He looks just like a fox!
You have probably seen this foxy little dog, walking his little walk around your neighborhood. Or perhaps you saw him at the dog park, strutting his stuff,… or maybe it was at the dog show.
These little foxes are striking. They act like they are on show all of the time, and they stand out wherever they go.
What are they?
Sounds like Sheba Inu, Shibu Inu, Shiba Enu … the one and only Shiba Inu.
The Shiba Inu – What’s That?!
The Shiba Inu is a Japanese dog breed. There are six original distinct breeds of dog from Japan, and the Shiba Inu is the smallest one.
The largest in the group is the Akita. There aren’t many red and white Akitas in the United States, but the few that I have seen, look just like larger versions of the red Shiba Inu. And not in the Schwarzenegger-DeVito sort of way.
Between the Akita Inu and the Shiba Inu, are the medium sized Japanese dog breeds, including the Shikoku, Kai, Ainu, and Kishu. These six Japanese dog breeds have very similar appearance and temperaments. They all belong to the Spitz dog family.
Shiba Inu – What Does It Mean?
The Kanji or Japanese character for ‘dog‘, can be pronounced as ‘Inu‘ or ‘Ken‘. Therefore, Shiba Inu simply means Shiba dog. Sometimes, you will also hear the Shiba dog being referred to as Shiba Ken.
The exact interpretation of ‘Shiba‘, is less clear. It could mean ‘red shrub‘, for the red bushes that grow in the region, where Shibas come from. Alternatively, it could also mean ‘small‘.
The Shiba Inu is certainly a cheeky little red shrub, so both interpretations work out well.
Shiba Inu – What Does It Truly Mean?
I know that discussions of red shrubs are truly riveting, but you probably want to move on to what it truly means to be Shiba, am I right?
Well, you know what they say about red-heads and their fiery temper.
The same is also true of the red-headed Shiba Inu. You may think that you can get around this thorny issue, by getting a Shiba of another color, such as the red-sesame, black and tan, or cream colored versions. However, the Shiba God is indeed one step ahead of you.
Shiba Inus of all colors, have the same fiery red personality.
That is why they are also known as –
- The ‘devil dog’,
- The ‘not for everyone dog’, and
- The ‘honey, why the hell did you get this thing?! dog’.
Indeed, the Shiba Inu is not recommended for first time dog owners.
However, figuring I was smarter than everyone else, or mainly because of lack of research, I decided to get a Shiba as my first dog anyway. It was not an easy first dog experience, but after over a year, Shiba Inu Sephy and I reached a somewhat peaceful state of cohabitation.
My little red shrub still has some thorns, but he is growing some beautiful flowers as well.
Mame Shiba
Standard sized male Shiba Inus tend to range between 20-25 pounds, for an average weight of around 23 pounds. Female Shiba Inus are slightly smaller, and have an average weight of 17 pounds. There are always outliers though.
My male Shiba is a big boy, and comes in at around 30 pounds. He is not an overweight dog, just big-boned.
Recently, some breeders in Japan and the United States have started breeding Mame Shibas, which are essentially smaller sized Shibas. ‘Mame‘ means ‘bean‘ in Japanese, so these are bean-sized Shibas.
Mame Shibas are not recognized by any of the kennel clubs in Japan, or in the United States. As a result, the breeding of Mame Shibas is not regulated, and many of the breeders who sell them, do not breed for health or temperament.
Since the Shiba Inu is already a difficult dog breed to begin with, we want to try and get one that has a balanced temperament. Therefore, it is best to get a Shiba from an accredited club breeder, who has to follow strict breeding guidelines.
Jomon Shiba
The Jomon period is the time in Japanese history from around 14,000 B.C. to 400 B.C. The Jomon inhabitants reared hunting dogs that were a big part of their culture.
Archaeological sites have uncovered well-preserved skeletons of the Jomon dogs, which show that they have prick ears and a sickle tail. Scientists believe these dogs to be the ancient ancestors of the Shiba Inu, and the other five original Japanese dog breeds.
Some breeders in Japan have founded the Shibaho association, to breed dogs with physical characteristics that conform to the Jomon dogs of old.
The Jomon Shiba is a more feral looking Shiba, with a narrower head, and larger teeth. True to their even more primitive roots, Jomon Shibas are more stubborn and less obedient, than their domesticated Shiba Inu brothers.
Given the already high level of stubbornness and willfulness in a regular Shiba, it may be best to stay away from these Jomon dogs.
