Editing Shiba Inu (section)

==History==
[[File:Dog head dogū.jpg|thumb|A fragment of a [[Jōmon period]] ''[[dogū]]'' with pointed ears, unearthed in [[Aomori Prefecture]]]]
The Shiba Inu has been identified as a [[Dog breed#Basal breeds|basal breed]] that predates the emergence of the modern breeds in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal| last= Larson| first= G|year=2012|title=Rethinking dog domestication by integrating genetics, archeology, and biogeography |doi= 10.1073/pnas.1203005109 |pmid=22615366|pmc=3384140|volume=109|issue=23|journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.|pages=8878–83 |bibcode= 2012PNAS..109.8878L| doi-access=free}}</ref> Dogs with a similar appearance to the Shiba Inu were represented in ''[[dogū]]'' made during the prehistoric [[Jōmon period]] of Japanese history.<ref>{{cite web|title=世界初！犬種豆柴の血統書を発行！|trans-title=World's First! The creation of a pedigree for Mameshiba!| url= http://www.kcj.gr.jp/type/mameshiba/index.html| website= kcj.gr.jp| publisher= Japan Kennel Club |language=ja| date=2004|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200701211636/http://www.kcj.gr.jp/type/mameshiba/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Shiba Inu was bred to hunt and [[Hunting dog|flush]] small game, such as birds and rabbits. Shiba lived in the mountainous areas of the [[Chūbu region]]. During the [[Meiji Restoration]], western dog breeds were imported and crosses between these and native Japanese breeds became popular. From 1912 to 1926, almost no pure Shiba remained. From around 1928, hunters and intellectuals began to show interest in the protection of the remaining pure Shiba.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jkc.or.jp/modules/worlddogs/entry.php?entryID=105&categoryID=5 |title=世界の犬 : 5G 原始的な犬・スピッツ : し : 柴 – SHIBA |website= jkc.or.jp |publisher= Japan Kennel Club |language=ja |trans-title=World dogs: 5G primitive dog · Spitz: Shi: Shiba – SHIBA |archive-date=May 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516180104/https://www.jkc.or.jp/modules/worlddogs/entry.php?entryID=105&categoryID=5 |url-status=live |access-date=May 16, 2018}}</ref>

Despite efforts to preserve the breed, the Shiba nearly became extinct during [[World War II]]<ref name=AKCstandard /> due to wartime food shortage, as well as outbreaks of [[Canine distemper|distemper]] in the 1950s and 60s and the {{ill|Great Tottori Fire|jp|鳥取大火}}, which discouraged preservation efforts.<ref name="Convey">{{Cite web|date=2019-12-28|title="Sanin Shiba Inu" protects and conveys Tottori, overcoming the crisis |url= https://www.sankei.com/article/20191228-KSPQXNQUXBIXVHGJAQU4P5RHLE/|access-date=2023-07-27|website=sankei|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="asahi">{{Cite web| date= 2021-02-13|title=Cuteness spreads in the blink of an eye, Sanin Shiba Inu, overcoming the crisis and becoming popular |url= https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP2D6Q6ZP22PUUB009.html |website=asahi.com | publisher= |language=ja |access-date=2023-07-27}}</ref><ref name=canismajor /> All subsequent dogs were bred from the only three surviving bloodlines.<ref name=5stardog>{{cite web | url=http://www.5stardog.com/dog-breeds-shiba-inu.asp | title= Shiba Inu Dog Breeds | website=5stardog.com | access-date=August 20, 2007 | archive-date=April 2, 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402171936/http://www.5stardog.com/dog-breeds-shiba-inu.asp | url-status=live }}</ref> These bloodlines were the Shinshu Shiba from [[Nagano Prefecture]], the Mino Shiba from the former [[Mino Province]] in the south of present-day [[Gifu Prefecture]], and the San'in Shiba from [[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]] and [[Shimane Prefecture]]s.<ref name=Total>{{cite book |last1=Haskett |first1=Gretchen |last2=Houser |first2= Susan |title=The Total Shiba |publisher=Alpine Publications |location=Loveland, Colorado |year=1997 |isbn=1-57779-049-9}}</ref>

The Shinshu Shibas possessed a solid undercoat, with a dense layer of guard hairs, and were small and red in color. The Mino Shibas tended to have thick, prick ears, and possessed a sickle tail, rather than the common curled tail found on most modern Shibas. The San'in Shibas were larger than most modern shibas, and tended to be black, without the common tan and white accents found on modern black-and-tan shibas.<ref name="Total"/>

When the study of Japanese dogs was formalized in the early and mid-20th century, these three strains were combined into one overall breed, the Shiba Inu.<ref name="Total"/> The first Japanese breed standard for the Shiba, the Nippo Standard, was published in 1934. In December 1936, the Shiba Inu was recognized as a [[Monuments of Japan|Natural Monument of Japan]] through the Cultural Properties Act, largely due to the efforts of Nippo ([[Nihon Ken Hozonkai]]), the Association for the Preservation of the Japanese Dog.<ref name="Total"/><ref>{{cite book | last = Atkinson | first = Maureen | title = The Complete Shiba Inu | publisher = [[Howell Book House]] | year = 1998 | page = 11 | isbn = 0-87605-177-8}}</ref>

In 1954, a military family brought the first Shiba Inu to the United States.<ref name=5stardog /> In 1979, the first recorded litter was born in the United States.<ref name=5stardog /> The Shiba was recognized by the [[American Kennel Club]] in 1992 and added to the AKC [[Non-Sporting Group]] in 1993.<ref name= canismajor /><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/shiba-inu/#standard| title= Shiba Inu Dog Breed Information| publisher= American Kennel Club| website= AKC.org| access-date= November 13, 2020| archive-date= November 12, 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032221/https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/shiba-inu/#standard| url-status= live}}</ref> It is now primarily kept as a pet both in Japan and abroad.<ref name=k9web>{{cite web |last=Holden |first=Jacey |title=Shiba Inus |url=http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/shibas.html |website= k9web.com |access-date=August 23, 2007 |archive-date=August 12, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070812193507/http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/shibas.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the American Kennel Club, the Shiba Inu is the number one companion dog in Japan. In the United States the breed ranked 44th place in registrations for 2016 with the American Kennel Club.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/ |publisher= American Kennel Club |year= 2013 |title= Dog Registration Statistics Historical Comparisons & Notable Trends |website= AKC.org |access-date= 17 February 2018 |archive-date= 17 January 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170117192503/http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/ |url-status= live }}</ref>