Canaan Dog vs Shiba Inu

A Canaan Dog
Photo: Giora Sluzky
A Shiba Inu
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan

Side by side

Canaan Dog
Shiba Inu
Adult weight
18–25 kg (40–55 lb)1
Males 8–11 kg (18–24 lb); females 7–9 kg (15–20 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 50–60 cm; females 50–60 cm3
Males 38–41 cm; females 35–38 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 14.6 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Spitz & primitive3
Spitz & primitive6
Coat
Short coat or coat of medium length3
Double coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
No sourced figure
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Class
Watchdog
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Canaan Dog is much larger: about 22 kg (47 lb) as an adult, against 8.8 kg (19 lb) for the Shiba Inu.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Canaan Dog: sticks close to its people; Shiba Inu: bonded to its family) and on intelligence (Canaan Dog: needs daily brain work; Shiba Inu: learns readily, likes games).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: likes its own space.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Canaan Dog
Spitz & primitive · Medium

In temperament the Canaan Dog is watchful and territorial, quick to bark at anything unfamiliar and reserved with strangers. With its own household it is devoted and affectionate.

Shiba Inu
Spitz & primitive · Small

In temperament the Shiba is alert, bold and independent, and reserved with strangers. It is fastidious and is often said to groom itself like a cat.

The Canaan Dog page →The Shiba Inu page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Canaan Dog
Shiba Inu
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Canaan Dog
Shiba Inu
Affection
Likes its own space
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Canaan Dog
Shiba Inu
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Differs
Very vocal
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Canaan Dog grows to the heavier adult, about 22 kg against the Shiba Inu's 9 kg.
Canaan Dog
Shiba Inu
01020302m4m6m9m12m18m
01020302m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Canaan Dog with
Akita vs Shiba InuPembroke Welsh Corgi vs Shiba InuNorwegian Buhund vs Shiba InuKishu Ken vs Shiba InuChow Chow vs Shiba InuFinnish Spitz vs Shiba InuAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·