Japanese Spitz vs Shiba Inu

A Japanese Spitz
Photo: Yuliya Strizhkina, Ilona Didkovska
A Shiba Inu
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan

Side by side

Japanese Spitz
Shiba Inu
Adult weight
4.5–11 kg (9.9–25 lb) (estimated: the AKC (FSS) breed page's 10-25 lb, the only published weight for the breed)
Males 8–11 kg (18–24 lb); females 7–9 kg (15–20 lb) (breed club figure)1
Height
Males 30–38 cm; females 30–34 cm2
Males 38–41 cm; females 35–38 cm (breed club figure)1
Lifespan
Median 13 years3
Median 14.6 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Spitz & primitive2
Spitz & primitive5
Coat
Long coat2
Double coat5
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Shiba Inu lives longer: a median of 14.6 years, against 13 for the Japanese Spitz.
Grooming
The Japanese Spitz needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Shiba Inu needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Japanese Spitz: a lap or leaning dog; Shiba Inu: likes its own space) and on independence (Japanese Spitz: keen to work with you; Shiba Inu: decides for itself).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 7.9 kg (17 lb) for the Japanese Spitz and 8.8 kg (19 lb) for the Shiba Inu.
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

Japanese Spitz
Spitz & primitive · Small

In temperament it is lively, bright and affectionate with its household, playful, and quick to notice anything unusual, though often reserved with strangers.

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 Japanese Spitz page →The Shiba Inu page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Japanese Spitz
Shiba Inu
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Japanese Spitz
Shiba Inu
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Decides for itself
Around the home
Japanese Spitz
Shiba Inu
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Shiba Inu grows to the heavier adult, about 9 kg against the Japanese Spitz's 7.9 kg. The Japanese Spitz's weight is not a published figure.
Japanese Spitz
Shiba Inu
0510152m4m6m9m12m18m
0510152m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Japanese Spitz with
Akita vs Shiba InuPembroke Welsh Corgi vs Shiba InuJapanese Spitz vs SamoyedJapanese Spitz vs PomeranianNorwegian Buhund vs Shiba InuAmerican Eskimo Dog vs Japanese SpitzAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·