I really like Spitz type dogs, so I am owned by a Shiba Inu and a Siberian Husky. They are both great friends, but have somewhat different personalities.
Which is better – Shiba or Siberian?
You decide – a cookie is at stake!
1. Pretty Face
Shiba Inus look like foxes and Siberian Huskies look like wolves.
Both breeds of dog are extremely good looking, so it is a matter of taste as to which you like better.
Shibas are a small dog breed, with the males weighing about 18-25 pounds, and females weighing about 15-20 pounds. Sephy weighs about 32 pounds! He is a BIG Shiba!
Siberians are medium sized dogs with the males weighing about 45-60 pounds, and the females weighing about 35-50 pounds. Shania weighs about 43 pounds.
Many people get Shibas because of their small size which makes them more ideal for living in an apartment.
2. Brain Power
If you look at the breed descriptions for Shibas and Siberians, they are both listed as very intelligent and independent.
Siberian Shania is intelligent because she is very good at figuring out how to work her interactive food toys. She is always refining her technique, and very quickly, she identifies the most time efficient way to get the most food out per time.
Shiba Inu Sephy?
Usually he just waits around for Shania to work on all the toys. When she gets the food out, he will come around and pick up most of the stuff that she leaves behind. In this way, he gets to have the food with the least amount of effort.
Another important difference is that Shibas are usually more careful and deliberate. In contrast, Siberians are exuberant, with a more devil-may-care attitude.
Shiba’s size the situation up before proceeding, where Siberians just rush in and then try to figure out what the heck to do now!
~~[BruceB]
Sephy is always very careful about approaching new things, he will sniff his food carefully before eating, and he tries to always “look before he leaps”. Shania and Lara are both more likely to leap first and worry later, if at all. 😀
Who is more intelligent?
I think they both are, but in very different ways. Shiba Sephy is more of a rogue and a scamp. In fact, he has used his brain power to great effect against his daycare custodians and his dog walker. Here is Shiba Inu Sephy’s resume.
Siberian Shania will usually work within the system. If you tell her to stop doing something, she will do so, and look for an alternate activity on her own.
3. Energy
My Siberian has A LOT more energy than my Shiba Inu.
Shania is frequently on the go. Even after a 2 hour hike in the hills, she is still going and going – just like the Energizer Bunny! This is even more amazing because she is a three legged dog.
She is always bugging my Shiba Inu to play with her, while he is usually pooped out and sunning his royal self.
If you live an active lifestyle, or want a good exercise coach – a Siberian Husky is a great walking and running partner.
If you prefer to hang out on the couch, then the Siberian will likely drive you crazy.
Shibas are easier to leash train and they require much less exercise. My Shiba gets a 1 hour walk in the morning, and a brief 20 minute walk in the evening and he is good the rest of the day.
4. Temperament
If you are looking for a friendly and affectionate dog, then Siberians are the way to go.
Shania loves being with people and will often come over and hang out with us. Shiba Sephy likes to have his people around in case he needs anything, but he prefers to be off by himself.
Siberian Shania likes scratch, hug, and pet sessions. She will roll onto her back and sometimes let her tongue just hang out. It is very goofy looking.
Shiba Sephy enjoys the occasional scratch session, but if you do it too frequently, he will just get up and walk away …
He is that cool! 🙂
Shiba Inus are great guard dogs and are always on the alert. On the other hand, Siberians are happy to invite anyone and everyone into the house.
5. Vet Visits
Vet visits are never fun for any dog, but Shiba Sephy takes it to a whole new level.
He is fine in the waiting room, and he is fine hanging out in the examination room while Shania gets examined. However, woe be to you if you try to get near him or touch him in any way while at the vet’s office.
Shiba Sephy has to be anesthetized for any type of vet examination. One time he just sprained his toe while we were hiking, but he would not let anyone come near to examine him, or even just to look at it closely.
Siberian Shania does not really like to be poked and prodded either, but she is willing to endure a vet examination without muss or fuss. She takes her yearly shots like a champ, and gets to come home in short order. Poor Shiba Sephy has to be anesthetized, and stays over for at least half a day.
Shiba or Siberian?
Which do you think is better?
Shiba Sephy is a rogue, but a very sweet rogue. He shares all of his toys and resources with Shania, and often lets her use him as a fuzzy chew toy. He is usually careful while playing with her, and lets her win most of the time.
Siberian Shania is sweet and always ready to give licks. She loves people, loves getting affection, and is always up for play, a hike, a walk, or whatever activity you have planned for the day.
She is independent and enjoys spending time hunting for insects and squirrels in our backyard. She has never destroyed anything when left on her own, because she usually finds positive activities to keep herself occupied.
