Q&A for How to Identify a Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is ranked 44th on the AKC's list of dog breed popularity. It is a common breed in the US, and the most popular companion breed in Japan, according to the AKC.

The breed of dog would be a Shiba Inu, as a Shiba Inu is a breed rather than a species (the species would be a dog).

Yes, the Doge dog is a Shiba Inu. You can tell by its red coloring, urajiro markings, and other key features of the breed.

The dog would likely be smaller than a German Shepherd but larger than a Shiba Inu. It may have a curled tail, inheriting that Shiba Inu trait, and would likely have some German Shepherd coloring, such as brown or black. Check out How to Identify a German Shepherd to learn about some key German Shepherd traits that may appear in a Shiba Inu/German Shepherd mix.

Though a Shiba Inu's coat color may alter over time, such as sesame-appearing dogs growing to have red coats, it's very unlikely for a cream-coated dog to grow into a sesame coat as cream coats are very light in color, while sesame coats are dark.

Depending on your dog's age, it's possible that their ears haven't perked up yet. Shiba inu puppies are born with floppy ears. Their ears usually stand up when they are between 6 and 10 weeks old. If your dog is older than 12 weeks and still has floppy ears, it's possible that they may be a mixed breed or have a health condition. Consider DNA testing if you're concerned about your dog's breed.