Shiba Inu – Why Not?
Truthfully, there are many easier and friendlier dog breeds than the Shiba Inu.
The Shiba Inu is independent and aloof. If we want a lap dog who likes to cuddle with us, then the Shiba is not for us.
The Shiba Inu is feisty and active. If we want a calm dog that just lies at the end of our bed, and warms our feet, then the Shiba is not for us.
The Shiba Inu is a dog rebel. If we want an obedient dog that follows our every command, and only lives to please us, then the Shiba is not for us.
Why Do People Get Shiba Inus?
Yeah, they are a bit nuts. Maybe more than a bit nuts. However, once we get beneath that fiery red temper, we will find a rich and deep Shiba soul.
The Shiba Inu is a trickster. He likes to play tricks, and he likes breaking rules. We will never be bored if we live with a Shiba, because he will always be up to something. Sometimes, it is even something good.
The Shiba Inu is a clown. He likes being the center of attention, and he will do much to get to that coveted spot. What he does, will be original, funny, and very entertaining. In fact, Shibas remind me of stand-up comedians. They can easily make others laugh with their crazy hi-jinks, but they have a very sensitive and fragile soul.
The Shiba Inu is a charmer. He can charm birds from the trees, if he wants to. Most of the time, he may not want to, but when he does, look out! It is simply not possible to resist those deep dark eyes, his infectious grin, or roguish charm.
The Shiba Inu is one of a kind. He is not like a regular dog. In fact, many people describe the Shiba as a dog that is more like a cat.
If we want a dog that is a bit different, a dog that will challenge us and grow with us, a dog that will surprise us in both delightful and sometimes non-delightful ways, a trickster, a prankster, and a rogue, but sensitive, deep, and surprising – then the Shiba Inu is the dog for us.
He is like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, except with more fur and without the hat!
Getting a Shiba Inu
Should we get a Shiba Inu puppy?
That would depend on our temperament, lifestyle, and the amount of time we can devote to a new puppy. The Shiba Inu is a challenging dog breed, because he is extremely stubborn, dominant, and smart.
Shiba Inu training is a must, and it can be a very time consuming and frustrating process, especially in the beginning.
Patience and time are two key ingredients, that we will need in abundance.
Shibas are inside dogs, that need the company of their people. A Shiba puppy that is constantly left in his own company, will become stressed, unhappy, destructive, and aggressive.
If you still want a Shiba Inu after all this – then get a puppy from an accredited breeder, or from a Shiba Inu rescue.
Our Basenji is a mix. We never had her tested, but sometimes it looks like she has some pit in her, but as she ages I suspect she looks more like she’s mixed with a lab. She’s around 50 lbs. She learned to bark from our old dog, so she’s not barkless like a typical basenji.
We had our first class last week and I brought our Shiba alone. He was much better behaved than the Basenji was, and my only real complaint is he didn’t want to sit on command. Once seated, however, he stayed seated until told to do otherwise. I want to attend another class or two alone with him before I bring Trixie in, and I can tell right now that she needs a lot of review and brushing up.
Trixie is also wary of barking, aggressive dogs, but Rocky, the 21 lb. shiba, wants to jump in with both feet first. There’s a beautiful full size German Shepard in class that barks a lot and appears aggressive. Rocky isn’t afraid of him at all, but I keep him away for now as I don’t want him to get hurt. After a few classes we’ll see what happens.
Both dogs play very well together without any real dominance issues. If Trixie brings a toy for me to play with, Rocky will get involved, and sometimes she will put him in his place at the sidelines and he obeys for a short time. Also, Trixie is virtually silent when they play, while Rocky is constantly snarling and making really weird noises. My daughter pointed out that he sounds like a monkey, and she’s right. Both dogs always want whatever the other is playing with, but Trixie will wait until he’s distracted and take it, where Rocky will lay on his back, wave his paws around, and make monkey noises to try and draw Trixie to play with him and ignore the toy, which he’ll then steal. This only worked once or twice, but he keeps trying it and it’s hilarious.
Hello Mari,
They now have dog DNA testing so that may help with determining your dog’s breed. I have never done that myself though, so I am not sure how accurate it is, especially when differentiating two breeds that are so close in ancestry.
Definitely call up several places and ask them a lot of questions. Let us know what the results are š
Hi Eric,
Yeah I like the Basenji breed as well. They have a very nice sleek look to them – kindda like a cross between a Shiba and a Greyhound. I was thinking of getting a Basenji as a second dog, but finally went with the Siberian instead.
