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.
Hi ShibaShake! Thanks for responding, I’m putting another ‘question’ up as I can’t reply to yours for some reason.
Anywho, about my two other dogs. They are literally just hams. They love to be loved and they like to snuggle and just be touched.
The Papillon is an extremely calm dog, only barks when the front door is opened, and the Poodle I sometimes forget is there. He’s that quiet.
After a few days with Max (We’re seriously thinking about calling him Taz now). I’ve discovered that he does the shriek when I pull at his collar when he’s under the table/goes somewhere he doesn’t want to go. He shrieks when I have his food taken away as well.
In a day it seems he’s learned that when I say “no” to him eating at the other dog’s bowl (They like to share), he understands. But he keeps running away to under the table. And when I try to get him out of the table, the Scream commences.
So I put him in time-out, which is at the patio of our apartment. I don’t know how long it appropriate for a Shiba to be put in time out, but I find that I keep him out there from 15-20 minutes on average. When he comes inside. He’s sweet. Until he goes under the table and I have to pull him out and then he screams all over again.
Then I have to put him in time-out it seems for shrieking like that.
It’s a cycle that I don’t know how to fix! With me alone, and with my girlfriend, he’s great. He’s loving. He likes to (for some reason) sit under my legs whenever I’m standing/sitting in a chair and he likes to be touched.
But is the shrieking something that I can mitigate, is it something I can show Max that I don’t appreciate it and like it?
LOL – I like that name. It would suit a Shiba very well.
The under the table thing sounds like he is hiding rather than anything else. I would carefully observe what are all the triggers that cause him to run under the table – is it when there are loud noises? when the other dogs stare at him? when voices are raised? Then he can be slowly desensitized to that trigger so that he no longer sees it as something scary that he needs to run away from.
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-deal-with-bad-dog-behavior#desensitize
Also, what happens if you just leave him under the table? If it is a fear response, going in after him may trigger even more fear, which causes the screaming, etc. In general, I have found that it is most effective to deal with the root of the issue – which is what is triggering the run-under-table behavior in the first place.
Hi, ShibaShake.
My fiancee and I just got a Shiba Inu 2 days ago. Neither of us had read about the Shiba, and its various characteristics (trust me, I wish I had). It’s only Day 2, and I’m so stressed out. I’ve never owned any kind of pets before. Luckily, our work schedule works out fine, and the Shiba is alone during the day for 3 hours, 3 days of the week. Yesterday, while I was driving to work, I wanted to turn back around and just stay home with her lol.
I guess I have a few questions. What’s your method for when she does something bad? (Like biting, which she does mostly in the mornings) Right now I’m starting to say “No!” sternly and grabbing her face so she looks at me when she does it (my fiancee says to grab her by the back of the neck.. what would you suggest). I’m trying not to smack her.
Also, we live in an apartment on the second floor, and when we take her out to potty, she will not go up or down the stairs (she’s 12 weeks old). At what age should I start trying to get her to go up and down the stairs?
And what’s your opinion on the Bark Off?
Thank you so much. Of course, I haven’t gotten much sleep the past 2 nights, and I read in one of your articles that that’ll happen for the next couple weeks. Right now, my fiancee lays down on the floor next to her crate when she’s fussy till she calms down a bit.
Well, I’m not Shiba Shake of course, but I just wanted to comment. I can’t say I’m an experienced Shiba owner yet, I just put a deposit toward a 2 wk old shiba female though…after MASSIVE amounts of research and interviewing shiba owners via email. If you haven’t started on that, trust me you will want to now because there is a LOT to know. Until I did my own research I had no idea how different shibas are from most other breeds, caring for them is -very specific-. The good thing is your puppy is young so you can apply what you learn right away. Just some things I was able to gather: most websites will tell you they are headstrong and difficult to train, so be aware of that. You have to be consistant with your training, and establish your dominance. They also need to be socialized with other dogs and humans at an early age, as well as leash trained. Like I said though, I’m not personally experienced since my puppy hasn’t arrived yet 🙂 but you definitely need to start reading -everything- you can about shibas now. It will help a lot in reducing your stress, I’m sure. Also, everywhere I’ve read says that if you give the puppy an article of clothing of yours to sleep with (anything that smells like you) your scent will soothe them and make them feel more comfortable when they are alone in their crate. One last tip I read: a gentle dominance training trick to use on puppies is holding them in cradled in your arms like you would a baby. They will struggle and whine, but don’t set them down until they have relaxed and given in to being held…this shows them your dominance (or so I read…sounds logical to me though.) Good luck and hope things go well for you!
Yeah, my fiance read about the holding them like a baby thing too.
