Watashi no kotae
Godaikosou has helped to answer some questions from students for a high school project. The questions and our answers are as follows:
- Do you see any major differences between the Shiba Inu in comparison to American dogs?
- What are the Shiba Inu's behavioral characteristics?
- How would you describe the Shiba Inu in 3 words?
- What climate does the Shiba Inu benefit the most from?
- Would you say the Shiba Inu is more popular in Asia or in the States?
- Are there more than one type of Shiba Inu?
Do you see any major differences between the Shiba Inu in comparison to American dogs?
The Shiba has not been bred for "showy" characteristics,
but has a natural beauty that comes from their form and self-carriage.
They have very little "doggy" odor and keep themselves very clean. They housebreak
themselves naturally at a very young age and generally bark only for a good reason.
What are the Shiba Inu's behavioral characteristics?
Most Shibas, and Japanese dogs in general, are very stubborn but loyal
to their families. They are not lap dogs and do not fawn on their owners
but like to stay near. They do not generally tolerate a lot of cuddling.
They show a cautious and reserved attitude to new people and things.
The Japanese dog is always alert. The breed hasn't changed much from
prehistoric times, so they have a very strong sense of self, similar to a wild dog or wolf.
How would you describe the Shiba Inu in 3 words?
Dignity(manly), Good Character, Simplicity. these three are basic things
that Shibas should carry.
What climate does the Shiba Inu benefit the most from?
The Shiba is a popular house dog in Japan. Their size and easy care is a
good fit for small living areas, although they like exercise.
Shibas have been kept as a family pet/small hunting dog in Japan since ancient times.
Human and Japanese dog remains have been excavated from the same archaeological sites.
Although the Shiba's coat makes them well-suited to northern climates, they are adaptable and
can live anywhere a wolf can live, provided there is shade and water.
Would you say the Shiba Inu is more popular in Asia or in the States?
There are probably still more Shibas in Japan than anywhere else, but in the
past twenty years, they have become very popular around the world.
Are there more than one type of Shiba Inu?
There is really just one Shiba Inu, which is officially managed by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai. There is also another club that preserves a more primitive-looking dog,
but they are both Shibas. There are other breeds that make up the Japanese Native dog and therefore are also designated as natural monuments.
They are the Akita, Shikoku, Kishuu, Hokkaidou, and Kai.
In a way they are all the same breed, but they were developed in different
parts of Japan for hunting different kinds of game.
Although they vary in size and color, their overall appearance and temperament is basically the same. The formation of an official club and registration of these dogs did
not begin until the first part of the twentieth century, although individual
owners did keep pedigrees. The development of the native breeds occurred in
a typically Japanese fashion, to take what is beautiful in nature and enhance it cautiously and conservatively, rather than to make the radical changes that are seen in European dog breeds.