The Shiba Inu has its origins in Japan, where it has been known for centuries.  This breed can be dated back to Japan's Joumon period, which spans the years from 10,000 to 300 B.C. From these origins, six distinctive breeds, in three different sizes, developed over time. They are the Akita (large size), Kishu, Hakkaido, Shikoku, Kai (medium sized), and the Shiba (small size).
     The Shiba Inu not only is the oldest of Japan's dogs, it is the smallest spitz dog as well.  Originally, bred to be able to hunt and maneuver the steep hills, mountain slopes, and forests, it uses both sight and scent.  It is sufficiently intelligent, it is an independent thinker, to be able to hunt small prey, on occasion wild boar, and birds, on its own and hold the animal at bay until the human owner comes to finish it off.
     In 1928, in Japan, a Dr. H. Saito founded a club for the preservation of the native breeds of Japanese dogs.  He, and a group of his friends, were concerned about the loss due to interbreeding of not only of these Japanese canines, but the loss of Japanese culture due to outside influences. In 1932, the Japanese government recognized this club as an official organization and named it "Nihon Ken Hozonkai"(Nippo).  Today, Nippo still maintains registrations and stud books for all six breeds of Japanese dog.
     World War II almost brought about the extinction of the Japanese dogs.  The ones that survived the bombings later succumbed to distemper. The ones that were left in the end, were from three main bloodlines, each named for the region of Japan where they originated.  They were the Shinshu Shiba, from the Nagano Prefecture; the Sanin Shiba, from the northeastern part of the mainland; and the Mino Shiba, from the Gifu Prefecture.  These three bloodlines were similar in that these were Shibas, but each contributed to the differences in breed type that is seen in the ring today.
     The first Shiba to be documented as arriving in the United States was not until 1954, when an American Armed Services family brought one home with them from Japan.  It was not until 1983 that the National Shiba Club of America was formed. In 1992, the Shiba was entered into the Miscellaneous Class of the A.K.C., and one year later, the Shiba was granted full recognition by the A.K.C., by being placed in the Non Sporting Group.

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