I read that you don’t wanna put any blankets or clothes in the crate when they’re too young cause that’ll encourage them to eliminate in the crate. Who knows. My fiance and I are both learning. It’s only been two days, but we swear, she’s already gotten a little bigger.
Good luck with your Shiba when you get it! They are so adorable! (Especially when they’re playing with their toys or sleeping next to you)
Keep me posted when you get your Shiba! My email is mishu09 at the site hotmail -dot- com.
** From ShibaShake – Michelle, I edited the email so that it can’t be extracted by web scrappers. In general, it is best not to post your email in a public page. If you want your email totally removed, let me know.
Hello Michelle,
Congratulations on your new Shiba puppy!
When I first got puppy Lara the first two things I taught her were a mark (Yes or Good Girl) and a non-mark (No or Ack-Ack). A mark indicates to her that she is doing something good and it usually followed by a reward. A non-mark indicates to her that she is doing something not-good and is usually followed by an alternate command (and a reward), or a “punishment” which usually means she loses one of her freedoms or does not get something that she really wants.
For biting, I have found that bite inhibition training is very useful for my dogs. Bite inhibition training teaches the dog to have a soft mouth when it comes to people. This is great because even if an accident occurs, and the dog bites on a person, it will likely not cause much if any harm. I mostly do bite inhibition training through hand-feeding.
Here are a couple of articles on dog biting and bite inhibition –
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-biting-how-to-stop-puppy-biting
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-biting-tips-solutions
Sometimes a Shiba can be stubborn though and will not stop biting even after I non-mark and redirect him. In these cases a time-out works best for Shiba Sephy.
Once I have good bite inhibition then I switch to a No-Bite policy, but I still keep up with hand-feeding.
In terms of physical forms of discipline, I tried that with Shiba Sephy when he was young and that did not work out well for us at all. This is the story of my early days with Shiba Sephy –
http://shibashake.com/dog/my-shiba-inu-story
We had a lot of challenges, but things worked out in the end. 😀
With puppy Lara she started going up stairs first. I think that is easier and less scary for them. It was something that I just let her do by herself and when she was ready, she just did it. She probably started doing that after being with us for a couple of weeks – but that would depend on the puppy. It took another couple of more weeks before she tried going down stairs.
I did sometimes play games with her on the stairs – just going up one or two steps with a toy and she would come after me to get it. While playing, she is focused on doing something else, so she doesn’t think about how scary the stairs are. 😀
I have never used Bark Off before. From reading the reviews though, it seems that this method of sound aversion is not very effective with many dogs. Shibas are usually more stubborn than most breeds so I am not sure how well this would work.
Another sound aversion training technique that I did try on Sephy when he was a puppy is to put a bunch of coins in a soda can, tape up the open tab, and then shake the can. Sephy definitely did not like that sound and it worked for more minor types of rule breaking.
However, for more serious things I use a time-out which has been the most effective thing for Shiba Sephy. It also worked very well on Siberian puppy Lara. I only do that for serious things though, like continued biting, leash biting and humping.
This article on puppy training may also be helpful –
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-obedience-training
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
It can definitely work on many dogs, but I think the most important thing is to be flexible and tailor the techniques to suit the individual dog and their own unique personality.
For example, I have seen many people do the baby-cradling move very effectively with their dogs. On Sephy however, it did not work out well. When my other half tried to do that to him, he just got really fearful and had to get away no matter what. Holding a dog like that is taking away his freedom to run away and at the same time putting him in a very vulnerable position (with his belly exposed). If I stranger did that to me – I would be freaking out too. 😀
When Sephy was forced to stay in that position until he was calm, he got so scared that he pooped all over the place.
This taught me to always listen to Sephy and to be flexible about the training techniques that I use.
Hi Shib.
First, I want to say that your blog is simply astounding. You’re a fountain of knowledge and help.
My problem:
I’ve wanted a Shiba since I was a younger boy playing Nintendogs. I saw the wolf-esque looking animal and since then have fell in love with the breed.
I posted an ad on Criagslist saying that I was looking for a Shiba to either buy, or rehome. I was hoping for a female, but instead I got an e-mail saying that a couple was offering a male. The Shiba (Who is named Max, apparently) was just ‘dropped’ on them by a family member and they couldn’t keep it because the girl was allergic to him.
I saw him, and he’s a great guy. He works really well with people it seems and is pretty nice when it comes to us.
However, when any of our other two dogs gets near his toys, or a place that he’s ate, he starts to growl at a worrying rate. I had put food in my papillons bowl to feed him, and Max went in for himself. I tried to take the food away from Max and he started to bare his teeth and growl.
