The Shiba is the eldest native Japanese dog. Around 7000 B.C. the ancestors of today's Shiba may have accompanied the earliest immigrants to Japan. Archaeological excavations of the shell-mounds left by the Jomonjin, or Rope-Pattern People (a name derived from the pattern found on their earthenware), show that they had small dogs in the 14 1/2 to 19 1/2 inch range.

In the third century B.C., a new group of immigrants brought their dogs to Japan. These dogs then interbred with the descendants of the Jomonjin dogs, and produced canines known to have pointed, erect ears and curly or sickle tails.

Originally there were three main varieties of Shiba, each named for its region of origin, namely the Shinshu Shiba from the Nagano region, the Mino Shiba from the Gifu region and the Sanin Shiba from the north-eastern region of the main land. Although similar, the Shibas from each area contributed to differences in breed type seen today.

From the original Japanese native dogs, six distinct "breeds," in three different sizes developed. They are: Large size: the Akita, medium size: the Kishu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, & Kai and the small size: the Shiba.

The small size dog has been called the Shiba since ancient times, with several theories surrounding the development of that name. One popular explanation is that the word Shiba means "brushwood," and the dogs were named for the brushwood bushes where they hunted. Another theory is that the fiery red color of the Shiba is the same as the autumn color of the brushwood leaves. A third conjecture is related to an obsolete meaning of the word Shiba referring to its small size. These explanations are often combined and the Shiba is referred to as the "little brushwood dog."

In 1928 Nihon Ken Hozonkai (Nippo) were founded, what in English means something like; "The organization to preserve the Japanese dog". The club were recognized by the Japanese government as official organization and was founded to save the Japanese dog from being extinct.

The first Nippo dog show were held in 1928. This tradition has lead to what we today know as Nippo’s National Dog Shows were 800 or more enrolled Shibas isn’t a unusual sight.

In 1936 the Shiba were taken under protection of the government and was to consider as a national memorial which also is the case for the other origin Japanese breeds.

World War II nearly spelled disaster for the Shiba. While the Mino and Sanin Shibas became practically extinct, more of the Shinshu Shibas survived. After the war, Shibas were brought from the remote countryside, and breeding programs were established. The remnants of the various bloodlines were combined to produce the breed as it is known today.

In 1948 the Japanese Kennel Club (JKC) were founded and were authorized of the Japanese government as an "common association for all dog breeds". Both Nippo and JKC recognize each other.

In our time the Shiba was used as a hunting dog for quarry such as raccoon, foxes, pheasant and hares. Although it is most used as family- and showdog.

The Shiba standard (Nippo) forms basis for the Japanese Kennel Clubs (JKC) standard and F. C. I’s standard.

The Nippo standard is a very complete standard. If you only use the basis standard (as for example F. C. I does) without getting with the comments and explanations, you easily can get a wrong interpret of the standard for example concerning the color, the drawings, the body building and so on, on the Shiba. For example then you will never on a Japanese Nippo show see any Shibas who are short legged and with short noses. Them we see quite many of outside Japan.