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! I just recently adopted my first shiba baby! I’m already in love with her.
She has some allergies and skin issues I have been trying to resolve since I adopted her last month. She’s extremely sensitive to flea bites, and due to information I received from when she was rescued, has the capacity to bite off all her fur and leave sores just to alleviate the pain/itch. Granted she was bald and covered in sores when she was first surrendered, she has now regrown about 95% of her fur. Although, I think her double-coat is still coming in, there are some areas that are uneven due to minor scars, and a few areas she still bites at on rare occasions. She’s been to the vet and is up to date on rabies and flea meds, and will be going back for her yearly visit and to get heart worm meds in a week. She was also checked for demo due to severity of her skin condition when she was brought in, and came up negative. THANK GOD!!! However I was wondering if you could give me some advice on a couple of different things.
First, I was wondering what kind of heart worm prevention you would recommend. Comfortis is the only medication that she is currently on, besides a small dosage of wild salmon oil I picked up to help with her skin issues, and the occasional allergy pill (half a 25mg tablet, Pro-Pet brand, Diphenhydramine HCl) I give her when her itching seems to be excessive. I don’t want to give her anything that would conflict with these.
Second, she has the tendency to sit down after she eats, lick the fur on her paws and bite her nails. I have changed her food twice, and she is currently on a no-grain high quality food. Could it be that this is just a habit of hers, like a nervous tick or compulsion? I have tried to make her stop and she just gets up, walks around, then sits and does it more until I reprimand her again.
I’d appreciate any help or advice! THANKS!
Hello Sarah,
Congratulations on your new Shiba! She is absolutely beautiful. I really like her long legs and body proportions. 4 paws up for rescuing her!
1. In terms of heart-worm all my dogs are on Heartgard. According to my vet it is very important to get dosing right, and as you say, it is also important that it does not conflict with other medications. It is definitely a good thing to discuss with your vet. My vet is the one that recommended Heartgard so that was what we went with. I haven’t done any in-depth research into it myself, so I can’t say if it is the best. However, I have not encountered any problems with it so far.
2. In terms of paw licking, Sephy does a fair amount of that as well. Sephy is pretty fastidious and spends a fair amount of time grooming. I think it is a common Shiba trait. They are very clean dogs, which is one of the reasons many people liken them to cats.
How often does she do it per day? How does her paw look and feel? Does she allow you to touch her paw? Is her paw sensitive? Does she walk comfortably? Depending on frequency, it could just be a grooming thing. To be safe though, it is best to get the vet to check her paws when you go back.
I am sorry I can’t be of more help, but with health issues it is best to consult with the vet. I usually just call them up and chat with the vet tech. They are pretty good about giving advice on what it could be, what to look out for, and whether it is an emergency situation.
Btw. did you make the drawing on the photobucket gallery? It looks very good, very anime-ish.
Hugs to Shiva. Great name – is she named after Final Fantasy Shiva?
Shiva’s name is actually from the Sanskrit word (and the Hindu god). I picked it cause it means “kind” & “pure” in some translations, and because she’s pure white, except for little red tips on her ears!!! I Also have a bit of a thing for anything Indian. The friend I adopted her from introduced me to Indian food, which then inspired me to really learn about their culture, instead of just eating their amazing food, so it seemed appropriate!
I’m taking Shiva to the vet for her yearly checkup in a week when I get paid again, so I will definitely bring up my concerns then. I think there’s a good possibility I am just being an anxious mommy because Shiva is the first dog I’ve had since I moved out of my parents home back in ’08. I really want to do what’s best for her.
Her paw pads look fine thankfully. I was worried that maybe it was a grass allergy, but I discovered she does this even if she’s off the grass. She ‘grooms’ herself in excess of thirty minutes most times and one one of her paws has done it enough to thin the fur causing pink to show through. Any who, I will definitely bring it up to the vet.
Also, I tried that treat thing you mentioned on part of your blog on new years – where you stuff a kong with wet dog food and freeze it. Shiva looooved it! I didn’t expect such a great reaction from her, but i was very pleased.
Shiva also did something that she’s never really done before yesterday. It kind of melted my heart into a puddle. When I was petting her after i got home from work, she snuggled against me as close as she could get and leaned into my hands. I can’t even describe how good it feels to have her do that. It was like a doggie hug!
