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.
I read your reply and figured it out my dog was trying to protect one of his treats turns out my friend touched his treat with his head please also please read my other comments.
Dear shibashake I am very angry right now because within a matter of minutes my dog has been viciously attacked. here’s what happened: I saw a dog looked like a malamute approached my dog. I didn’t suspect anything due to the fact that recently my dog has been behaving very well with other dogs, he sniffs them and then quickly loses interest but today the malamute attacked my dog the owner could not control him due to the fact that the dog was to big. They fought for a few seconds before we could pull them away Timber then coughed and let out something that looked like blood. I took him home immediately instead of risking anything my family then found out while wiping his paws that he had a huge deep cut on his neck we stopped the bleeding and comforted our dog. I had never seen such violence from a dog. Timber of course fought back to the dog because of his never surrender attitude, he used his nasty biting teeth. I hope he did not draw blood from the dog but at the moment I couldn’t care less. I simply wanted to share this and would like to ask what to do if I encounter this situation again.
Hello Winton,
Wow! Any dog fight is a bad situation but I think you handled it very well by separating the dogs and just leaving. If the other dog attacked your Shiba, then the owner should also pay for vet bills, etc.
Shania has gotten alpha rolled a couple of times by loose dogs in the neighborhood that charged us. Usually, after one incident, their owners realize that it is dangerous to leave their dogs running about and more carefully manage them. I have also looked into how to deal with charging dogs. Some options include – dog pepper spray, air horn, and a riding crop. Some people in the neighborhood also carry bats or walking sticks while out on walks.
I am now very careful about letting Sephy or Shania meet new dogs. Some dogs you can tell by their body language that they are friendly – they usually have loose posture, are easy-going (not intense), they play bow, and show good calming signals. I always avoid any dog that is showing dominant posture or stiff posture.
Owners usually say that their dog is “friendly” if the dog is friendly with humans. However, in my experience, they may not necessarily know if the dog will get along with another dog. It is best to observe the dog and make the determination of “friendliness” ourselves.
Also some dogs may have certain quirks during dog-to-dog greetings. Sephy, for example, does not like strange dogs sniffing his butt because it is a dominance move. He will only allow butt sniffing after they have played around for a bit and have gotten to know each other. So I don’t allow other dogs to move into his butt area during greetings.
How is Timber?
Winton,
A biting dog could also be a sick dog: please take him for a thorough check-up with the vet. It is well known that when dogs fall ill, their behaviour changes in one way or another. They can’t tell us what hurts and may try to hide it – but the pain will come out one way or another! Please take your best friend to the vet this week.
Kim
Biting and bleeding of a friend what now?!
a little while ago my dog Timber the shiba inu attacked a friend on the forehead and made him bleed! I have never seen such violent behaviour from my dog yet I don’t o why he is biting down harder and biting most people to! it seems after what happened this dog has been turning more aggressive
Hello Winton,
Probably the best thing to do is to find a good professional trainer. I would get the trainer come over to the house to observe Timber and see what triggers his aggression.
For example, Timber could have been guarding something, and did not want others taking it away from him. Alternatively, he could have seen the person as threat, or felt cornered. One of the best ways of dealing with aggression is to first identify the trigger, and then to help the dog re-associate the bad-trigger with something positive/neutral instead. This is also called the desensitization process.
This article has more on finding a trainer –
http://shibashake.com/dog/finding-a-dog-trainer
Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes with Timber. [Btw. love that name.]
Hi! I’m writing from Italy… my English is not so very well but I love your web site! It’s for me my “shiba bible”!!! I’ve started to read all about shiba inus last winter, your webstite too, and after months and months of thoughts I and my family decided to adopt one. In April she is arrived!! Our Iris! And day after day I continue to read your precious things
we have a very handsome young shiba inu mix although he looks very shiba and has most of the characteristics, but he was in a shelter and not socialized for the first year of his life so he has issues, like overly submissive, a little freaked by some dogs, uncertain how to play, a little goofy. He is probably part basenji too.
we are planning to get a female puppy, 6 months or under, and I am thinking what we wanted might be too overwhelming for our boy: we were looking for a wire-haired terrier mix. Too assertive?
Or do you have a suggestion for a breed to avoid? Or one to look for, to help him have fun and gain confidence.
thanks a million, diana
Hello Diana,
I love the look of Basenji’s as well! Would love to see pictures of your dog.
“we were looking for a wire-haired terrier mix. Too assertive?
