Inu is the Japanese word for dog, but the origin of the prefix "Shiba" is less clear. The word shiba means "brushwood" in Japanese, and refers to a type of tree or shrub whose leaves turn red in the fall. This leads some to believe that the Shiba was named with this in mind, either because the dogs were used to hunt in wild shrubs, or because the most common color of the Shiba Inu is a red color similar to that of the shrubs.
Meet Ryuji!
Meet Ryuji, a 7-year-old Shiba Inu pup whose ‘macho’ expressions are taking over Instagram. Life’s ruff when you’re this emotional. The Okayama canine serves face to some 127 thousand followers every day, and it’s hard not to fall in love with such a fluffy, cuddly-looking character. His distinctive tongue and grin say more than words ever could, and he always sports a dapper bandanna – even a small hat when the mood strikes!
Shiba Inus are a uniquely Japanese breed known for their good nature. They shot to superstardom in 2013 when a female Shiba become the face of the infamous Doge meme. If he keeps charming the world with his adorable daily adventures, Ryuji just might become a meme himself very soon.