noun
Shiba Inu; Shiba; brushwood dog
A small-to-medium Japanese dog breed. The reading しばけん is also used, but しばいぬ is more common.
柴犬は日本で人気のある犬種です。
The Shiba Inu is a popular dog breed in Japan.
近所の柴犬はとても賢い。
The Shiba Inu in my neighborhood is very smart.
The name is a compound of 柴 (shiba, 'brushwood') and 犬 (inu, 'dog'), possibly referring to the dog's use in hunting in brushwood areas or its coat color resembling brushwood. The exact origin is uncertain.