As for the other picture on my photobucket, yes i did draw it. Art’s kind of a thing of mine. I used to draw in a more anime-style but after I went to an art program at SCAD a few times I incorporated a few of the realistic tricks I learned into my character drawings. =)
Thank you for getting back to me! I really appreciate the advice.
Let us know how it goes. Would love to learn more about heart worm medications, and the paw thing.
That sounds awesome. Shiva sounds like a big time sweetie! My Sibe Shania does something similar, and it is the best thing ever. Shania also senses when I am upset and she will come over and give me hugs and licks. Dogs are the best! 😀
Have you tried 3D art? There are some really fun things that can be done with the 3d tools available nowadays. Anyway, would love to see more of your art. Please share a link with us when you have the time.
Bigs hugs to Shiva!
Hello, my name is Kassie and i am about to be the proud owner of a shiba inu min pin mix and i had a few questions about the wonderful breed. First i wanted to know about how old is a shiba when their tail curls? Second my puppy (Kuma) is a very calm and relaxed puppy, does this mean he will grow up and be just as calm? Third i want to know what toys the breed loves the most. I bought him a wide variety of toys but i would like to know their favorite. Now i understand all dogs are their own but im inquiring about the generalities of the breed. Here is some information about my puppy Kuma. As of right now he is 4 weeks old, he is half shiba inu on his dads side and minature pinscher on his moms side. Both parents are full blodded. He, as a puppy, looks exactly like a black and tan shiba pup and looks nothing like a min pin. his behavior is very calm and relaxed he rarely cries or wines and is a major cuddler. He sleeps ALOT! Hope to hear soon so i am better equiped to handle his home coming!!! Thank you!
Hello Kassie,
Congratulations on your new puppy.
Hmmm, I don’t remember for sure. I think Sephy’s tail was curly from the beginning. Sephy has a double curl in his tail, so it looks like a bob tail.
Puppies and even dogs are usually more calm and quiet when we first get them. They are in a new environment, so they spend some time learning the ropes and figuring out their new environment. Many people refer to this as a honeymoon period. Sephy got all feisty after a couple of days though. He is a very bold dog, so it took him about two days to figure out that we were harmless. 😀
Also, young puppies sleep a lot when they are young. A 4 week old puppy would likely spend a good amount of time sleeping. In terms of temperament, this is something that the breeder can observe over multiple puppy play sessions. With my Sibes, Shania and Lara, I specifically asked my breeder to pick a puppy that is more submissive.
In terms of games, Sephy really likes chasing games. He likes playing flirt-pole and also the water-hose game. Some Shibas really do not like water though, so this is also based on individual temperament. Here are a couple of articles on my experiences with dog toys.
http://shibashake.com/dog/best-dog-toys
http://shibashake.com/dog/fun-dog-toys
Good luck with Kuma and take lots of puppy pictures! 😀
Thank you so much for your reply. Sadly i dont think Kuma will have a curlly tail 🙁 i went and visited him today and his tail only slightly curls:(and only when he is happy or excited, but thats ok i love him just the way he is. Today he was more playful and high spirited than previous meetings but he started to attack my furry boots( ah habit i will have to break early) he seems more happy gnawing on my finger than any toy ive showed him so we will see how that changes as he grows. Again thank you for your help!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=298291080214179&set=a.288850274491593.64827.100000998670578&type=1&theater here is one picture of him!
Hello Kassie,
Thanks for sharing Kuma’s picture. I love looking at puppies. I was unable to access it though. It says “This content is currently unavailable”. Perhaps it is not publicly shared?
Oh yeah thats probably why try again i made sure that album is public not private go ahead and look at all his pictures from birth to recent.
Awww, he is such a cute little thing! His siblings are also adorable.
Love the bath pictures. Do they enjoy the water? Shiba Sephy generally dislikes water unless it is in service of play.