When we brought him home, he immediately ran under a table. I tried to get him out, but he started to make this high pitch shrieking noise (Which I think is what is called the “Shiba Scream”), and I have NO idea how to respond to it.
Was it a mistaking taking in a Shiba under the conditions that we have two other dogs (soon to be one other, my mother is taking our poodle), or should I keep trying?
And if so, could you help in *anyway* possible, with some tips, tricks, some way to establish *myself* as the pack leader?
You’d be saving myself so much time, and heartache. Thank you!
-Michael
(P.S., do male dogs just gravitate towards women more, or is that something that’s a myth?)
Any help at all T_T?
Hello Michael,
Sounds like Max has some resource guarding and food aggression issues. These issues usually arise because every time someone or another dog comes near them, they get their stuff stolen from them – so they feel that they must start guarding. Shibas have a pretty high protection drive, so they are also more likely to guard than the average breed.
There are a variety of ways to reduce this guarding behavior, but food aggression training requires a fair amount of time, supervision, and careful management. It also depends on how often and how long the dog has already been practicing this behavior. Here are a couple of articles on my experiences with food aggression issues –
http://shibashake.com/dog/stop-food-aggression-stop-resource-guarding
http://shibashake.com/dog/resource-guarding-shiba-inu
I would also consider going to see a professional trainer about it. Food aggression issues can be dangerous to people, so it is best to start off on the right foot.
LOL, yeah Shibas do the Shiba Scream when they find themselves in a situation that is really not to their liking. Shiba Sephy used to do that with my dog walker when she tried to force him to walk in a heel position.
The running under the table thing sounds like he is just unsure about his new surroundings. Shiba Sephy actually did that at the breeder’s house when we tried to put a collar on him.
The way I deal with the Shiba Scream depends on why Shiba is doing it. For things that he is fearful about (e.g. running under the table because of the collar), I make sure to desensitize him to it when we are home, in a quiet place, and when I have a good amount of time for training.
If Sephy is just whining or screaming because he wants something, like for me to open the door for him then I totally ignore him until he stops and is calm. Once he shows the behavior that I want, then I open the door for him.
If he is outside and whining then he loses his outside freedom and has to come in the house. If he continues to scream he either just gets ignored or he gets put in time-out.
I have found that with the Shiba Scream, the worst thing to do is to give Shiba a strong reaction because that is what Shiba is usually looking for. However, if he gets no reaction or just a calm time-out, then it is no fun for Shiba and he will stop and try something else.
That is very difficult to say. It would depend on the temperaments of the dogs, the people, the amount of time, etc. It certainly does sound like a challenge though. It would of course be much easier to get a dog that does not already have food aggression and guarding issues.
Heh, not in my experience. I think dogs gravitate towards the people who spend the most time with them, and give them the most resources (food, play, etc.). Actually there was a study that indicated that both wolves and dogs can pick out people who are in a more attentive state and these are the people they will beg from. 😀
Hello Shiba Shake,
I love your website is has so much great advice about the shiba inu’s. I was walking today in the pack when I fell in love with a dog went to the owner and asked few questions about him that’s when he told me its a japanese breed called shiba inu, he gave me the breeders number and everything but I have never owned a pet before and I am more of a cat person than a dog but from what he told me that they behave similar to cats. From reading your website its seems to be a challenge to train and maintain a shiba inu this is my very first time what advice do you have for me what should I where and where do I start? Thank you very much I appreciate all your help!
Love you website,
Othman
Hello Othman,
I got a Shiba as my first dog and it was definitely a big challenge for me. 😀 It is doable – but will require more time and effort than many other breeds. Also, unlike most other dogs, Shibas tend to be a lot more aloof (this is one of their more cat-like characteristics.)
Shibas also have pretty high prey drive, so they have to be trained to get along with house cats.
Looking back, I think I would have started with a different breed and then get the Shiba as a second dog. In this way, I would already know a lot of the general dog stuff from my first dog, and can focus on the Shiba specific stuff with my second dog.
However, I am also a big believer in getting the dog that we want most. Dogs are a lot of work, a lot of money, and can sometimes be a big pain in the ass, so it is important not to have any regrets over the look, breed, and temperament of the dog that we choose to share our lives with.
If you are interested in getting a Shiba Inu, check out the breeder list on the National Shiba Club of America –
http://www.shibas.org/breeders.html
When I was looking for my second dog, a Siberian Husky, this is what I did –
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-buy-a-siberian-husky-puppy#how
Here is what to look out for in terms of finding a good breeder –
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-buy-a-siberian-husky-puppy#breeder
Let me know if you have more questions.
Hello Shibashake
What email can I send the photos to?
Thanks
Doug
I have a dog that looks very much like a Shiba but I am unsure. How can I tell?