Shiba Sephy, on the other hand, is usually up to no good 😀
I have to say, I read every article you had before I got my Shiba puppy a year and a half ago, and your website has been a great help and resource for me! I have an 8 year old (yesterday) Husky named Apache that we thought needed a friend when he moved out of my in laws and in with my boyfriend shortly before we got my now 1 1/2 year old Shiba named Jax. My dogs are quite opposite of yours – my husky is incredibly lazy (though I’m sure that’s thanks to his age), and my shiba is a crazy little guy!
After a LOT of misbehaving, to include urinating on my bed, referencing your website, and a major surgery involving having the head of his femur cut off (he had a congenital bone disease) my shiba has become a huge cuddle bug!
Admittedly, the first three months he put me in tears of frustration many times thanks to his extremely smart and stubborn nature. I was sure I’d never get another Shiba if I survived him. Today, he is the love of my life. He sleeps right next to me, and has to be touching me if he’s laying near me.
All of that being said, THANK YOU! Thank you for being a reliable and knowledgeable source for those of us who have breed specific questions!
Thank you very much Megan and very big hugs to Apache and Cuddle Bug! 😀
I can’t get over how happy I am to find your site. Your information is dead on, and after reading it is reassuring to me that my 2 dogs are “normal”. I have a 7 year old female Husky and a 5 year old male Shiba Inu (which I rescued 3 years ago) it was a challenge at first dealing with the aggression, but he has definitely changed most of his ways, which is good since I am in the process of rescuing a 1 1/2 year old male Husky. Do you have any insight about the addition and if my Shiba will protest another dog?
Yeah, my Shiba (5 yo at the time) didn’t like it when we first brought home a second Husky pup. Some things that helped with my Shiba –
1. I made sure to pick a dog that would suit his temperament, play style, etc. Sephy (male Shiba) is more on the dominant side so I made sure that both my Huskies are more submissive. Both my Huskies are also female and like the same style of wrestling as Sephy does.
2. I try to maintain consistency and certainty. Sephy really needs a fixed routine so I made sure to set up a fixed routine for the new puppy and to keep Sephy’s routine as consistent and similar to his old routine as possible. This helps to create certainty, and certainty helps to reduce stress for everyone, especially Sephy.
3. I set up clear rules for the new dog and supervise her closely. I make sure she leaves my other dogs alone when they do not want to be disturbed. I want to minimize negative interactions so that my existing dogs learn that the new pup will not degrade/overly disrupt their current quality of life.
4. I try to maximize positive and rewarding instances. I do group obedience training, structured/supervised play, and more, so that my existing dogs learn that the new pup will be a big enhancement to their quality of life.
More on what I do when introducing a new dog to my existing dogs.
More on how I picked my second and third dogs.
It took about 2 weeks before Sephy accepted Lara into his circle of trust.
Thank you so much, you have given me some great ideas. Keeping my Shibas routine and his relationship with me the same I think will have the best end result for all involved.
I love this! Thank you for sharing. This is what my husband and I’s near future family will look like so was nice to read about all the interactions etc. I do realised all dogs have their own personality, but I’m sure there is a lot there I will probably experience. Your two are simply gorgeous! And when you said fox/wolf – then it clicked why we want that pairing two. We were gratefully raised in nature and no matter how much we have been living in the city – haven’t lost that connection. Showing through our animal choices too. ha
All the best!
Thank you Monica. Hope you will send us some puppy pictures down the road. 😀
I don’t agree with you assessment of a Siberian as a dog that will “just invite anyone in”…In my experience that is far from the truth. Our husky wouldn’t let anyone within 20 feet of the porch.
It is my understanding that Sibes are bred to have an affectionate nature, and that is certainly my experience with my Huskies. However, each dog is an individual and his behavior is driven not only by genetics but also by context, training, socialization, and past experiences.
My Siberian Husky Loves EveryonE Who Enters Our Home. He Wants To Jump And Play With Everyone.
It’s so interesting to learn about everyone’s different experiences with shibas and huskies. I myself have a seven year old shiba that, while mischievous and untrustworthy off leash during her first three years, has grown into a calm, sweet girl. (A microchip and a tag with your number on it will save you from heartache). For most of her life she has had other dog friends and has never met another dog she didn’t like (submissive around dominant dogs). Now my pup has a new pekignese roommate, and while my shiba is content to curl up in her bed after a half hour walk, the peke will gladly spend all day in my lap. I had been considering adopting a husky before my pekignese adopted me and am wondering now how well a husky would get along with other (small non dominant) dogs. Have you had much experience introducing your two pups to other small, lap dog types?
