Wow...I have to agree with you...I can't think of it being anything else unless it's a sesame Shiba. But even then Yuri just looks too long. Look at Yuri as a puppy 3/4 of the way down the following page.
I was going to say that I know they did have a Shiba--saw some pics awhile ago, but come to think of it, once I saw a pic of them walking with two dogs, and I thought one was just a kind of funny looking sesame Shiba! (*lol* sorry, I didn't know much about the other NKs in those days!)
Yeah, it looks like a Shikoku, but a little different from the Shikokus I've seen. So, either just a little different-looking Shikoku or maybe a "generic" Japanese dog.
And finally found the pic of what I thought were Shibas, but now that I have a more educated eye, they don't really look like Shibas, unless they are GIANT Shibas:
Hmmm...for all those who said too long and skinny to be a shiba, that's actually how Violet is built. It is possible that it is an outlier shiba (much like mine is, and she is the only one in her family built like this). On the other hand the face looks a bit different than a shiba to me.
Just looked it up. A stray mixed breed dog wandered into the Imperial Palace grounds and had a litter of pups in the forest. While the rest of the pups were adopted by workers, 2 were taken in by the Crown Prince and his family. 2 years ago one of the dogs died, and so they adopted a 2 month old mixed breed from an animal hospital.
I think it speaks volumes about the royal family in Japan.
Comments
http://www.forumforfree.com/forums/a/prince-naruhito-amp-princess-masako_post20-210-theroyals.html?mforum=theroyals
And saw the dog from another angle...Definitely leaning towards Shika...too skinny to be a Shiba.
Maybe it's a West Siberian Laika?
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http://royalandco.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/this-month-in-pictures-february-2009/
Here is Yuri as a pup:
http://gpdhome.typepad.com/royalblognl_news_summary/2009/05/japans-royal-enjoying-weekend-away.html
And finally found the pic of what I thought were Shibas, but now that I have a more educated eye, they don't really look like Shibas, unless they are GIANT Shibas:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/japan/2008/12/10/186990/Depression-stress.htm
(sorry these are links not pics...I don't know how to get the pic in there instead of the link)
http://gallery.me.com/bfigura#100157/IMG_3381&bgcolor=black
http://gallery.me.com/bfigura#100157/IMG_3384&bgcolor=black
My apologies to Phil, at whose house the above photos and many more on that site, were taken,
Here's another photo of the royal family pup.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/world/asia/12princess.html
I think it speaks volumes about the royal family in Japan.