The Shiba Inu has been with the Japanese people for centuries. They are considered the smallest and oldest of Japan's dogs. The ability of these dogs to maneuver through steep hills and mountain slopes, together with their keen senses, have repeatedly shown the Shiba to be a superb hunting dog.
The ancestors of today's Shibas were those hardy survivors of Japan's mountainous regions which are very difficult for men to penetrate. Although they were originally used to hunt large game, they currently are used for small. They make an excellent watchdog and have established themselves as the number one companion dog in Japan. They can be seen throughout Japan in the cities, suburbs and countrysides.
There have been many stories on how the Shiba came about its name. Some are of the opinion that the name Shiba Inu was given because of its skill in going freely through the brushwood bushes. You will hear people refer to the Shiba as the Little Brushwood Dog. Another story has it that the other meaning of the Japanese word "Shiba" is small, therefore, this name has also been attached to these dogs. None of these stories however, have been validated. What is valid is this small dog called Shiba first came by its name in approximately the 1920s. In December of 1936, through the Cultural Properties Act, the Shiba was designated as a precious natural product of the Japanese nation. Thus, the breed was given official recognition.
Most of the Shibas being shown in the 1930s came from the Yamanashi or San In areas. These dogs were brought down from the mountains to the more populated areas. As they had been used mostly for hunting, their appearance was somewhat different from the Shiba today. They were large boned and rough looking, unlike the elegant Shibas you now see.
After reaching near extinction during World War II, those Shibas remaining were from three different bloodlines. They were the San In Shiba, Mino Shiba, and the Shin Shu Shiba, the last being the most popular in Japan past and present. It is from these three lines the Shiba has evolved into the breed you see in and out of the ring.
The first documented Shiba in the U.S. was in 1954. It was brought from Japan by an American armed service family. In the late seventies Americans started to import the Shiba for breeding. The first litter born in the United States was 1979. The sire and dam were imports owned by Julia Cadwell.
The Shiba Inu was admitted to the AKC Stud Book April 1, 1992, with exhibition in the Miscellaneous Class June 1, 1992; regular classification in the Non-Sporting Group June 1, 1993.