The Japanese Shiba Inu is one of the six spitz dog breeds that come from Japan, and is the smallest of all of them. They are small and agile, standing up to 17” tall at the withers and weighing up to 10kg, with females of the breed being smaller than males. The build of the Shiba Inu should be compact and muscular, and displays the typical spitz dog curled tail and pointed ears.

The breed is notable for being one of the most ancient of all dog breeds that still exists in virtually its original form, and has a distinct bloodline and ancestry that sets it apart from the other Japanese dog breeds such as the Akita Inu, which is somewhat similar in appearance but much larger.

The Shiba Inu coat is double layered, with a soft, thick undercoat and a straight, stiff top coat. Dogs of the breed can be seen in a range of colours, including black and tan, red, or sesame, and may have a buff, grey or cream undercoat. Some dogs of the breed are cream all over in colour, although not all kennel clubs and breed organisations recognise this colour within the breed standard.

If you are wondering if the Japanese Shiba Inu is the right choice of dog for you, it is important to research the breed in detail before committing to a purchase. In this article, we will examine the hereditary health and average longevity of the breed in more detail; read on to learn more.

Japanese Shiba Inu average longevity

The average lifespan of the Japanese Shiba Inu is 12-15 years, which is towards the top end of the scale across the board of all dog breeds of a similar size. This indicates that the Shiba Inu tends to be a robust and healthy breed, and not one that is apt to suffer from health problems that tend to shorten the average lifespan.

Genetic diversity

The coefficient of inbreeding statistic for the Shiba Inu breed is 6.9%, which is just a touch higher than the 6.25% or lower that is considered to be the ideal for pedigree dog breeds. Shiba Inu breeders are advised to reduce the coefficient of inbreeding figure within their own breed lines where possible, in order to improve the genetic diversity of the breed as a whole.

Conformation

The build and shape of the Shiba Inu is considered to be robust, healthy and fit for life, and not prone to overtyping or exaggerations that may pose a threat to the general health of the breed. However, the very dense, thick coat of the breed does mean that they may have a tendency to overheat in hot weather, and care should be taken to ensure that the dogs can keep cool during the summer months.

Health tests for the Japanese Shiba Inu

While the breed as a whole is considered to be generally robust and healthy, there are a couple of known health conditions that can affect dogs of the breed, and which are hereditary across the breed. The British Veterinary Association recommends pre-breeding tests of parent dogs, to identify the potential presence of these problems. Currently, the two conditions for which testing is advised are:

• Hip dysplasia, with the mean hip score for the breed being 10. Only dogs with a hip score below this figure should be considered as viable candidates for breeding.
• Goniodysgenesis, a painful condition of the eyes that can led to glaucoma and loss of vision.

Other health issues

A small number of other health conditions are also recognised as occurring within the Japanese Shiba Inu gene pool too, but not with a high enough occurrence rate that pre-breeding testing is widely advised. However, Shiba Inu owners should make themselves aware of the following hereditary health conditions that can affect some breed lines:

• A propensity to developing ear infections, due to the narrow ear canals of dogs of the breed. The ears should be cleaned regularly, and monitored for problems such as dirt and debris in the ears, wax build-up, and the presence of ear mites.
• Hereditary cataracts also affect some breed lines, but these generally present in dogs over the age of seven. Cataracts are usually operable in order to restore vision.
• Entropion of the eyelids, a condition in which the eyelids turn inwards and rub on the cornea. This leads to pain and soreness, and may interfere with normal vision.
• Patellar luxation, a condition that causes the kneecaps to slip in place, and potentially dislocate. This condition is caused by weak muscles and ligaments within the knees, and may require surgical correction.
• Hypothyroidism, a condition caused by an underactive thyroid gland. This leads to weight gain and lethargy, and may require hormone therapy to correct the issue.