Given that was his first bath his sisters complained more than he did. as long as i was holding him or talking to him he was alright. He absolutely hated the blow dryer though so we had to stop. other than that he didn’t seem to mind it.
hello again, just an update i got kuma on the 8th and let me tell you its been a whorl wind of an adventure. the first night was the longest night of my life lol the second was so much better! he is only six weeks and he already understands that outside is the place i want him to do his business:) he is such a sweet little boy:)
That is awesome Kassie! He sounds like a really clever and good boy. Definitely put up more pictures, they grow up really quickly. 😀
He is way to clever for only six weeks. I started kennel training him the first night to get him use to being in it while im away and at first he didnt want anything to do with it but after about 2 days he realized it was harmless and recently i would place him in there after he had fallen asleep but leave the door open so he would know he is in there because he wants to be instead of him having to be. Now when he falls asleep on me i pick him up and put him by the door and he walks in and falls back to sleep. its only a mater of time before he goes in it to sleep on his own:) he certainly has the cunning of a shiba inu thats for sure 🙂
That is a great way to crate train a puppy!
Go slowly, always make crate experiences positive, get them used to a routine of sleeping in the crate, and very quickly they will be doing it themselves. I should post something about this.
Kuma is a very lucky puppy! 😀
Thank you :)kuma is now 9 weeks going on 10 and im having a few problems. Kuma gets bored with his food very easily. to begin we had him on just plain old dry food but he would only eat little bites a lot through out the day and night but i was worried he wasn’t getting what he needed so i found a lamb flavored wet food and mixed it with the dry and at first he couldn’t get enough of it. After a few days he went back to eating just little amounts. So i started mixing baked shredded chicken and steamed chopped baby carrots(his favorite treats) and he would eat it but we went back to dry food after he ate too many carrots one night and got sick. now we are mixing chicken and beef wet food with shredded chicken with broth and mixed in dry food and for now he is loving it but i can tell he is getting bored. I dont know how to please him so he can eat as much as he should. Any suggestions? My vet said that when he reaches 6 pounds to start a plan to feed him 3 times a day and to only allow a specific amount of time to let him eat it and it should correct it but im not so sure… he is stubborn like a shiba :)speaking of which another one of my problems is his stubbornness. he is a great boy… when he wants to be and when something is in it for him. i will tell him not do do something and i know he understands but he goes back and does it again. ive even removed him from a situation and even a room and he goes right back and does it again. for example i have plants in my living room that he wants to eat and ill tell him no and ill try to get him to chew his toy instead or take him out of the room and the next time he is in it he goes back to chewing them. i dont know how to stop him do you?
LOL! I went through the same thing with Sephy! I also mixed in wet with dry, at which point Sephy would just lick up the wet food and not want to eat the kibble. Then I ground up the dry food and mixed it in with the wet, at which point Sephy would only eat little bits of it. Then I started mixing in boiled chicken, bacon, cheese, etc.
Finally, I decided that he could stand to lose some weight, so if he did want to eat, that is fine. I only gave him his food at very fixed times, and only for a fixed duration, just as your vet suggested. He skipped a few meals, but after some time, he got hungry and started eating plain kibble. 😀
Now, I also make him work for all of his food, including his kibble. He does commands, grooming, etc. and whatever is left over he gets through interactive food toys.
Sephy used to love chewing up my books. I would no-mark him (ack-ack) and body block him away. Then as you say, I get him to do something else. If he keeps coming back to chew books though, he goes to timeout. I start with very short timeouts, maybe 30 seconds to 1 minute. If he chews books again when he gets out of timeout, then he goes back in for a slightly longer period of time.
He stopped doing it once he realized that trying to chew books means he loses his freedom in the house.
Hugs to Kuma! Let us know how it goes. 😀
Thank you i will try that. Just an update kumas tail does curl but not as much as a shiba 🙂
Hey its me again 🙂 so kuma eats fine now thankfully… but he will eat everything in my front and back yard 🙁 like twigs leafs he will even try to eat rocks… what do i do? he also barks at everyone and as hard as i try to hush him i cant get him to stop. another problem i have is him letting me clip his nails. as a younger pup he loved it when i played with his paws now he wont even let me get close???? help please?
Hello Kassie,
In terms of the barking at people, doing people desensitization exercises may be helpful. Make sure to go slowly, be calm, and set the dog up for success.
In terms of handling exercises, I find that it is something that I have to keep up with throughout Sephy’s life. For example, in the early days, I got Sephy used to us putting on his collar. After he got used to it, I just left on his flat collar and didn’t do any collar exercises for a while. After some time, Sephy got sensitive to collar handling again. Now, we do collar exercises with him every day.
