The Nihon Ken

The Shiba Inu has lived in partnership with the people of Japan since ancient times. Traditionally kept for hunting and as watchdogs, in recent years the majority of Shiba are kept as pets.

 

The Shiba is known for being very loyal to its owner and family, and is an intelligent dog able to understand the mind of its owner. There was an incident in 2014 in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, where a bear that was attacking a boy was driven off by his Shiba. As evidenced by this story, the Shiba is also known for its bravery.

 

The Shiba is small in stature, but very inquisitive and full of energy, and has a warrior-like noble air. It could be said that it’s very similar to the Japanese people. Of the Japanese breeds owned in Japan (Shiba, Akita, Kishu, Kai, Shikoku) over 80% are Shiba. This truly makes it the Nihon Ken amongst Nihon Ken.

 

The breed’s popularity in North America and Europe is increasing every year to where there are now specialty shows held overseas, and the Shiba is now loved by people all across the globe.

 

History of the Shiba

 

It is unclear exactly when the Japanese people first began owning dogs. However, canine bones and statues in the shape of dogs have been unearthed in Jomon period excavations which tells us that the Jomon owned dogs. During the Yayoi period, the Yayoi crossed over from the continent bringing dogs with them. It is surmised that all the Nihon Ken, including the Shiba’s, roots can be found in the dogs that were produced from a mix of the Jomon and Yayoi dogs.

 

Since that time till the end of the Edo period, the Shiba was kept as a watchdog, and

in the mountain areas, as a hunter of small game and birds. While dogs from overseas did enter the country, it is not believed they had a large impact on the Nihon Ken type as a whole.

 

However as the Meiji period began and interaction with foreign countries increased, interbreeding with Western dogs was rampant. In 1928 the Japanese Dog Preservation Society was formed by forward thinking persons to protect the native breeds. The Shiba was declared a Natural Monument by the Ministry of Education (now the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture) in 1936, and since then the breed has been protected and bred by many breeders.

 

Kan’i, Ryousei, Soboku: Words that speak to the Japanese heart.

There are three traits the Nihon Ken, including the Shiba, must exhibit. These are “kan’i” (spirited, but dignified), “ryousei” (unaffected, loyal, obedient), and “soboku” (unadorned, natural elegance and distinctive character).

 

These character traits that Japanese today seem to be lacking to some degree, we see in the Shiba, which is probably what draws us to the breed and has contributed to its continued popularity.

 

Multifaceted Appeal

 

The Shiba is famous for its strong predisposition toward dedication to one master. While this is a trait that has been preserved in the breed to a degree, the modern day Shiba is a much more social breed in keeping with the open nature of today’s global society. The Shiba is a very intelligent dog. It can be said that living with the Japanese all these years has shaped the breed to be the perfect fit for the temperament of the Japanese people.

 

The Shiba has great athletic ability, and a spirited temperament that makes it a good hunting dog. It is loyal, with a desire to protect its master, making it a good watchdog, and of course it makes a good companion as well. All these attractive traits make it impossible to sum up the breed in just one word or phrase.

 

Bringing out the best in a dog to meet an owner’s desires, this is also one of the great joys of owning a dog.