Japan is home to a total of 11 dog breeds, but only six of them are considered to be "natural" breeds, developing without any influence from western breeds. In detail these are: Shiba, Hokkaido, Kai, Kishu, Shikoku and Akita – all Spitz dogs of the same origin and generally known as "Nippon Inu", Japanese dogs.

Probably the oldest of these breeds is also the smallest: the Shiba breed. Its origin lies in a time long before common era, when the Japanese islands became the home of diverse settlers who not only brought with them their very varying cultural influences but also very different dog breeds. Archaeological finds have shown that, as a result of crossbreeding, these animals were similar to the present Nippon Inus: dogs with a pointed snout, small erect ears, a short fluffy coat and a rolled-up tail.

Up until recent times dogs were bred in Japan for hunting purposes. Dogs were prevalent not only on the countryside but were popular also with the rich aristocracy and the samurais. Even the imperial family supported dog breeding. This can be seen in the fact that the fifth emperor of the Tokugawa dynasty (which lasted from 1603 to 1854), shogun Tsunayoshi, was named the "Dog Lover Shogun" because of his great affection for dogs. During his reign he founded dog homes and was committed to the spreading of veterinary medicine in Japan.

After the end of the Tokugawa dynasty in 1854, Japan opened up for western civilization. This brought about the immigration of foreign dog breeds. The original Japanese dogs crossed with the new breeds and sustained as thoroughbreds only in small, isolated parts of the country. Fortunately in opposition to the trend of replacing all that was old and traditional, many Japanese dignitaries strived to preserve the original culture. In the thirties of the twentieth century the ministry of culture extended the status of "Natural national heritage" not only to exceptional buildings, mountains, trees, plants, but also to all Japanese dog breeds.

At this time Dr. Hiroyoshi Saito traveled the length and breadth of Japan to study and record the characteristics of the native dog breeds in detail. He gave the breeds their names and established standards for each of them.

The origin of the name Shiba (Shiba inu) is not completely clear. Some experts maintain that the name derives from the word "Shiba" meaning "shrubbery". In this case the Shiba Inu would be the "dog from the shrubbery" indicating its existence in the brushwood and high grass. Others maintain that the name derives from the meaning "small" and refers to the small stature of the Shiba. Shiba inu = small dog. Whatever the case may be, fact is that the Shiba due to its size and use was able to survive the hard years of World War II in the Japanese countryside, whilst there most of the dog population disappeared. Because the Shiba was not a popular pet dog with the rich urban population it escaped crossbreeding with other dogs and did not have to be regenerated with foreign blood as was the case with the Akita. Therefore it does not have such a diversified appearance as the Akita (that is split today in two breeds), but is a pure descendant of the dogs that came to the Japanese islands along with the settlers.

The breeding in our country

The first Shibas came to the Czech Republic in 1989. First the puppy bitch QUITE GOOD as Áras an Úachtaráin from Holland. Unfortunately before departure she had infected with parvovirosis and died one week after arriving at her new home. Her brave character and her struggle for life impressed her owner so much that she decided to bring more Shibas to the country, but this time adult ones. Thus a few days after the Velvet Revolution, the bitches NOW OR NEVER as Áras an Úachtaráin from Holland and Manlötens YUBINA from Sweden arrived in the country. They were followed by the male Minimeadow ARKO from the USA, sire of the first Shiba litter on Czech ground. Up to the end of 2002 more than 700 Shibas have been listed in the Czech studbook.

How they are and who they suit

The Shiba is a born individualist. He is a samurai who walks through life on his own, trusting only himself. He attaches no importance to friends and subordinates to nobody. Me and mine – that is the Shiba's credo.

Everything a Shiba does serves his own advancement. He obeys his master only to avoid unnecessary problems. But if he is convinced his behavior is correct, neither asking nor punishment will discourage him. He wants to be the first and most important every time and everywhere. He hates other dogs, even those of his own breed. Even a mother-child tie will not last long, especially where mother and daughter are concerned. Therefore, it is advisable to keep a male dog and a bitch, even though they will continually fight for predominance. However their conflicts are nothing compared to those of two bitches or the struggle of a Shiba with dogs of other breeds.

Shibas only rarely attack dogs of smaller or equal-sized breeds, as they do not take them seriously as opponents and therefore ignore them completely. All the more for that, they hate bigger, and for them, dangerous dogs: Dobermann, Rottweiler, Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro and Eurasier. These dogs cast a large shadow over the Shiba's small realm and therefore deserve to be removed. The result however of such a conflict is foreseeable. Several Akita owners who have acquired a Shiba as a cute miniature of the Akita and kept them together in a kennel have been painfully convinced of the Shiba's philosophy of life.

In no way will a Shiba accept the territory of another dog and may consider a well-meant snarl to be a bold provocation. As fearlessly as he attacks deer and bears while hunting, he also pounces on larger opponents in the same way, not considering that his master is not always behind him to save him if necessary.

The Shiba is a jolly contemporary, capable of playing all day long and thinking up nonsense to amuse himself and his environment. Only a few male dogs may consider themselves sometimes to be too dignified for such childish games. He is very curious and may sit the whole day on a window ledge or in front of a gap in a door to watch the daily hustle and bustle. He is very tidy and clean, destroys just a minimum of furnishing (if any, preferably textiles of any kind) and grasps very quickly that he must not spoil his home. He can be held in a kennel, although he cannot develop his character there fully. He is ideal for town apartments, because he behaves quietly and barks seldom. He has many traits normally attributed to cats – e.g. he is capable of cleaning his coat and paws for hours. He loves comfort and privacy and will demand these resolutely if he feels cramped by too much attention. For his den he chooses well-protected places (behind the couch, beneath the bed, in the furthest-away corner under the table) and if he has retreated there he may bite anybody who tries to drag him away. The Shiba is a superb mouser and will wait patiently for an opportunity to catch one. The Shiba has one disadvantage – he always tries to eat his prey immediately. Many Shibas eat birds, frogs and worms. They love vegetables, fruits, sweet berries and roots.

Shibas have an incredible sense of direction and once they know an area they will wander off far from their master. They stay in sight only in places that are strange to them. If you go for a walk with a Shiba, you have to accept that you will be walking on your own. Your dog will disappear as soon as you unleash him and you won't see him again until you are on your way back home. Our latitudes are very dangerous for Shibas – trigger-happy hunters who mistake them for foxes, trains, cars, pits and evil people. For this reason Shibas are predestined for life in the city and on a leash. In the city there is less temptation to attract disaster.

The Shiba suits tolerant and quiet people who want a nice and merry friend and who are willing to accept the dog's great individuality and independence. With such a master the Shiba is content, pleasant and cute. Nervous, loud and bossy people should avoid Shibas. They would not understand each other and make each other's life a misery.

Young people, who on the one hand know what it means to have a dog and who on the other hand are playful enough to respect the playfulness and the character of their animal friend have proved to be excellent owners. Very often it is the children who the Shiba loves most in his family.

First published in SVĚT PSŮ 3/2002; © Hana Petrusová

Translated from the Czech by Holger Funk & Morag Elizabeth Peckelsen