Is it possible to send a photo to you?
Many thanks
Doug
Hello Doug,
I love looking at Shiba pictures so please feel free to post a link or send a photo to me. However, I would only be guessing as to his breed. You would probably know better than me because you have first hand knowledge of his temperament and quirks.
A more accurate way of identifying a dog’s breed is to do DNA testing. There are now a variety of places that offer dog DNA testing and they range in price from about $50-$100.
Unfortunately I have also forgotten what email address I should send the photos to.
Dear Shibashake,
I am very sorry that I have not sent you my dog birthday photos I have been extremely busy, I will send them as soon as I can.
No worries Winton. I will send you an email.
Hi
Can you provide me your email address. I need to ask something about blog.
Hi ShibaShake!
I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I love Shiba Inu’s and have wanted one for a few years and a few weeks ago I found one on craiglist for only $600 and she’s 8-9 months old with the most interesting markings I have ever seen on a Shiba Inu, so I was ecstatic and asked my mom if she could call Inuki’s (the Shiba Inu) owner and see if we could meet her. So we met her a few days ago and she’s a beautiful dog, but she did almost everything that you said in your blog wasn’t good to let a Shiba Inu do. She tugged and chewed on her leash, did the ‘alligator-roll’, ate leaves, sticks, etc. and she got so bored and frustrated that she started grabbing the tips of my hair and ripping it! The owner didn’t see her rip my hair, but everything else he did see and he just chuckled at them. He told us that at home, when he’s working she’ll take his dirty clothes and scatter them or put her paw on his hand and force it off of the desk and when he’s walking around she’ll snap at the air in front of his feet. He thinks it’s funny and cute and I did too (except for the snapping at the air part) until I read your blog. We told the owner that we needed a few days to think about it and after we left my mom said that we shouldn’t get her since the owner let’s her do all that stuff and it’ll be too hard to teach her not to do that stuff since she’s almost 1 year old.
So that’s my dilemma, ha ha. What do you think or suggest I should do? I’d really love to get Inuki, but I’m worried about her little ‘habits’.
Hello Jennifer,
Heh, when I first got my Shiba I didn’t do much research so he developed a lot of bad habits. Then I used aversive techniques on him which didn’t work out well at all. After about 6 months, we finally started on the right track with careful management and reward training. It took me another 6 months to reverse most of my earlier mistakes, but lucky for me it is always possible to retrain undesirable dog behaviors.
Shibas are stubborn though, so retraining will be more of a challenge than with many other dog breeds.
If this is your first Shiba, it may be best to go with a puppy or well-trained adult. Check out the breeder list on The National Shiba Club of America for AKC registered breeders in your area.
http://www.shibas.org/breeders.html
Many of them will have websites. Then give some of them a call to see if they have upcoming litters or even trained adults that they want to place. AKC breeders have strict breeding guidelines and they usually breed healthy dogs with good temperament.
Do you already have other dogs? If so, it is probably easier to get a puppy.
This article is about getting Siberian Husky puppies but many of the things apply to Shiba puppies as well. It may be an interesting read –
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-buy-a-siberian-husky-puppy
Hello Shibashake,
Just been surfing and found your site. I have a couple questions i hope some one can answer for me. I adopted my Shiba 2 years ago, Bella will be 5 in June. I just LOVE this lil girl to bits. However, just recently she has been getting a little nippy in the past few days. Bella put on a few pounds this past winter. No more bread and butter from the table, I swear! But now she hasn’t been eating much. We have been doing major spring cleaning. Could this be the reason? She normally has the run of the house but since the cleaning,washing carpets and walls etc., her space is limited. Bella ran down the stairs and strained her back paw. Could this contribute to the “nipping”. Also, this year she hates to walk. Last year as soon as i put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher she was at the door. Now I have to chase her around the house. Shut doors, block off the stairs.Bella just runs and hides. But once i get her lease on she is ready to go. She will “trot” the whole time, for spite i think. I must admit after 15 minutes of running around the house and i don’t lasso her. i just give up. How can I get her out the door?
Again I love my very much dog!
Hello Dakota,
It could be. When Sephy is in pain he gets more mouthy than usual. I guess he feels more vulnerable and views more things as threats. Might want to consider taking her to the vet just in case.
Hmmm, Sephy will try to do this sometimes. A game of chase before a fun walk is always better than just a fun walk. 😀
If he runs away, I go about my business and then go out to put on my shoes. Then I come in again and count to 3. If he does not come, I take off my shoes and he does not get to go walk. I try again after a couple of hours.
Usually, when I go out to put on my shoes, he will come to the door and be ready for his walk.
Hugs to Bella. Let us know how it goes.