How much do you know about Shiba Inus? What were they originally bred for? Why did they almost go extinct? Shiba’s are aesthetically pleasing, incredibly popular, and Japan's national treasure--but how much do you know about the history of this hunting dog? <br /><br />Known for their fox-like features and tan fur, Shiba Inus have been around since the 3rd century BC but have nearly become extinct on two occasions–both in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. When Japan started importing Western dogs, cross-breeding led to a decline in pure Shiba Inus. And during WWII, bombings and food shortages also nearly wiped out these highly-sought after dogs. <br /><br />After Elon Musk’s 2021 tweet about his Shiba, the breed became trendy and this leads to unethical high-volume breeding. Though Shiba Inus have gone viral, buyers need to realize that owning this dog isn’t a fad. In fact, it’s a serious responsibility that requires a 14-16 year commitment to a dog that is practically a 25 lb. wolf.<br /><br />Host<br />Tai Koga<br /><br />Producer<br />Stephanie Tangkilisan<br />Joy Jihyun Jeong<br />Alison Boya Sun<br /><br />Associate Producer<br />Manal Ahmed<br /><br />Researcher and Writer<br />Manal Ahmed<br /><br />Additional Research<br />Alison Boya Sun<br /><br />Director of Photography<br />Vinod Vijayasankaran<br /><br />Editor<br />Rendy Abi<br /><br />Editor in Chief<br />Keshia Hannam<br /><br />Head of Production<br />Stephanie Tangkilisan<br /><br />Animator<br />Fajar Alkan<br /><br />Sound Mix<br />David Alba<br /><br />Graphic Design<br />Samuel Kang<br />Fitra Pratama<br />Annie Zhao<br /><br />Additional Archival Material<br />Getty Images<br />Tiktok/klarities<br />Tiktok/Yuzutheshiba<br />SHIBA INU LAND<br />Exodus<br />American Kennel Club<br />National Purebred Dog Day<br />Wikimedia<br />Youtube/Alice<br />KOREA TEACUP PUPPIES<br />Youtube/Jonny Kimchee<br />Japan Times<br />Tiktok/Shiba_island<br />Japan Wonder Travel<br />Breeding Business<br />The National WWII Museum<br />Youtube/Shibe<br />Lady and The Blues<br />Reddit<br />Super Shiba<br />Crufts<br />Theo the Sammy<br />Insider Business<br />Leo Fucarev<br /><br />Additional Music<br />Humans Win - Curious Chaotic Strings<br />New Library Sounds - A New Day<br />Media Music Group - Let The Expertn Explain
