• Why is a Shiba Inu difficult to train?
• What makes a Shiba Inu more difficult to train than other dog breeds?

Of course a Shiba is stubborn and strong-willed, but then so are many other breeds, including the Siberian Husky. Why then are Shibas more challenging to train than other strong-willed breeds?

Why Is a Shiba Inu One of the Most Difficult Breeds to Train.

1. A Shiba Will Do What a Shiba Wants

What really excites my Shiba is any kind of chasing game.

A Shiba Inu will only respond to activities that makes sense to him, and not necessarily to you. The good news is a Shiba is not shy about letting you know what he likes, and what he wants!

Shiba owners usually listen carefully to their dogs, and personalize training methods to suit individual preferences and temperaments.

Shibas also think for themselves, and are very motivated to come up with alternate ways to reach their goals. As a result, training a Shiba Inu is often counter-intuitive, and traditional dog training methods may not work well.

Shiba owners must be creative and flexible.

A Shiba may follow commands if they make sense to him. Other times, he will do something else that ROCKS!

Training a Shiba Inu requires a lot of flexibility and creativity from his owners.

Some people may reason that since Shiba Inus are independent thinkers, they would respond better to aversive training techniques, such as collar corrections or alpha rolls.

This is false.

Shiba Inus are also extremely strong-willed and stubborn. They will fight back if they feel threatened. I started with aversive training techniques, and my Shiba Sephy fought me every step of the way. The more a dog practices fighting back, the more likely he will repeat that behavior and develop aggression issues down the road. Sephy was surely heading that way, which was why I started looking into alternative training methods.

Aversive techniques also made Sephy lose trust in me.

Shiba Inus are also extremely strong-willed and stubborn. They will fight back if they feel threatened.

2. A Shiba Inu Will Not Surrender Even When All Is Lost

Shiba Inu Sephy will not give up no matter what.

All dogs think for themselves. They have their own needs, which may not always coincide with ours.

Strong-willed dogs are not afraid to push their own agenda, even if it puts them in conflict with us and other dogs.

However, even strong-willed breeds like the Siberian Husky will give up the ghost when they see that the effort and time involved, is not worth the end result.

On the other hand, Shiba Inus have a very …

singular state of mind.
~~[ Geoge ]

Once a Shiba starts to focus on something, he may quickly become obsessed.

Once a Shiba starts to focus on something, he may quickly become obsessed. When in that singular state of mind, it is difficult to distract Shiba and get him to do something else.

When Sephy gets into that obsessive state, he will not give up no matter what. Even if things look hopeless, he will not surrender. The more I try to force him to comply, the more he will dig in his paws and not budge.

For Shiba Inu Sephy, giving-up is simply not an option.

It seems that any kind of concession will deal such a grievous blow to his Shiba pride that he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect it. Sephy is willing to endure pain, not eating, not going for his walks, not getting affection or attention, losing his freedom, and much more; when his Shiba Honor is on the line.

This great quote from the I am Shiba blog sums it up very well

I Am Shiba. Seppuku will not be enough.

The best way of getting Sephy to do something is not to make it into a challenge or a fight. If Sephy does not want me to brush his teeth, he does not get his usual melted cheese and chicken meal. I will simply go back to my tasks, and when I am free, I try again. By then, he is usually hungry and in a different state of mind.

I am Shiba. Sepaku will not be enough.

3. A Shiba Inu Has the Heart of a Rebel

Shiba Inus Have the Heart of a Rebel.

Shiba Inus are often characterized as independent, aloof, and more like a cat.

I think that Shibas are independent minded, but they actually want and enjoy a fair bit of human attention; perhaps more so than many other dog breeds.

Unlike other dogs however, Shibas are not necessarily looking for positive attention. With Sephy, any type of attention will do; as long as it is big, all-eyes-on-Shiba, high quality attention.

Negative human attention is easier to obtain, more intense, and usually lasts for a longer duration.

As such, this is the type of attention that Shiba Sephy usually strives for, not unlike an online troll. If he is able to get my goat, he will. If he is able to get my goat and start a fun chasing game, that is even better!

If I tell Sephy not to do something, he will definitely try to do it the first chance he gets. He is sneaky and will do it when my back is turned. However, if I am not home, he spends most of his time sleeping because he does not have an audience.

The “game” is only fun when there is a real danger of being caught, and the possibility of escape. An audience is also necessary to see his God-like Shiba-ness.

The “game” is only fun when there is a real danger of being caught, and the possibility of escape.

I have since learned that one of the best ways to deal with Shiba-hijinks is to stay above the fray and ignore my attention-seeking Shiba. Sephy does not like being ignored. He will go to great lengths to get the attention of those that seem disinterested in him – even if it means following commands!

What to you think?

• Are Shiba Inus one of the most difficult breeds to train?
• What makes a Shiba Inu difficult to train?
• Which dog breeds, do you think, are more difficult to train than a Shiba?

Many thanks to Kblover & Wally, Brett & Ziva, Andrea & Kiba, Zuko’s Mom & Zuko, Geoge & Rusty, as well as Jess & Zeus, for sharing their Shiba Inu stories and many dog experiences. I made many changes to the article above based on their comments.

Are Shiba Inus one of the most difficult breeds to train?

Some people believe that certain bad dog behaviors are a result of bad breeding while others believe that they are wholly the result of bad dog training.

The truth, as always, is somewhere in-between.

How Did My Dog Go Bad?

Breeding and breed does contribute to a dog’s temperament and behaviors. Some dogs are more high-strung than others, some are born confident, some are more susceptible to fear or stress, some are more mouthy, etc.

To get a dog with good temperament, do some research on the breeds you are most interested in.

To get a dog with good temperament, do some research on the breeds you are most interested in. Once you have made a decision, do a lot more research into good breeders or adoption agencies in your area.

Puppies from pet stores, and online stores are mostly from puppy-mills, and will have a lot more health and temperament issues.

Even though breeding and breed does contribute to the overall temperament and behavior of a dog, it can be counterbalanced with training and management.

Dogs that are born with a less balanced temperament, however, will require more time, patience, training, and management.

Dogs that are born with a less balanced temperament, however, will require more time, patience, training, and management.

My Shiba Inu, for example, is easily stressed, very stubborn, and naturally mouthy.

My Shiba Inu, for example, is easily stressed, very stubborn, and naturally mouthy. Therefore, I manage him carefully and only expose him to situations that I know he can handle. At the same time I am slowly desensitizing him to the conditions that cause him stress.

My Siberian Husky is just a happy-go-lucky dog, and needs less management and attention.

We should all recognize, though, that some dogs are just more difficult to manage than others.

Try not to judge others too quickly because of the misbehavior of their dogs.  Just like us, dogs do not all start from a level playing field, and what we consider to be bad behaviors may be a result of the dog’s natural tendency towards fear or anxiety.

And if you have one of those more challenging dogs – know that you are not alone. Your dog can be properly managed and trained with time and patience. Make sure though that his unexpected behaviors are not a result of any physical health issues.

And a Big Kudos to you for sticking with your dog, and helping him through his challenges. That makes you a big Dog Hero and you should stand tall and be proud!

Just like us, dogs do not all start from a level playing field, and what we consider to be bad behaviors may be a result of the dog’s natural tendency towards fear, stress, or anxiety.