I also do not do nail clipping with Sephy because we had some bad experiences with that early on and I hit the quick of his nail while clipping. Now, I only do nail grinding with Sephy about once every week. I get someone to feed him his favorite fish treat, and I grind his nails while he eats.
Here is more on what I did to grind Shiba Sephy’s nails.
Heh, yeah Sephy was like that as well. Puppies like to examine everything with their mouth. Sephy ate a used rubber one time – YUCK! – and got sick from it. Luckily he puked the whole thing out. I find that what works best with Sephy is to watch him like a hawk when out on walks. I make sure to prevent him from going after any street trash, and also do not let him go under bushes, which was where he got the rubber.
Sometimes he will shred twigs and sticks. He doesn’t eat the wood, but just likes shredding it, so I let him play with it. Otherwise, I bring some toys along and get him to redirect on the toy. Making the walk interesting by playing the “Find-It” game and doing footwork exercises can also help.
For the barking at people part i walk him almost every day and i try to keep him calm when i see a person coming and when he doesnt bark i reward him heavily with affection and that seems to start to be having an effect. Kuma doesnt like having his nails grinded either :/its hard to have anyone help me with him but when i get the chance ill try it.
Glad to hear that things are getting better.
My Sibe puppy Lara can also get vocal people, especially when they talk to her. I find that using distance can help, and also telling the person to ignore her. Usually, I will move into a driveway and get Lara to do focus exercises with me. If she stays calm, I let her watch. If she gets too excited, I move a certain distance away and try again.
Hugs to Kuma!
Great article as always! I really love your blog and feel like I’m getting a little bit on the stalker-ish side with how much I read all of your articles, lol. I am getting a two year old Shiba and I’m excited that I won’t have to deal with the training, but I’m a little sad that I am missing out on the puppy years. Anyway, I know Sephy is 5 years old now, but I was wondering what he was like at 2 years old? Was he still playful and energetic like a puppy at times? Am I missing a lot by getting a 2 years old?
Thanks for in advance for answering my questions! 😀
Hello Rin,
Sephy is still playful and energetic at 5. He is more calm than he was as a puppy, but he plays a lot with the Sibes, and when we least expect it, he will pull-out one of his “Shiba moves”.
Truthfully, I would have been very happy to skip Sephy’s first year of terror. 😀
Congratulations on your new Shiba. Let us know how it goes when you get him and share some pictures with us.
Can you please tell me the average length of a Shiba Inu from the tip of it’s nose to the rump (base of tail) – cannot find info anywhere. Thank you.
Sorry, no idea. I could measure Sephy but he is a large Shiba so he wouldn’t be average.
The more I read your postings, the more I fall in love with this dog. We must have gotten the exception with ours. He is mostly obedient, loves to “bring” stuff that you throw for him. He initiates play all the time and becomes very indignant when we don’t have time when he wants it.
He will sit, down, roll over, high five, give paw, play dead, stay (mostly) and loves visitors.
We recently took him to a town celebration where the people were passing by in droves. This was a training session for him to learn to be calm in that sort of setting. He was touchy at first, but with good treats, encouragement from us and a calm firm hand, it was a great sucess.
He is excitable with other dogs, whining and crying to see them. Once he is calm, he will greet, but then turn in an instant. This is my only complaint. He is so crazy when other dogs are around. Any suggestions?
Yeah, Sephy is pretty reactive to other dogs at all. What has worked really well for Sephy is to create neutral experiences and just move along. I also did a fair amount of desensitization exercises with him when he was young.
Here are more on our experiences with other dogs.
We’re on our 3rd shiba. Love them but I can’t remember when they learn the shiba smile. I remember that the previous puppy took a while to smile and then never stopped. Ideas?
BTW, great site esp. for newbies.
What an interesting question! I am not sure when Sephy ‘grinned’ for the first time.
I was pretty clueless about Shibas in the beginning, so there was not much grinning in our household for the first few months. But Shiba Sephy is a great teacher, and got me in shape in no time. 😀
Nowadays, the thing that is sure to get Sephy grinning is scratching him on the right spots. He really likes being scratched under his rear leg, right at the part where it connects to his body. Often, he will roll over, ask for scratches, and start grinning!
