who detest being around stupid people. They are intelligent and well read; however, they have a terrible, screaming temper when things do not go their way. Otherwise, they are harmless and won't cross any major boundaries of society other than making a scene.

As a side note, I decided to do a shiba inu spotlight because my hyena-loving friend seemed to mention them with eagerness. I am happy to bring these interesting animals to the forefront. Stay tuned for more!

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