Even if you love dogs, few people know the difference between Akita and Shiba inu. Both are Japanese dogs with redheads, triangular standing ears, and a voluminous curly tail. It’s hard to see the difference in the picture, but when you know the difference between Akita and Shiba Inu, you should feel “Oh! It’s totally different!”. Here, we will introduce the differences between Akita Inu and Shiba Inu and how to distinguish them.
How to read “Akita Inu” and “Shiba Inu”
Have you ever wondered “that?” In reading Akita Inu and Shiba Inu?
At NHK, when reading aloud a name, the reading used by local preservation societies is unified. Shiba Inu is “Shiba Inu”, but Akita Inu is now read as both “Akita Inu” and “Akita Ken” according to a survey conducted on the general public in addition to reading in the local area and related organizations. It was.
“Dog” and “Ken”
There are 6 types of Japanese dogs designated as Japanese natural memorials, but at the Japan Dog Preservation Society, Akita Dog Preservation Society, etc., Akita dogs and Shiba dogs are read as “inu”, and the other 4 dog breeds are “ken”. I am reading.
By the way, at the Japan Kennel Club, a pedigree registration organization, the names are “Akita”, “Shiba”, “Kishu”, “Shikoku”, “Hokkaido”, and “Kai” without using “dog” in the name.
Differences between Akita and Shiba inu and how to distinguish them
Akita and Shiba inu are very similar in coat color and shape, so it’s difficult to distinguish them. However, as long as you hold down the points to distinguish, strangely, you will be able to make a clear distinction.
Then, I will introduce “the difference between Akita Inu and Shiba Inu that can be judged by appearance and how to distinguish them”.
size
Average weight of Akita dogs 35kg-59kg
Shiba Inu average weight 8kg-11kg
As you can see from the numbers above, Akita Inu is more than four times as large as Shiba Inu. It is difficult to judge because they look similar in the photo, but the difference is obvious when Akita Inu and Shiba Inu are lined up.
Features around the face
Akita Inu has a slightly longer coat than Shiba Inu, and the coat around the face is dense, so it has a round face like a cat. Therefore, it is a characteristic of Akita Inu that facial parts such as eyes and nose can be seen closer to the center.
Shiba Inu has short hair around his face, so he has a sharper face than Akita Inu. It is also a point to distinguish the expression of Akita Inu who has a slightly confused face compared to Shiba Inu who has a crisp expression.
Another difference is that Akita Inu and Shiba Inu have different ears. Both Akita and Shiba Inu have triangular standing ears, but the ears of Akita Inu, which is small and full of hair, are slightly tilted forward compared to Shiba Inu, while the ears of Shiba Inu are thin and large. I will.
Tips on Akita and Shiba Inu
Here are some tips on similar Akita and Shiba dogs.
Maybe many people don’t know it.
Hachiko is not a Shiba Inu!
Isn’t this misunderstood by many people? The bee looks like a Shiba Inu, but it is actually an Akita dog, and the statue of Hachiko is almost full-scale.
The bee is said to have been picking up the owner, who died suddenly due to cerebral hemorrhage during work, at Shibuya Station for 10 years. After the owner’s death, the depository changed from place to place, but there was an episode that he often started running toward Shibuya.
The behavior of the bee is the very character of the Akita dog, which is very loyal to its owner.
Akita Inu is the largest and Shiba Inu is the smallest
There are six species of Japanese dogs designated as natural monuments, of which the Shiba inu belongs to the smallest and smallest, and the Akita inu belongs to the largest and largest.
Akita Inu used to deal with bears and wild boars as large hunting dogs, but small Shiba Inu were mainly active in hunting birds and small beasts.
Although they aim for different prey, they all share the same personality of being extremely loyal to their owners (hunters).
Akita and Shiba inu can be distinguished by size and face!
If you compare Akita Inu and Shiba Inu in this way, there are various differences. The biggest difference is the size, Akita Inu is more than four times as large as Shiba Inu. If you had a very big Japanese dog, it would be an Akita dog. Another difference is that Akita Inu has a round face and the parts are closer to the center, and Shiba Inu has a crisp look and a sharp face. Which do you prefer, Akita Inu or Shiba Inu?