I currently do not have any house cats or small lapdogs.
Lara has met little neighborhood dogs before and she seems fine with them. However, they were brief meetings and I did not let her play with them. In Lara’s case, I would be most concerned about the little dog getting accidentally hurt during play. Both my Huskies like wrestling and roughhousing, so a small dog may get overwhelmed with this kind of play.
Huskies also have high prey drive, for example, both my Sibes are pretty crazy over cats. Based on what I have read and seen, they can be trained to live with house cats. I imagine the same will be true with small dogs, but there will need to be clear boundaries in terms of what is acceptable behavior and what is not, as well as a lot of supervision.
Here is an interesting forum discussion on Sibes and small dogs-
http://www.prodoggroomingsupplies.com/dog-forums/showthread.php?t=73746
I’m thinking on getting a dog husky or sheba?
I have been researching and researching as much as I can about selecting between a Shiba Inu and Siberian Husky! Thanks so much for these tips. I have a few questions though. What are the exercise needs for Siberian Huskies? I hear so much about their energy level but have yet to find anything conclusive about how much exercise they need to be happy and avoid the bad habits associated with boredom! I know Huskies aren’t known to be great for first time dog owners but I’m preparing as best I can. Are mixed breeds common? I know it’s much more of a gamble with what you’re getting overall with the dog, but I’m curious if that’s known to cause any major health or behavioral problems (i.e.: A Siberian/Shiba)
Thanks for your help!
James
Husky Lara’s daily exercise –
1. I walk Lara about 1.5 hours every day.
2. She plays in the mornings and evenings with Sephy and Shania.
3. She likes to dig, so we left a big portion of the backyard un-landscaped for her digging pleasure. She likes being outside so she spends a fair amount of time in the backyard chasing after birds and digging. We make sure our fence line is really secure so that she doesn’t dig her way out.
4. She works for all of her food through interactive toys, grooming sessions, obedience, walks, play, etc.
5. If she has energy left over, I play chase with her in the backyard or flirt pole. If I chase her, she sometimes starts doing zoomies in the backyard, which is fun to see. 😀
Lara is currently over 2 years old.
Both Huskies do not like the heat, and are less energetic in the summer. I make sure to keep them comfortable and cool inside the house.
It is difficult to find a good and responsible breeder for a mixed-breed. Not impossible, just a lot more difficult.
It is the Kennel Clubs that have guidelines for responsible breeding, including for temperament, health, and more. Club breeders usually show their dogs, so they are careful about breeding a healthy line with good temperament. A show dog would need to enjoy or at least tolerate large crowds, and judges touching them all over. Club breeders will usually spend the time and effort to socialize their puppies early on, so that the pups get comfortable with people, new experiences, and more, thus preparing them for future shows.
This is not to say that all pure-bred dogs are responsibly bred; there are many puppy mills that will breed whatever dogs are in demand, so that they can make a quick buck. However, if we want to buy a pure-bred dog, there are many Kennel Club resources that will help us find some responsible breeders.
If I were interested in buying a mixed breed, I would look up Club breeders for each of those breeds, and talk to them to see if they have any Club friends who are crossbreeding the two. Otherwise, I would look into adoption, through Petfinder.
Health and behavior are very dependent on responsible breeding, including health of the parent-line, temperament of the parent-line, early socialization, and proper care. Therefore, I would stay away from online puppy stores, pet stores, puppy mills, and backyard breeders.
More on getting a dog.
Good luck! Post us some pictures when you get your pup! 😀
amazing information! Thank you so much! I have found a shiba inu breeder in my town and plan to visit the facilities within the next couple of weeks! My only concern regarding the Shiba Inu would be peacefully living with a cat. In your experience would this breed accept cats if offered proper training, introduction, and resources for both animals, is this a reasonable goal?I cannot wait to have some pictures to show off in the near future! Thanks again.
James
I don’t have a cat, so I don’t have much experience in this area. Here is an interesting thread on the Shiba Inu Forum on Shibas and cats –
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/7120/problem-with-cats/p1#Comment_125511
I also like this ASPCA article on how to introduce a dog to a cat –
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/introducing-your-dog-to-a-new-cat
Hi there! I was looking for some breed advice and came along your page, a massive help! I have a one year old Siberian called Ruby who was a rescue from a home with no time for her. Although I only work part time (the Fiance works enough for two of us!) , and always have something to occupy her, she seems lonely. What age would you recommend to put her with another dog? I am considering a Shiba as they seem to have had the most success stories with Sibes, but I’m still on the fence. I was thinking maybe in a few months? Besides, a Shiba would look adorable curled up with my baby girl! Thanks in advance for any advice you can give, feel free to contact me if you need more info!
