The Shiba Inu is the smallest of the six original breeds from Japan. It is similar in body build to an Akita but much smaller. The word shiba usually refers to a type of red shrub in Japan and the word inu means dog. Therefore, some believe the name shiba inu derives from the common red color of this breed or the typical use as hunting dogs. However, in old Japanese, the word shiba means small, so the name could also reference the dog’s size. Overall, the name is commonly translated as “little brushwood dog.”

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