I chose the Shiba Inu for my Dog of the Month because it’s just so “foxy” and adorable. I have a friend who has a Shiba, and I am taken with just how intelligent and dignified her dog is – she’s not one to really frolic or roll over for a belly rub, but she is inquisitive and kind. As always, when I choose a dog to work on, I get to learn a little more about the breed.
The Shiba Inu is the smallest of the Spitz dog breeds in Japan and is considered the oldest breed, according to the AKC. They’re agile and compact and have very keen senses, which made them excellent hunting dogs that could easily navigate the steep hills in the mountainous regions of Japan from whence the originated. The Shiba ancestors that were brought down from the mountains to more populated areas in Japan were courser looking and larger boned than today’s very elegant Shibas. WWII brought near extinction of the breed and there were three bloodlines remaining. It is from these bloodlines that the modern Shiba has evolved.
Well, I can’t wait to have Shiba Inu gifts among my dog lover pottery. I’ll post my finished design when I get it done.
Warmest regards,
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Shepherd's Grove Studio 