Shiba Inus originate from Japan and have become one of the most popular dog breeds in recent decades. Originally bred to flush birds and hunt wild boar, Shiba Inus are now viewed as a much-loved choice of companion dog for many pet lovers. Though similar in appearance to Akitas, these dogs are much smaller in stature – but they still possess a sturdy, muscular build and a feisty personality!
So how big do Shiba Inus get? The size of a fully grown pure bred Shiba Inu will measure around 14.4 to 16.5 inches tall as a male and weigh 23 pounds on average. Whilst the fully grown female Shiba Inu will measure up slightly smaller at 13.5 to 15.5 inches high, and weigh around 17 pounds. Of course, the full grown size of Shiba Inus will vary when you’re dealing with mix breeds, as these will share two sets of characteristics.
Shiba Inus are seen as the perfect medium sized dog, which can make them an ideal choice for homes with limited space or for households with small children. If you’re looking to adopt a Shiba Inus puppy, read on to discover a little more about their growth rate and the sizes you can expect from each of the most popular mix breeds.
| Age | Weight (male average) | Height (male average) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | 1 lb 2ounces | 4-5 inches |
| 2 weeks | 3 lbs | 5 inches |
| 3 weeks | 4 lbs | 5.5 inches |
| 4 weeks | 5 lbs | 6-6.5 inches |
| 5 weeks | 6 lbs | 6-6.5 inches |
| 6 weeks | 7 lbs | 6-7 inches |
| 7 weeks | 8 lbs | 7 inches |
| 8 weeks | 8-9 lbs | 7.5 inches |
| 3 months | 9 lbs | 7-8 inches |
| 4 months | 11 lbs | 7-8 inches |
| 5 months | 11-12 lbs | 8 inches |
| 6 months | 12 lbs | 8 inches |
| 7 months | 12 lbs | 9 inches |
| 8 months | 12-13 lbs | 10 inches |
| 9 months | 13-14 lbs | 11 inches |
| 10 months | 16-18 lbs | 12 inches |
| 11 months | 18-20 lbs | 12-13 inches |
| 12 months | 20-21 lbs | 13 inches |
| 18 months | 23 lbs | 16 inches |
At What Age is a Shiba Inu Full Grown?
Your Shiba Inu can be considered fully grown when they are roughly 18 months old. This is the period in which they have reached physical maturity in terms of their total adult height and weight, but their behavioral development will still have some way to go, as they are still in their adolescence by this point! Patience and training is critical during this time, as they can still form bad habits or pick up on important skills.
Size Compared To Akitas
Akitas are one of the larger of Japan’s six native dog breeds, whereas Shiba Inus are in the smallest category – Shiba Inus are half the size of Akitas in fact!
Akitas stand between 24 to 28 inches high when fully grown, and the males can weigh between 85 to 130 pounds, which is around 5 times heavier than an adult male Shiba Inu. They may share similar coat colors and a fox-like appearance, but Shiba Inus are definitely the compact pocket-sized version of the Akita!
Good Sized Dogs for Apartment Living
Good news for dog lovers with limited living space – Shiba Inus are considered perfect pets for apartments. Shiba Inus are in the dog size sweet spot of neither too big or too small, and they are very clean dogs too (they have cat-like cleaning habits when it comes to self grooming!).
They are very boisterous, active dogs though, so even in a large apartment, they will get fairly restless without daily exercise and space to roam.
Potential Shiba Inu owners should be prepared to dedicate a lot of their time to get their dog the exercise he or she needs (at least 60 minutes each day is ideal).
As long as they get regular exercise and opportunities to socialize, Shiba Inus can make awesome apartment buddies – the cherry on top is that they are also pretty quiet and peaceful dogs by nature, so no fear of neighbors complaining!
Shiba Inus Mixes
Shiba Inu x American Eskimo Mix = Imo-Inu
The Imo Inu’s parent dog of the American Eskimo comes in three different sizes – toy, miniature and standard – so combined with the standard size of the Shiba Inu parent (roughly 23 lbs), Imo-Inu mixes can range anywhere between 10 to 30 lbs depending on the American Eskimo parent’s original size.