Love your stories about Ruby! What a super lucky girl and a beauty! Hope you will put up more pictures.
In terms of a second dog, I waited for about a year after getting Shiba Sephy before I started looking around. I had a very difficult start with Sephy and I wanted to make sure that everything was ironed out before getting a companion for him. Otherwise, having two terrors would be very difficult to manage. 😀
The year of extra time with Sephy also helped us with bonding. In the beginning, Sephy enjoyed the company of other dogs a lot more than the company of people, and we wanted to make sure that he learned to bond with people as well.
Ruby sounds different though, so she may not need as long a duration. I think a good time to look for another dog is when we start to feel that our first dog is sleeping too much, being too lazy, and we actually have some free time again. 😉
Here are some things that I considered while looking for a second dog.
Looking for help and came upon your website..
We have an almost 2 yr old shiba inu. He is very sweet but suffers from “allergies”. This has been going on since Nov 2011. Several vet visits. He mainly scratches at his tail area. Went to see derm vet.. He gave instructions to wipe Nikkos feet every time he comes in from outside. We bathe him in chlorhexidine wash. He is also on hills science diet….was on royal canine. Hasn’t ever seemed to have upset stomach…until now when I am trying to change to limited ingredient dog food. But since reading here and other sites….should prob go with grain free…as this might help his skin issues. I feel terrible that he has to wear clear cone 24/7…to keep from scratching. He has been wearing it for a few months now.He has been on several antibiotics. Is now on generic Atopica and fluconazole. I am going to try grain free….I see there are several you recommend. I just want him to be able to walk around like a normal dog. This allergy issue is really difficult Nikko is also on Trifexis preventative heart/flea/tick meds.. Our vet even advised us to maybe send Nikko to another state! I am beginning to think the vet doesn’t know much about trying grain free instead of hypoallergenic rx foods….or shiba inu breed? The vet always wants to give him steroid shots.
Does this sound like anything you have experienced?
Hmmm, no this is not really something I have experienced with Sephy. He had some food allergies when he was young (to wheat), but it wasn’t very serious and went away once we changed his diet.
What did the derm vet say? It sounds like Nikko’s allergies is to the environment? Is he allergic to grass? Still, it is strange that a grass allergy would be around his tail area. Is it at the base of his tail or all over? Is it only his tail area that itches? Is there hair loss? Did the vet do a skin check for parasites?
Thank you for your response. it is at the base of his tail and is on the tail. (the vet also recommends getting his anal glands expressed) The derm vet did several skin tests..ringworm etc. We have not done full allergy test yet…where they shave his side…due to financial reasons…it is very expensive. So I don’t know if he is allergic to grass. The derm vet thought it might be flea allergy too…we were alternating every two weeks of flea treatment…..but he still has the hot spots/scratching his tail area. Now his tail is straight out…where it used to be curled. The regular vet is the one who advised us to try to send Nikko to another state……we live in Texas. I am hoping that I will be able to help Nikko get better without losing him….I would miss him terribly…but also want him to be healthy. We have started the grain free diet…we chose Core Wellness (fish)because it is easy to get in our area. Once we do the allergy test, that will answer a lot of questions.
I want to thank you for all of the work you have put into your website….I have learned so much and because of the things I have learned I am a better shiba parent. I only wish I found it sooner. Many blessings to you and your canine crew : – )
Yeah, we use a tick and flea prevention product as well. They are not 100% effective though. I still find ticks on my dogs, and there was once where Lara got a few fleas on her. I saw her itching on her hind area, and found a couple of fleas after carefully examining her coat. They are visible to the eye, so now I check for them. We also got a flea comb. Lara likes digging and hunting for earth critters, so I think the fleas came from that.
During tick season, I also reduce our hikes in the surrounding hill area. We do walks in the neighborhood instead so there is less chance of getting the stuff.
Thanks for sharing Nikko’s experiences with us. Please let us know how it turns out, in case others run into similar allergy issues.
GREAT advice and insight. – BB (as in a little BB gun) is my Shiba and she is a handful…I know other Shiba’s…and I am waiting for the aloof part to kick in, as she would like me to pet her all day (very rare, from what I see). No scream as of yet…I will keep an ear out for that.
Regards!
Awww, I am jealous. Need to get some of her affectionate DNA into Sephy.
And no screams?! Are you sure she is a Shiba? 😉
Your siberian has the same name as me ! I love siberians as well
Yeah, my Sibes are two of my best friends. They are always ready of fun, and can quickly cheer me up when I am unhappy. Truly wonderful personalities and cute as can be! 😀