Aussie Shiba Breed Pictures, Characteristics, and Facts

The Aussie Shiba is a mixed breed, so they don’t have history as their own breed. Both parent breeds, however, are well known and loved. Despite the breed’s name, the Australian Shepherd is actually of American origin. The Australian Shepherd was originally developed to herd livestock for ranchers and farmers in the western U.S., and the breed is still a popular and time-tested herding dog today. Despite their popularity as a working dog, the breed wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1993. Today, many Aussies are still used for herding. However, they can find many other purposes: service dogs, agility dogs, or just dedicated companions.

The Shiba Inu’s origins are in Japan along with the Akita, Shikoku, Kai Dog, Hokkaido and Kishu, all of which are larger than the Shiba Inu. The Shiba Inu was first used primarily as a hunting dog to flush out small game and birds for hunters, but due to their strength and fiery attitudes, they gradually became used for larger, more powerful game. An American service family imported the first Shiba Inu into the United States in 1954, but there is little else documented about the breed until the 1970s. The first U.S. litter was born in 1979. The Shiba Inu was recognized in the American Kennel Club Miscellaneous Class in 1993 and acquired full status with the Non-Sporting Group in 1997. Today, the Shiba’s fiery personality makes them an excellent guard dog or feisty companion.