In this edition of Pet Pointers, Lisa Chelenza takes a closer look at a special dog breed: the Shiba Inu.

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The Shiba Inu is the oldest and the smallest of the native Japanese breeds. Weighing in at just about 20 pounds and 15 inches tall, the Shiba Inu was almost lost during World War II due to bombing raids and distemper. Now reestablished by dedicated breeders, the Shiba Inu is the most popular companion dog in Japan. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club’s non-sporting group in 1993.

With their popularity on the rise, it’s important to fully understand the breed before bringing one into your home. Shiba Inu enthusiast Linda Clark tells us more about living with this affable and alert breed.

“I love their bright inquisitive nature, they are always looking for new adventures and excitement. They are high energy but not hyper, they are willing to play and run but also willing to be calm and comfortable companions,” said Clark.

If you hate finding dog hair on your clothes and furniture, the Shiba Inu is not the dog for you. Their double coat needs frequent brushing and they love attention from their human pack members. That may mean a last minute nuzzle up against your coat probably just as you head out the door.

These compact, foxy looking dogs also lead the AKC pack with the most “wolf DNA” according to new research recently published in National Geographic magazine. Another curious fact about the Shiba Inu is that they rarely bark, but vocalize more like their wolf ancestors.

Before you bring home any breed it’s important to do your own research. If you would like to learn more about the Shiba Inu, visit www.akc.org/breeds/shiba_inu/.