As for their height, Imo Inus will reach between 14 and 19 inches tall – considerably taller than the height of pure-bred Shiba Inus (13.5-14.5 inches).
Shiba Inu x Australian Shepherd Mix = Aussie Shiba
Aussie Shibas are medium sized dogs that can grow up to 25 inches tall at the shoulder, measuring slightly taller than their Australian Shepherd parents who grow between 20 to 23 inches as adult males and almost 10 inches taller than Shiba Inus.
Though Aussie Shibas come in at a similar height to their Shepherd parent, they are significantly lighter build dogs, weighing in at 20 to 40 lbs. Their Aussie Shepherd parent, in comparison, can weigh between 35-70 lbs.
Shiba Inu x Beagle Mix = Shi-Beagle
The medium sized Shiba Beagle mixes or Shi Beagles can grow between 13 to 17 inches tall at shoulder height, which is roughly the same height spectrum of their Shiba Inu and Beagle parents (14 to 16 inches high in pure bred Beagles).
Shi Beagles also weigh in around 18 to 30 lbs, which is around the same weight as their Beagle parents of 20 to 30 lbs and only slightly heavier than their Shiba Inu parent breed.
Shiba Inu x Boston Terrier Mix = Shibos
Appearance wise, the mix of Boston Terriers and Shiba Inus is an unusual cross breed, but both dogs are average size, so the weight and height is not too drastic. Shibos can grow up to 16 inches tall compared with their Boston terrier parent’s height of 15-17 inches.
Shibos also fall under a good average weight of both their Shiba Inu and Terrier parents – up to 24 lbs compared with 25 lbs for Boston terriers and up to 30 lbs for Shiba Inus.
Shiba Inu x Cairn Terrier Mix = Shairn-Inu
The Shairn Inu is a rare cross breed, since the parents differ quite a lot in personality terms. Cairn Terriers are also a much smaller sized dog compared with Shiba Inus at 10 inches in grown males, which when combined with the Shiba Inu parent genes brings the average height of Shairn Inus to around 14 to 15 inches tall. Shairn Inus also pack on a few more pounds than their 12 lbs Terrier parent at 15-20 lbs.
Shiba Inu x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Mix = Cava Inu
The parent breeds of the Cava Inu couldn’t be more different in terms of their coat and overall appearance. While the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent will only grow as tall as 13 inches in both male and females, the Shiba Inus can stand between 15.5 and 16.5 inches on average, bringing the Cava Inus height to around 16 to 18 inches.
The Cava Inu’s weight also comes in between 20 to 30 lbs, closer to their Shiba Inus parent weight than the Cavalier KC Spaniel (15 lbs).
Shiba Inu x Chihuahua Mix = Shiba-Chi
The famously tiny stature of the Chihuahua breed (around 3 to 6 lbs in weight and rarely taller than 9 inches) makes for an interesting cross breed with standard size Shiba Inus. Shiba Chis stand at roughly 12 inches tall compared with their Shiba Inus parent height of 15.5 inches and Shiba Chis can weigh between 8 to 12 pounds, so these can’t be considered handbag Chihuahua mixes!
Shiba Inu x Cocker Spaniel Mix = Shocker
Shocker is an appropriate name for this mix, as the differing parent personalities (happy go lucky mixed with reserved and independent) make these dogs a mystery to judge until they’re fully grown! Shockers weigh in at 15 to 30 lbs and can stand up to 16 inches high, compared with its American Cocker Spaniel parent at 14 inches and 25 to 30 lbs weight.
Shiba Inu x Dachshund Mix = Shibadox
The Shibadox or the ‘Shibadach’ as they’re sometimes known are a little taller than their 9 inch Dachshund parent, though still compact, measuring around 13 inches high on average. The weight of Shibadoxes, on the other hand, can be harder to predict, since the Dachshund parent comes in three different sizes (toy, mini and standard), so the Shibadox can weigh anywhere between 9 and 25 lbs!