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-scratch-zones
Any tips for nail trimming? My little sheebs used to never have a problem with it and for some reason has decided in his little shiba brain that nail trimming is the ultimate torture. I’ve never cut his nails too short and try to make the process as calm as possible (treats, baby talk, etc), so I’m not sure why he’s decided to throw a fit every time the trimmers come out. Screaming, squirming, the works. It takes at least two people to get the job done.
He’s also started obsessively rubbing his face on the carpet. Morning ritual consists of stretching, running out of his crate, commence rubbing his face on the rug for the next five minutes. I’m sure it must feel good, but he’s gotten to the point where he’s rubbed the fur and whiskers off from his snout.
Thanks in advanced for any advice you have to offer!
Hello Vanessa,
Sounds like it could be some sort of allergy. I would consider calling up the vet and seeing what they say.
Shiba Sephy gets easily irritated when he is not feeling in tip-top shape. If he is not feeling well, I think he starts to feel vulnerable, and will generally not let people handle him. It could be that the nail trimming issue is a mood or vulnerability thing that is related to the allergy issue.
With Shiba Sephy, I use a nail grinder to groom his nails.
http://www.squidoo.com/groom-shiba-inu
I will be more than honest, my shiba ( Charlie) is an absolute love, he has all of the listed traits, some more than others LOL! patience is key, as well as calmness in handling, Charlie, was easily housebroken, trained to sit, give paw, as well as Fetch!!!..which we routinely do daily, Socialization of this breed with larger dogs, I find is key for friendly manner developement, he is an ALPHA by far, wit the smaller breeds, and that I find bothersome, but that is their personality, Charlie is the celebrity in my neigborhood, and is a total creature of habit, as we do the exact same hour long walk, so he can do his neighborly visiting of both my friends, as well as their dogs!!, and yes, he whimpers if I try to go in a different direction, so continuity is key with them….also the sound effects from him are quite Hilarious, especially when he wants a nibble of my dinner, all in all, it is true owning a Shba Inu, is not like owning your ordinary dog, they are different all in themselves, and I wouldn’t change a thing about him, and am proud to say, I am a Shiba Inu owner…..he brings so much character and happiness into my life, if you are up to it, then by all means get one….but they are not your standard house breed, they need stimulation, and lots of lots of exercise…the constant long and ENJOYABLE walks, have not only help me get back into shape, but have also helped me to decompress after a long day as well…
Charlie sounds like a wonderful Shiba!
Sephy will maybe fetch one or two balls, if he is in the mood, but most of the time he just gives me the Shiba-look. 😀
That is so very true, and what a positive way to see things. The walks also help me decompress, and to think of things in new ways. Usually I will be struggling with some programming issue, and when I get back from the walk, I have figured out several new ways to attack it.
Hugs to Charlie!
Hi
ThisI kuala I love the info you talked about
I walk dogs and one of the dogs I walk is a shiba inu
.I agree they are soo cute and I get alot of comments like
“omg it looks like a little fox”.personly I love dogs that’s why I started walking them.
Does shiba inus like clothes ?
Thank you Kuala.
Heh, I think that generally, they don’t. Sephy will not let me put anything on him, not even a bandanna! Other Shibas are probably more tolerant, but they still just tolerate. 😀
Good luck with your dog walking business.
Just got mine from a friend recently he’s a year and a half old. He’s stubborn as hell but cowardly. He’s been great though, not a barker, does like attention and being around people, fairly active dog but doesn’t mind lounging for hours as well. He loves the Kong toys I’ve bought him, so perhaps this helps maintain their interest? I don’t know but he’s been smooth sailing so far…knock on wood!
Hello Franco,
Congratulations on your Shiba! It is good to hear that he is doing so well.
As you say, I think as long as they get enough of the right attention and exercise, they are actually fairly low maintenance (except maybe when going to the vet). Also, I noticed my Shiba calming down a lot after he turned 1, so maturity is probably also part of the equation. Good early training also helps. 😀
When Sephy was young, one of the most difficult areas to deal with was his mouthiness. But he has gotten a whole lot better about that.
Hugs to your Shiba!