Or do you have a suggestion for a breed to avoid? Or one to look for, to help him have fun and gain confidence.”
Based on my experiences with Sephy, I have observed the following –
1. He absolutely does not like dominant dogs because he will not submit to them.
2. Little dogs don’t like Sephy because he plays in the rough and tumble Shiba style.
3. Dogs that are protective over their space don’t like Sephy because Sephy can’t understand why other dogs don’t appreciate his Shiba-ness 😀
4. Sephy likes playing with other goofy dogs that also like to rough and tumble.
Which are the dogs that your Shiba likes to play with most? What are their attributes? Observe him carefully, and he will tell you what his preferences are.
Here are some of the things I did before getting Shania and right after getting Shania –
Second Dog Before
Second Dog After
wow I found you again but I seem to be on the wrong comment pages. I lost your website when my computer crashed earlier this year. You may rememeber my puppy Bear who is now almost a year old! Its been an exciting year of growth for both me and my Shibas lives! Except for the very occasional heart attack he gives me everything is great! He is getting ready to have a birthday party with some of his doggie friends that also have birthdays around the same time as his. Ok call me crazy having 10 or more dogs playing in my backyard and eating doggie birthday cake! Glad I found you again and point me to where I was commenting back the end of 2009 beginning of 2010!
Hi Kathy,
That sounds like a wonderful party. Sephy says he wants to go too! 😀 So make sure to take lots of pictures and share them with us!
What type of birthday cake are they going to have? I usually do peanut butter, honey, and carrot for Sephy and Shania.
Your previous comments were in the Shiba Inu Personality article. Here are some links –
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traits/comment-page-1#comment-2753
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traits/comment-page-1#comment-3123
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traits/comment-page-1#comment-3143
Hi, I like your site. Very informative. I have a question and you seem to be familiar with shiba inus. I have a 10 month old shiba (boy). I got him a playmate, a girl shiba. She is 2 months old. Do you have any suggestions on how I can introduce them? He is very calm. He plays with other dogs at the park but he also doesnt like them to sniff him. I dont know if this is normal behavior for shibas or my dog is just shy. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Jamie,
That is really interesting. Shiba Sephy is the same way. He does not like strange dogs sniffing his butt. Butt sniffing can sometimes be seen as a dominance move- especially when the dogs don’t know each other well.
http://shibashake.com/dog/the-butt-sniff
When I got my second dog, Siberian Shania, I had Sephy on a lead with me and I had some yummy food that Shania wanted. Shania was a bit shy at first because Sephy was very excited. 😀 She would come over and get some of the food and then move away. She repeated this a few times, and then started playing with Sephy and they have been best friends since.
In the beginning I closely supervised all of their play sessions so that each knew their limits and boundaries. I also set up a routine for puppy so that she didn’t go bug Sephy when he wanted to be alone to sleep. Here are more of my experiences of getting a second dog –
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog
Congratulations on your new puppy! Sounds like your Shiba is already a very good boy so
My Shiba is about 10 weeks old now, should I start her with deworming meds and frontline plus? should this be given every month from here on out??
Hello Quinn,
I would call up your vet and ask him these good questions. My vet told me that getting the dosage exactly right on HeartGuard is very important.
I did not use tick/flea medication on Sephy until he was older. I only went on short neighborhood walks in safe places with Sephy until he got all of his shots – so that was at least a few months in.
Best to get advice from your vet on these issues.
Hi, my Shiba is acting totally different. Her name is Makita and all of a sudden she wants to be a lap dog. She is scared of everything and I don’t know what happened or what is wrong with her. Makita has always slept on my bed and kept to herself but now she wants to be on my lap every second and when I go to bed she hides in the bathroom and she never goes in there. Please any advice you can give me would be great. Thank you
Hello Pam,
Sounds like something really spooked her. Did something happen recently that Makita reacted strongly to? Loud noises? Change in environment?
One way to help her with something like this is to identify the cause/trigger of her stress and then slowly desensitize her to that trigger. If it is a particular noise – then you can record it. Then start playing it back really soft, while doing commands with her and getting her to focus on you. This teaches her to ignore the sound, and rewards her for focusing on you.
My Sibe used to be really afraid of the garbage truck. Every time we saw the truck, she would go into a panic and want to rush home. Therefore, every garbage day, I would sit and do commands with her – first inside the house. Once she was ok with that we slowly moved closer and closer to the door, then we did it with the door open, outside the door, etc. Nowadays she has learned that the garbage truck isn’t so scary after all 😀
Hugs to Makita.