How Old is the Oldest Shiba Inu Ever?

The Shiba Inu is a spitz breed native to Japan. For thousands of years, it served as a game and farm dog in mountainous areas. Japan considers the breed one of its national treasures and the oldest Shiba Inu lived in the country. How old is the oldest Shiba Inu ever?

How Old is the Oldest Shiba Inu Ever?

The oldest Shiba Inu was named Pusuke and lived to be 26 years and 8 months. He was a Shiba mix owned by Yumiko Shinohara. Pusuke died in December 2011 and was born in April 1985.

Pusuke and his owner lived north of Tokyo in the Tochigi Prefecture at Sakura. The dog was sick for about 24 hours before refusing to eat breakfast. He died around 1:30 p.m. on the same day he quit eating within minutes of Shinohara returning from a walk.

The dog’s rapid decline wasn’t caused by a chronic illness but was most likely due to old age. When Pusuke died, he was considered the oldest dog in the world by Guinness World Records.

Pusuke is not the oldest dog to have ever lived. The oldest dog is Bobi, born on May 11, 1992, and is still alive today. Bobi lives in Conqueiros, Portugal, and is 30 years old.

The title of oldest dog used to belong to an Australian cattle dog called Bluey, born on June 7, 1910. He died on November 14, 1939, a few months after his twenty-ninth birthday. Bluey was owned by Esma and Les Hall and lived in Rochester, Victoria, Australia.

How Old is the Shiba Inu Breed?

The Shiba Inu breed is most likely tens of thousands of years old. It’s considered one of the most ancient breeds on the planet, and it hasn’t changed much since it originally evolved from the Asian grey wolf.

Most of the Shiba Inus left in Japan by the early 1900s were mixed dogs, so an effort was initiated to define the breed so it could be further protected officially. In 1932, Shiba Inus were declared one of Japan’s national treasures.

While the first Shiba Inu ancestor dates back over 2,000 years, today’s modern dog is a result of an intensive breeding program after World War II. The population of Shiba Inus declined in Japan during the war and was further ravaged by an outbreak of canine distemper. A food shortage also helped devastate their numbers.

There were three main bloodlines of Shiba Inu left when attention was turned to saving the breed from extinction. The remaining animals were crossbred to produce the dog that exists today. All living Shiba Inus trace their ancestry to these post-war dogs.

The Shiba Inu was brought to America after World War II ended as a souvenir of returning servicemen. It has been a popular breed in the U.S. ever since. As of 1992, the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Shiba Inu as a distinct and pure breed.

Today, there are four recognized colors for Shiba Inus: red, red sesame, black and tan, and cream. Some light tipping is allowed though all colors are distinctly separated. They all have a thick, tell-tale, curled tail that sits on top of their rump.

How Old Do Shiba Inus Get?

Usually, Shiba Inus live between 12-15 years. Pusuke, the oldest Shiba Inu ever, lived about twice as long as the average Shiba Inu. Since Shiba Inus are medium-sized dogs, they aren’t the longest-lived breed, nor do they lead short lives.

Males average a little over 20 pounds while females weigh around 17 pounds. Their small size, bushy undercoats, and coloring make these dogs look like foxes.

Shiba Inus that have been neutered or spayed tend to live longer than their unfixed counterparts. That’s because they’re less susceptible to reproductive diseases like cancer. Fixed female dogs live up to 23% longer, while neutered males live 18% longer than their unaltered counterparts.

Taking your Shiba Inu to the vet for regular checkups is the best way to ensure your pet has the longest life possible. Even the healthiest animals with certified genetics suffer from common problems. When diagnosed early, many issues that are impactful for some dogs will be caught early enough to be fixed.

How Old is the Oldest Fossilized Shiba Inu?

The oldest remains of a Shiba Inu ever recovered are from the Jomon Period and are at least 2,000 years old. They may be another 10,000 years older, though it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date. These are the oldest discovered dog bones in Japan, and they’ve been found at various contemporaneous sites.

This ancestor of today’s modern dog is named the Jomon Shiba. This dog was thinner and taller than today’s breed. It also had a narrower skull with more prominent teeth.

There are currently breeders trying to resurrect the Jomon Shiba through the selective breeding of extant Shiba individuals. A few hundred of these newly bred dogs are believed to exist.

How Old is the ‘Doge Meme’ Shiba Inu?

The “Doge Meme” Shiba Inu, named Kabosu, is 17 years old. The meme shows Kabosu’s head and is usually accompanied by broken English meant to represent anthropomorphic dog thoughts.

This meme has been circulating on social media for over a decade after Atsuko Sato, Kabuso’s owner, posted a photo of her dog on the internet. Kabuso is shown with crossed legs and a specific expression that inspired millions. Kabosu is the Shiba Inu that inspired dogecoin’s aesthetic, as well.

Unfortunately, Kabuso is not in good health. She suffers from liver disease and leukemia and has had jaundice. There is hope, however, as Kabuso is eating, drinking, and taking antibiotics.

Sato is keeping her fans updated on her Instagram account. As of the publication of this article, Kabuso is still alive and as famous as ever.

Kabuso is so famous that the original photo that started the meme frenzy was turned into an NFT (non-fungible) token. It then sold for $4 million in 2021. Today, you can own a fraction of the “Doge Meme” for as little as $1.00.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © Rin Seiko/Shutterstock.com