Shiba Inu x Miniature Pinscher Mix = Shiba Pin
Coming from two relatively small dog breeds, Shiba Pins are compact dogs and make for apartment friendly companions, growing no taller than 15 inches. Shiba Pins take over from their Shiba Inu parent’s weight (23 lbs) more than Miniature Pinschers (10 lbs), weighing around 20 lbs on average. These are petite but powerful dogs and are very child friendly too.
Shiba Inu x Miniature Schnauzer Mix = Schnu
Though very different in terms of their physical characteristics, the Schnu mix of Mini Schnauzers and Shiba Inus retain the energetic and loyal personalities of both parents.
Schnus stand roughly the same height as their Mini Schnauzer parent breed between 12 and 14 inches tall, but weigh a little more at around 18 to 20 lbs, taking on the heft on their Shiba Inu genes.
Shiba Inu x Papillon Mix = Papi-Inu
The Papi Inu mix breed takes on the protector instincts of its Shiba Inu parent with the fun and playful side of Papillon lap dogs, making great family pets. Taking on the bulkier build of their Shiba Inu parent, the Papi Inu is a little taller than their Papillon parent, growing up to 17 inches tall compared to their total of 11 inches. Papi Inus can also weigh anywhere between 5 and 24 lbs!
Shiba Inu x Pomeranian Mix = Pom-Shi
Pom-Shi’s are a very popular Pomeranian cross breed and are viewed as designer dogs due to their luxe coat and small stature. Due to the super compact 3 to 7 lb size of their Pomeranian parent breed, Pom-Shi’s can range dramatically in weight from as little as 3 to a whopping 23 lbs. Their height can also drastically different between each parent breed from 6 to a possible 17 inches in total!
Shiba Inu x Poodle Mix = Poo-Shi
The adorable mix of Poodles and Shiba Inus results in the small yet outgoing bundle that is a Poo-Shi. These compact and loving dogs can stand between 12 to 20 inches tall depending on the Poodle parent type (toy, miniature or standard) While standard Poodles can weigh as much as 70 lbs, Poo-Shis come in a lot daintier weighing no more than between 15 to 20 lbs.
Shiba Inu x Pug Mix = Pug Shiba
Combing the elongated face of the Shiba Inu with the flat-faced pug relieves Pug Shibas of the breathing difficulties faced by pure bred Pugs, making them quite a popular pug cross breed. The height of Pug Shibas doesn’t differ too drastically from either parent, averaging out at 13 inches tall. Pug Shibas weigh a little less than their pure-bred Pug parent though, weighing between 15 to 16 lbs on average.
Shiba Inu x Shetland Sheepdog Mix = Sheltie Inu
Shiba Inus and Shetland Sheepdogs have a combined history as hunting and herding dogs respectively, making Sheltie Inus active and loyal, though quite difficult to train.
With an average weight between 17 and 24 lbs, Sheltie Inus are relatively close to their Sheepdog parent weight range of 14 to 27 lbs, though Sheltie Inus are slightly taller at 17 inches compared with the average 14 inch height of both parent breeds.
Shiba Inu x Siberian Husky Mix = Siberian Shiba
Siberian Shibas are small beautiful looking dogs, inheriting the distinctive markings of the Shiba Inu and the luxurious coat of their sled-driving Siberian Husky parent.
The influence of the much smaller Shiba Inu means the Siberian Shiba loses some of its taller Husky stature (22 to 24 inches), measuring instead between 13 to 18 inches. Siberian Shibas are also around half the weight of their Husky parent at a maximum of 30 lbs compared with 44 to 60 lbs.
Shiba Inu x Welsh Corgi Mix = Shiba Corgi
The Shiba Corgi – or ‘Corgi Inu’ – can be a mix of either the Cardigan Welsh or Pembroke Welsh Corgi and either results in a small but lively companion dog.
Shiba Corgis grow to 15 inches tall (a little higher than their parents of 10 to 12 inches) and can weigh around 20 lbs from a Pembroke Corgi breed (22 to 31 lbs) or slightly heavier at 25 lbs if they inherit the Cardigan breed’s average weight of 30 to 38 lbs.
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Mike is the Founder of Familylifeshare. Mike is well-knowledged in marriage, parenting, dogs, blogging and committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise with his readers. Know more about Mike from here.
