7 Difference between Akita and Shiba Inu (With Table)

Inu is a domesticated carnivore occurring in a wide variety of breeds. They are kept as pets and many are used for hunting, herding, drawing sleds. They belong to the Canidae family.

The two are dog breeds from Japan and they are mostly confused and referred to as interchangeably. They share many characteristics hence distinguishing them becomes a challenge.

So, what is the main difference between Akita and Shiba Inu? Akita Inu is a new comparison and the largest of the spitz-type dogs while Shiba Inu is the ancient dog and the smallest of the spitz-type dogs.

This article is going to give you the differences between Akita and Shiba Inu in tabular form and you will also learn about their similarities.

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Difference between Akita and Shiba Inu

Comparison Table (Akita vs Shiba Inu)

Basic Terms Akita Shiba
Size It is the largest of the spitz-type dogs. It is the smallest of the spitz-type dogs.
Age It is a new comparison. It is an ancient dog.
Habitat As they are large, they are not good for apartments. They suit to live in apartments.
Coat colors It has many more coat colors. It has four coat colors.
Looks They have two distinct looks. They look the same throughout.
Behavior It does not like being alone. It is independent.
Life span They live between 10 to 12 years. They live between 12 to 16 years.
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What is Akiba Inu?

It is a type of dog that is a new comparison. It was developed in the 17th century and is the largest of the spitz-type of dogs.

It was powerful enough to hunt wild boar and deer. As they are big in body size, they are thought to be more dangerous than they actually are.

They are the most loyal dogs and can serve as the best companions for family members. They do not usually bark unless they have a good reason for doing so.

They are silent and they do not like strangers. They will often move away when they see strangers. They like to carry things in their mouth.

They shed a lot and this calls for the owner to be grooming it every now and then to maintain its cleanliness.

What is Shiba Inu?

It is an ancient dog that is believed to originate in Japan in 300 BC. It was initially used to flush birds. The larger shibas were used to hunt wild boars hence bringing food to the table.

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They are the smallest among the six spitz-type dogs. They are the most popular dogs among the Japanese.

It mostly prefers to be independent and this makes it difficult to train them. They guard their stuff including their toys and territory.

It does well with children as long as it is properly trained on how to socialize and the children treat him kindly and respectfully.

They tend to be aggressive and they will chase the small animals that they perceive as prey. They need plenty of room to romp and they are good for apartments.

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Main Differences between Akiba and Shiba Inu

  1. Akita Inu is the largest of the spitz-type of dogs while Shiba is the smallest of the spitz-type of dogs.
  2. Akita Inu is a new comparison while Shiba is an ancient dog.
  3. Akita Inu has many more coats while the Shiba has four coats.
  4. Akita Inu has two distinctive looks while Shiba has the same look throughout.
  5. Akita does not like being alone while Shiba is independent.
  6. Akita lives between 10 to 12 years while Shiba lives between 12 to 16 years.
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Similarities between Akiba and Shiba Inu

  1. They both originate from Japan.
  2. They are both spitz-type dogs.
  3. They are similar in appearance.
  4. Both have foxy-shaped heads and triangular ears.
  5. Both have thick and dense double coats.
  6. Both are livewires and lots of fun.
  7. Both are suspicious of strangers.
  8. Both are stubborn.
  9. Both require the same amount of exercise.
  10. Both were used for hunting.

Conclusion

Akita and Shiba are Japanese dogs that were initially used for hunting. They all belong to spitz-type of dogs only that the Akita is the largest in a group of six while the Shiba is the smallest in the group.

They look similar in appearance although they are slightly different from each other. They share most but it is easy to tell the difference once you study them keenly.

Akita has various coat colors while Shiba only has four coat colors. Akita does not like to be left alone while Shiba is independent.

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