American Kennel Club - Shiba Inu Breed Standard
Non-Sporting Group
General Appearance
The Shiba is the smallest of the Japanese native breeds of
dog and was originally developed for hunting by sight and
scent in the dense undergrowth of Japan's mountainous areas.
Alert and agile with keen senses, he is also an excellent
watchdog and companion. His frame is compact with well-developed
muscles. Males and females are distinctly different in appearance:
males are masculine without coarseness, females are feminine
without weakness of structure.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Males 14½ inches to 16½ inches at withers. Females
13½ inches to 15½ inches. The preferred size
is the middle of the range for each sex. Average weight at
preferred size is approximately 23 pounds for males, 17 pounds
for females. Males have a height to length ration of 10 to
11, females slightly longer. Bone is moderate. Disqualification--Males
over 16½ inches in dogs and under 14½ inches.
Females over 15½ inches and under 13½ inches.
Head
Expression is good natured with a strong and confident gaze.
Eyes are somewhat triangular in shape, deep set, and upward
slanting toward the outside base of the ear. Iris is dark
brown. Eye rims are black. Ears are triangular in shape, firmly
pricked and small, but in proportion to head and body size.
Ears are set well apart and tilt directly forward with the
slant of the back of the ear following the arch of the neck.
Skull size is moderate and in proportion to the body. Forehead
is broad and flat with a slight furrow. Stop is moderate.
Muzzle is firm, full, and round with a stronger lower jaw
projecting from full cheeks. The bridge of the muzzle is straight.
Muzzle tapers slightly from stop to nose tip. Muzzle length
is 40% of the total head length from occiput to nose tip.
It is preferred that whiskers remain intact. Lips are tight
and black. Nose is black. Bite is scissors, with a full complement
of strong, substantial, evenly aligned teeth.
Serious Fault: Five or more missing teeth is a very
serious fault and must be penalized.
Disqualification--Overshot or undershot bite.
Neck, Topline and Body
Neck is thick, sturdy, and of moderate length. Topline is
straight and level to the base of the tail. Body is dry and
well muscled without the appearance of sluggishness or coarseness.
Forechest is well developed. Chest depth measured from the
withers to the lowest point of the sternum is one-half or
slightly less than the total height from withers to ground.
Ribs are moderately sprung. Abdomen is firm and well tucked-up.
Back is firm. Loins are strong. Tail is thick and powerful
and is carried over the back in a sickle or curled position.
A loose single curl or sickle tail pointing vigorously toward
the neck and nearly parallel to the back is preferred. A double
curl or sickle tail pointing upward is acceptable. In length
the tail reaches nearly to the hock joint when extended. Tail
is set high.
Forequarters
Shoulder blade and upper arm are moderately anuglated and
approximately equal in length. Elbows are set close to the
body and turn neither in nor out. Forelegs and feet are moderately
spaced, straight, and parallel. Pasterns are slightly inclined.
Removal of front dewclaws is optional. Feet are catlike with
well-arched toes fitting tightly together . Pads are thick.
Hindquarters
The angulation of the hindquarters is moderate and in balance
with the angulation of the forequarters. Hind legs are strong
with a wide natural stance. The hock joint is strong, turning
neither in nor out. Upper thighs are long and the second thighs
short but well developed. No dewclaws. Feet as in forequarters.
Coat
Double coated with the outer coat being stiff and straight
and the undercoat soft and thick. Fur is short and even on
face, ears, and legs. Guard hairs stand off the body are about
1½ to 2 inches in length at the withers. Tail hair
is slightly longer and stands open in a brush. It is preferred
that the Shiba be presented in a natural state. Trimming of
the coat must be severely penalized. Serious Fault--Long or
woolly coat.
Color
Coat color is as specified herein, with the three allowed
colors given equal consideration. All colors are clear and
intense. The undercoat is cream, buff or gray.
Urajiro (cream to white ventral color) is required in the
following areas on all coat colors: on the sides of the muzzle,
on the cheeks, inside the ears, on the underjaw and upper
throat inside of legs, on the abdomen, around the vent and
the ventral side of the tail. On reds: commonly on the throat,
forechest, and chest. On blacks and sesames: commonly as a
triangular mark on both sides of the forechest. White spots
above the eyes permitted on all colors but not required.
Bright orange-red with urajiro lending a foxlike appearance
to dogs of this color. Clear red preferred but a very slight
dash of black tipping is permitted on the back and tail.
Black with tan points and urajiro. Black hairs have a brownish
cast, not blue. The undercoat is buff or gray. The borderline
between black and tan areas is clearly defined. Tan points
are located as follows: two oval spots over the eyes: on the
sides of the muzzle between the black bridge of the muzzle
and the white cheeks; on the outside of the forelegs from
the carpus, or a little above, downward to the toes; on the
outside of the hind legs down the front of the stifle broadening
from hock joint to toes, but not completely eliminating black
from rear of pasterns. Black penciling on toes permitted.
Tan hairs may also be found on the inside of the ear and on
the underside of the tail.
Sesame (black-tipped hairs on a rich red background) with
urajiro. Tipping is light and even on the body and head with
no concentration of black in any area. Sesame areas appear
at least one-half red. Sesame may end in a widow's peak on
the forehead, leaving the bridge and sides of the muzzle red.
Eye spots and lower legs are also red.
Clearly delineated white markings are permitted but not required
on the tip of the tail and in the form of socks on the forelegs
to the elbow joint, hind legs to the knee joint. A patch of
blaze is permitted on the throat, forechest, or chest in addition
to urajiro.
Serious fault--Cream, white pinto, or any other color
or marking not specified is a very serious fault and must
be penalized.
Gait
Movement is nimble, light, and elastic. At the trot, the legs
angle in towards a center line while the topline remains level
and firm. forward reach and rear extension are moderate and
efficient. In the show ring, the Shiba is gaited on a loose
lead at a brisk trot.
Temperament
A spirited boldness, a good nature, and an unaffected forthrightness,
which together yield dignity and natural beauty. The Shiba
has an independent nature and can be reserved toward strangers
but is loyal and affectionate to those who earn his respect.
At times aggressive toward other dogs, the Shiba is always
under the control of his handler. Any aggression toward handler
or judge or any overt shyness must be severely penalized.
Summary
The foregoing is a description of the ideal Shiba. Any deviation
from the above standard is to be considered a fault and must
be penalized. The severity of the fault is equal to the extent
of the deviation. A harmonious balance of form, color, movement,
and temperament is more critical than any one feature.
Disqualifications
Males over 16½ and under 14½ inches.
Females over 15½ and under 13½ inches.
Overshot or undershot bite.
Approved February 7, 1997
Effective March 31, 1997
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