ORIGINJapanDATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD15.06.1992UTILIZATIONHunting dog for birds and small animalsCompanion dogFCI'S CLASSIFICATIONGroup 5 (Spitz and primitive types)Section 5 (Asian Spitz and related breeds)Without working trial.BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARYThe Shiba has been a native breed to Japan since the primitive ages. The word "Shiba" originally refers to something "small", a "small dog". The Shiba's habitat was in the mountainous area facing the Sea of Japan and was used as a hunting dog for small animals and birds. There were slight differences in the breeds according to the areas where they were raised. As dogs like English Setters and English Pointers were imported from England during the period of 1868-1912, hunting became a sport in Japan and cross breeding of the Shiba with those English dogs became prevalent and a pure Shiba became rare so that by 1912-1926 pure Shibas confined to these areas became exceedingly scarce. Hunters and other educated persons became concerned with the preservation of the pure Shibas from around 1928 and the preservation of the limited number of pure strains began seriously, and the breed standard was finally unified in 1934. In 1937 the Shiba was designated as a natural monument after which the breed was bred and improved to become the superior breed known today.GENERAL APPEARANCESmall-sized dog, well balanced, well boned with well developed muscles. Constitution strong. Action quick, free and beautiful.IMPORTANT PROPORTIONSThe ratio of height at withers to length of body is 10 : 11.BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENTThe temperament is faithful, with keenness in sense and high alertness.HEADForehead broad, cheeks well developed and stop defined with slight furrow. Nasal bridge straight and nose black in color desirable. Muzzle moderately thick and tapering. Lips tight, and teeth strong with scissor bite.EYESRelatively small, triangular and dark brown in color; the corners of the eyes are upturned.EARSRelatively small, triangular, slightly inclining forward and firmly pricked.NECKThick, strong, and well balanced with the head and the body.BODYBack straight and strong; loin broad and muscular. Chest deep, ribs moderately sprung, belly well drawn up.TAILSet on high, thick, carried vigorously curled or curved as a sickle, the tip nearly reaching hocks when let down.FOREQUARTERSShoulders moderately sloping, elbows tight; seen from the front, forelegs straight.HINDQUARTERSUpper thighs long, lower thighs short, but well developed. Hocks thick and tough.FEETDigits tightly closed and well arched. Pads hard and elastic. Nails hard and dark in color desirable.GAITLight and brisk.COATHairOuter coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense; hair on tail slightly long and standing off.ColorRed, black and tan, sesame, black sesame, red sesame."Definition of the color sesame"SesameEqual mixture of white and black hairs.Black sesameMore black than white hairs.Red sesameGround color of hair red, mixture with black hairs.All the above mentioned colors must have "Urajiro"."Urajiro"whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks, on the underside of the jaw and neck, on the chest and stomach and the underside of the tail, and on the inside of the legs.SIZEHeight at withersDogs 40 cmBitches 37 cmThere is a tolerance of 1.5 cm smaller or taller.FAULTSAny departure from the foregoing points should be considered as a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.1) Shyness.2) Bitchy dogs, doggy bitches.3) Malocclusion (overshot or undershot mouth).4) Numerous teeth missing.DISQUALIFYING FAULTS1) Ears not pricked.2) Hanging or short tail.N.B.Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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