How did obedience class go? Should be interesting with a Shiba and a Basenji š
Based on your experience, what are the key differences between your Shiba and Basenji? Both breeds seem very similar in temperament on paper, but I imagine things are quite different in practice.
I have 2 Shiba Inus. The female is 6yrs. and the male is 2yrs. My female ranges between 17 and 20lbs. My male is 40lbs which is big for a Shiba Inu. I have been doing a bit of research on the japanese breeds and also when I was walking the male a japanese woman asked if I knew what breed he was. when I replied Shiba Inu she said no he is a Shikoku. The breeder I bought him from is Alvin and Patsy Ann Zimmerman and have him registered as a Shiba Inu is this due to the fact that the Shikoku is not recognized in the ACA. If any one could help me out thanks.
I just wanted to say that I enjoy your site very much. We adopted a young shiba just over a month ago, and I have found some good information here. Our other dog is a 2 year old Basenji mix, also a stubborn and free thinking dog, but she has calmed with age and has learned just enough obedience to keep us both happy. Our shiba has learned a lot from her and is basically a very good dog, but he’s also the trickster as you described. We start obedience class next week, so we’ll see how this unfolds. I will probably take both dogs to brush up the older one and give our shiba something of a role model.
Wow – now I’m very envious! š
I am a big fan of video games (mostly RPGs) and anime. Blizzard, I think, would be an awesome video game company to work for, although I hear that the people there work super crazy hours.
Good luck! Sounds like you are heading for much fun and excitement.
Help!!!! My shiba inu, Kibo, (1 year old) has a yeast infection in her left ear. We are having THE hardest time figuring out how to administer the ear and treat it. Kibo is so squirmy and strong. She can’t hold her right or get her to sit still. We use a muzzle and two people, but still have the no luck. Any suggestions on the best way to hold her down, calming her so we can put the drops in or any advice at all to letting us treat her? The infection is getting worse, and the poor thing is constantly shaking her head. Thank you so much!!!!
Hello Kate,
This is a tough one. I have had the same issues with my Shiba, with very similar results.
The thing that has worked best for him in this situation is to make him an offer that is too good to refuse and to go very slowly. I basically used the same desensitization exercises that I do for his teeth and nail grinding.
One person gets some really good stuff – and I mean really good that he usually does not get anywhere else. I use mackerel for nail grinding, cream cheese for muzzle training etc, and Sephy Surprise (plain microwave chicken, melted cheese and a little bit of bacon) for teeth brushing.
Then let her come to you – which she probably will because it smells so good. Get her to do a down-side, reward a small bit. Touch ear briefly, reward a small bit. Repeat until she is comfortable.
Then you can slowly progress to just dripping a bit around the ear area. My vet told me that I had to put the drops right into the ear and then massage the base of the ear, but I started with just trying to drop in the general ear vicinity. Then slowly worked my way towards my end goal.
I only did very short sessions, and usually waited until Sephy was on the more hungry side. This keeps him very interested in what I have to offer and he is usually willing to let me do the handling that needs to be done.
Make sure to go very slowly, especially in the beginning, because she is probably somewhat wary about the ear drops.
Let us know what works out. I think this is a common issue faced by most Shiba owners.
Hugs to Kibo and hope she feels better soon.
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I am a bit nervous that we have totally tainted the situation because we are perhaps being too forceful — holding her tight and using a muzzle. I think your approach is a good one, and definitely something we are going to try. Adding the muzzle to the ear drops I think heightens her anxiety, so we are going to start with no muzzle. Also, those are great treat ideas. Maybe I will use your Sephy Surprise. š Thanks again!
Kate
I had a few ideas, both involve Video Game Development. My original thought was to study in Japan, though I don’t know Japanese, so I’m thinking of studying at Digipen (which I hear is one of the best) then when I get a job in the field, oh lets say like Nintendo or Microsoft (I’m keeping my hopes high lol) then I see if I cant transfer to japan.
That sounds like a great idea! Let me know if you have any questions.
Also, best of luck with college. I am a bit envious of you – college is a fun time. What are you planning to study?
Thank you that was a very helpful answer. I think I will keep doing research for when I am ready to get a Shiba (maybe in a few yeas), and hopefully by that time I will be able to give my Shiba the time he/she needs.
Thanks again!