World War II dealt a devastating blow to all dog activities in Japan, and the Shiba nearly became extinct. Following the war, an outbreak of distemper in 1959 caused further damage to the surviving Shiba strains. The remaining dogs from various lines were combined to create the foundation of today's Shibas. Archaeologists in Japan have unearthed the remains of small dogs with curled tails dating back to 8000BC. Experts assert that these diminutive but sturdily built skeletons represent the ancestors of the Shiba-Inu. Most scholars agree that the Shiba-Inu is the oldest and purest of the Japanese spitz breeds. Shibas could be found in various regions of Japan differing slightly in coloration, coat length and density, bone and maturation. These variations can still be seen in Shibas today. Well-furred, erect and small ears protect the Shiba from wind and snow; a dense double coat provides insulation from the cold as well as coolness from the heat which made the Shiba a valued hunting companion in Japan. They say the first Shiba came to this country in the 1970's, but were not AKC accepted until 1991. They were first accepted into the miscellaneous class and then into the non-sporting group in June of 1993.

                                                                           BALI AND TOJO