Imo-Inu

The American Eskimo Dog is a small to medium-sized Nordic-type breed belonging to the Spitz family, recognized in three distinct size varieties. The Toy variety stands 9 to 12 inches at the shoulder and weighs 6 to 10 pounds, while the Miniature variety measures 12 to 15 inches tall and weighs 10 to 20 pounds. The Standard variety reaches 15 to 19 inches in height and weighs 18 to 35 pounds. Regardless of size, all American Eskimo Dogs display the same compact, well-balanced build with a slightly longer body length than height, creating an elegant yet sturdy appearance characteristic of Northern breeds. The breed's most striking feature is its luxurious double coat, which consists of a dense, soft undercoat beneath a longer outer coat of straight guard hairs that stand off from the body. The coat is especially thick and full around the neck, forming a pronounced ruff or mane that is more prominent in males. The legs are well-feathered, and the heavily plumed tail is carried over the back in a graceful curve. The coat color is predominantly white or white with biscuit cream markings, and the texture should appear neither flat nor excessive in length. This beautiful coat requires regular grooming to maintain its appearance and prevent matting. The head displays the classic Spitz characteristics with a wedge-shaped skull, a moderately long muzzle, and small triangular ears that stand erect and are set high on the head. The slightly oval-shaped eyes are medium-sized and most commonly dark brown to black, though blue eyes may occasionally occur. Black pigmentation on the nose, lips, and eye rims creates a striking contrast against the white coat, a feature known as black points that is highly valued in the breed standard. The overall expression should be keen, intelligent, and alert, reflecting the breed's quick-witted and attentive nature.

The Shiba Inu is a small, compact Japanese breed presenting a well-balanced, muscular body that conveys both agility and strength. Males typically stand 14.5 to 16.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh approximately 23 pounds, while females measure 13.5 to 15.5 inches tall and weigh around 17 pounds. The breed's overall impression is that of a nimble, fox-like dog with a confident, alert demeanor. The body is slightly longer than tall, with a deep chest that reaches to the elbow and well-developed, clean-cut musculature that reflects the breed's hunting heritage in the mountainous regions of Japan. The Shiba Inu possesses a double coat consisting of a thick, soft undercoat beneath a stiff, straight outer coat that stands somewhat off from the body. The outer coat is approximately one and a half to two inches in length on the body, with slightly longer hair on the tail. Red is the most common and popular color, accounting for approximately 80 percent of the breed, followed by black and tan and sesame, which features red hairs evenly tipped with black. All coat colors must display urajiro, the distinctive cream to white ventral markings that appear on the cheeks, sides of the muzzle, throat, chest, belly, inside of legs, and underside of the tail. The head is proportionate to the body with a broad, flat skull and a defined stop leading to a moderately thick, tapered muzzle. The small, triangular ears are well-furred and set firmly erect, tilting forward in line with the arch of the neck. The small, dark brown eyes have a slightly triangular shape and an alert, keen expression that contributes to the breed's characteristic confident appearance. The tail is thick and powerful, carried in a vigorous curl over the back, either in a sickle or circular curl. The overall expression conveys the good-natured boldness that defines the Shiba Inu's personality.