UK JAPANESE SHIBA INU BREED STANDARD
General Appearance Small, well balanced, sturdy dog of Spitz type. Very slightly longer than height at withers.
Characteristics Lively and friendly.
Bright, active, keen and alert.
Head and SkullHead appears as a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Broad flat skull, cheeks well developed. Definite stop with slight furrow. Muzzle straight, of good depth, tapering gradually. Lips tight. Black nose preferred but flesh coloured acceptable in white dogs.
EyesRelatively small, almond, obliquely set, well apart and dark brown.
EarsSmall, triangular, pricked and inclining slightly forward.
MouthJaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
NeckSlightly arched, medium length, thick and muscular.
ForequartersShoulders moderately sloping. Elbows set close to the body. Forechest well developed. Forearms straight. Pasterns slightly sloping.
BodyWithers high and well developed. Short loin, level back. Deep chest. Moderate spring of rib. Belly moderate tuck up.
HindquartersLong upper thigh; short, strong second thigh. Hocks strong and parallel when seen from rear, turning neither in nor out. Well developed. Slight but definite bend of stifle.
FeetCat-like with firm, tight, well knuckled toes. Pads firm and elastic. Dark nails preferred.
TailSet on high. Thick and carried curled or curved as a sickle.
Gait/MovementLight, quick and energetic.
CoatHard, straight outer coat with soft dense undercoat. Hair on tail slightly longer.
ColourRed: Intense, clear red. White markings restricted to eye spots, cheeks, under jaw, forechest, underparts and underside of tail and legs. No white above elbows or hock. Red Sesame: Red with an even overlay of black guard hairs; black to be not less than 25%, or more than 50% of normal red area. White markings in Red and Red Sesame restricted to eye spots, cheeks, under jaw, forechest, underparts, and underside of tail and legs. No white above elbows or hock. The white marking on the forechest resembling the shape of a bow-tie. Colour Eye spots in Red Sesame may be tan.
Black and Tan: Dull black with a bronze cast. Tan markings restricted to eye spots, cheeks, inside of ears, legs and tail. White markings as in Red and Red Sesame. Tan markings only occur between black and white areas.
White: White coat with red or grey tinges. White undercoat.
SizeHeight: dogs: 39.5 cms (151/2 ins); bitches: 36.5 cms (141/2 ins ) with allowance of 1.5 cms (3/4 in) either way.
FaultsAny departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
NoteMale animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Characteristics Lively and friendly.
Bright, active, keen and alert.
Head and SkullHead appears as a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Broad flat skull, cheeks well developed. Definite stop with slight furrow. Muzzle straight, of good depth, tapering gradually. Lips tight. Black nose preferred but flesh coloured acceptable in white dogs.
EyesRelatively small, almond, obliquely set, well apart and dark brown.
EarsSmall, triangular, pricked and inclining slightly forward.
MouthJaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
NeckSlightly arched, medium length, thick and muscular.
ForequartersShoulders moderately sloping. Elbows set close to the body. Forechest well developed. Forearms straight. Pasterns slightly sloping.
BodyWithers high and well developed. Short loin, level back. Deep chest. Moderate spring of rib. Belly moderate tuck up.
HindquartersLong upper thigh; short, strong second thigh. Hocks strong and parallel when seen from rear, turning neither in nor out. Well developed. Slight but definite bend of stifle.
FeetCat-like with firm, tight, well knuckled toes. Pads firm and elastic. Dark nails preferred.
TailSet on high. Thick and carried curled or curved as a sickle.
Gait/MovementLight, quick and energetic.
CoatHard, straight outer coat with soft dense undercoat. Hair on tail slightly longer.
ColourRed: Intense, clear red. White markings restricted to eye spots, cheeks, under jaw, forechest, underparts and underside of tail and legs. No white above elbows or hock. Red Sesame: Red with an even overlay of black guard hairs; black to be not less than 25%, or more than 50% of normal red area. White markings in Red and Red Sesame restricted to eye spots, cheeks, under jaw, forechest, underparts, and underside of tail and legs. No white above elbows or hock. The white marking on the forechest resembling the shape of a bow-tie. Colour Eye spots in Red Sesame may be tan.
Black and Tan: Dull black with a bronze cast. Tan markings restricted to eye spots, cheeks, inside of ears, legs and tail. White markings as in Red and Red Sesame. Tan markings only occur between black and white areas.
White: White coat with red or grey tinges. White undercoat.
SizeHeight: dogs: 39.5 cms (151/2 ins); bitches: 36.5 cms (141/2 ins ) with allowance of 1.5 cms (3/4 in) either way.
FaultsAny departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
NoteMale animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.