If you have decided to adopt a Shiba Inu dog, or if you are still thinking about it, you might want to know about the various possible Shiba Inu coat colors. This breed of Japanese origin has a very special character that you're sure to fall in love with.
AnimalWised will list the Shiba Inu's different coat shades in this article - they include red, black and tan, sesame, cream or white - along with photographs of each so that you can learn what colors are Shiba Inu dogs. Do not forget to share pictures of your furry friend below!
Red Coat
Red is probably the most common and well-known color in Shiba Inus, especially because of its bright contrast with their white belly - a marking called "Urajiro". This is a very intense tone that really suits this Japanese breed, which is notable for its bright personality. The Shiba Inu in the popular Internet meme "Doge" has a red coat.
Red is also present in other dog breeds of Japanese origin, like Akita or Hokkaido, but the Shiba Inu is the oldest known breed in the Japanese archipelago.
Black and Tan Coat
The black and tan Shiba Inu is also really popular and is gaining popularity. Having said that, we sincerely love all dogs of any breed, with pedigree or otherwise. This type of multicolor coat combines black, fire-engine red and white - it includesurajiro, that is,cream to white ventral shades, as we will detail below.
Cream Coat
Shiba Inus can also have pale golden coats, and they are then called "cream". They look very similar to red Shiba Inus, except the intensity of the coat color is much softer - it's a pastel shade. Although they are less known and the standard white markings are less visible, they are really beautiful.
Sesame Coat
There are three types of sesame Shiba Inus:
- Sesame: White and black coat in equal proportion.
- Black sesame: Lots of black hair in contrast to the white.
- Red sesame: Lots of red hair with black and white.
White coat
Are you surprised to see a white Shiba Inu? Although we at AnimalWised think that a white coat in this intelligent, lively breed is as lovely as all other coat colors, the AKC - the American Kennel Club -considers this a major fault and it is not accepted in dog shows or beauty competitions. However, this type is accepted by the British Kennel Club as a breed standard.
What is Urakiro?
If you are thinking of entering your Shiba Inu into a dog show, they should noticeably display urajiro. Urajiro is white fur in specific areas:
- On the side of the snout
- Below the cheeks
- On the neck
- On the chest
- On the stomach
- Inside the tail
- Inside the legs
If your dog has these white markings in their coat, it could be fun to take them to dog shows. However, make sure that you check the requirements for entering your dog into a contest.
Now you know what colors are Shiba Inu dogs, you should also know that they shed a lot of hair. Since you're going to find it all over your house, make sure it's a shade you like.
If you want to read similar articles to What Colors Are Shiba Inu Dogs?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.