I was cleaning up my email inbox and came across an email that was sent to me a couple months back. It was from a breeder, who felt that I was breeding unacceptable Shiba colors. I was bothered by the thought of someone thinking that I was a misguided breeder. This individual has never met me, has never seen my dogs or my home, nothing ... and just because I breed colours that are considered a fault in the show ring ... does not make me or my dogs unacceptable. I take pride in my Shiba pack and what I do. I will not let some random breeder put me down for having a passion for my Shiba's and wanting to share it with others ... no matter what colours my Shiba's are.
Which brings me to the Standard Shiba colors.
There are three Standard Shiba colors that are accepted in the show rings; Red, Sesame, and Black and Tan.
CKC Standards: Colour is clear and intense, with undercoat of cream, buff or gray. “Urajiro” (creamy white ventral colour) is required on all three allowed colours, in these areas: side of muzzle, cheeks, inside ears, on underjaw and upper throat, inside of legs, on abdomen, around vent, ventral side of tail. Cream does not extend over nasal bridge. Cream spots above eyes, on tip of tail, and on forechest permitted but not required. White markings known as socks permitted but not desirable. Spots of colour in the urajiro are highly undesirable. “Reverse mask” (all cream/white face) is a fault.
Black and Tan: Black has rusty cast, not blue, and extends over the entire dog. Clearly defined tan markings located over the eye, sides of muzzle, “bowtie” pattern on forechest, outside of forelegs from carpus to toes, outside of hindlegs from stifle down to toes, leaving black on rear of pasterns. Black pencilling on toes permitted. Tan may be found inside of ears and underside of tail.
Red: light red to deep orange red. This color combined with the urajiro markings resembles the color of a fox.
Sesame: red with black tipped hairs scattered evenly on body and sometimes head, with no concentration in any one area. A widow’s peak may be seen on the forehead, leaving the bridge and muzzle red.
Picture of Winnie on the right. I would consider her more of a red sesame. The black tipped hairs in a Shiba sesame can be half and half with red or a bit less, giving it a darker appearance (black sesame). Black tips should not be more then 50% of body or it would be considered to be Black and Tan.
But as most of you Shiba lovers know, they also come in Cream.
Cream: white to cream and often has buff or pale red markings on ears and back. Sometimes you will even see a cream colored Shiba with red ears.
My first Shiba was a cream. My love for the creams is great. My creams don't need Champion titles. So what if they can't go in the show rings. They make great companions ... after all, they are still 100% Shiba Inu. For the judgment from the other breeder, I am not going to change what colour of Shiba I raise. I love my cream Shiba's, and so if that is a crime ... then I am guilty.
