When we think of a Shiba Inu, the first picture that comes to our mind is that of a fox-like dog, with a red coat and a wide smile. Red is the most frequent and desirable of all Shiba Inu colors. In this article, we’ll tell you more about the coat standards of a red Shiba Inu and why it is the best representative of the breed.
Coat characteristics of a red Shiba Inu
If you’re interested in Shiba Inus, you’ve probably come across different classifications when it comes to their coat colors. What are considered to be the four basic colors are: red, black and tan, sesame, and cream. However, some people divide red Shibas into subcategories, while others exclude cream from the main colors. The reason why cream Shiba Inu is not desirable among breeders is its lack of contrast, which makes it difficult to see any structural form.
On the other hand, the vibrant and bold color of the red Shiba Inu emphasizes the fine structure of its body. One of the recognizable features of the breed is the white marking called Urajiro. Following the breed standards, the Urajiro should be located on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, inside the ears, and on the underjaw. The same goes for the abdomen, the inside of the legs and the ventral side of the tail. The edges of the Urajiro on red Shibas are not sharp. On the contrary, they are blurred, as the red color gene lightens towards the dog’s belly.
Red is likely the original color of the Shiba Inus and it is the preferred one in award contests. Shiba Inus are double-coated, with coarser outer hair and softer inner hair. The outer coat of a red Shiba Inu should be a clear and intense red. The undercoat can be grey, ocher or cream. As for the color intensity, a deeper red is preferred to a lighter one. Rich and vibrant colors are an important breed characteristic, and any signs of lightening should be carefully monitored. This applies to red Shibas in particular since coat lightening is a sign of weakening of genetic color codes.
‘Sashige’ Shiba Inus – are they red or sesame?
Sashige is a Japanese word for red Shibas that have black tipping on their coats. The tippings can be found all over their body, except on the head. The English term for sashige is ‘dirty red’. Sashige Shibas are classified as ‘red’ in the registries. You might be wondering why are sashige Shibas classified as reds if they look more like sesame ones. The real sesame Shibas are quite rare, and they need to fulfil certain requirements to be considered sesame.
For example, a sesame coat must have an even blending with less than 50% black. There shouldn’t be any areas with black patches. And while sashige Shibas rarely have any black tipping on their heads, the sesames have an even overlay of black throughout their bodies. Even though clear red is the preferred coat color, dirty red Shibas are also allowed to compete.
All in all, there is something special about the wild beauty of the red Shiba Inus. In the times when people breed dogs in order to achieve certain looks, red Shibas have kept their pure original form.
