Shiba Inus tend to know what they like and dislike and they are not shy about communicating this information to their owners.
Shiba Sephy is particular about his food, how and when he is touched, how he is held, stepping on puddles and wet mats, and of course …
he has his own ideas on how other dogs should or should not behave in his royal Shiba presence.
Here are some things I have noticed about Shiba Sephy when it comes to meeting dogs.
You’re not the boss of me
Shibas are rebels and do not like having a boss – human or canine. They may sometimes decide to follow certain requests from their human companions but only when there is cheese on the line.
When it comes to other dogs, they do not usually get along with dominant personalities – and this includes other Shibas!
- Shibas are not submissive and will not surrender even to a larger dog.
- Shibas like to play rough and wrestle.
- Shibas will bully other dogs if they can get away with it.
As a result, socializing your Shiba to other dogs can often be a challenge.
Size *does* matter
Shiba Sephy gets along much better with larger, playful dogs, who also like to play rough. I never let him play with smaller adult dogs because he will very quickly overwhelm them.
Puppies seem more tolerant, are more submissive, and usually like to wrestle, so Sephy has fun playing with smaller puppies.
To the right, my little Siberian puppy is showing Sephy who is boss!
If you are thinking of getting a second dog, make sure to get one who will be a good playmate with your first dog.
The “Human” factor
While socializing your Shiba, you must also deal with other dog owners, and many people are uncomfortable with the rough and tumble style of Shibas. During play, a Shiba can appear quite fierce, showing lots of teeth and making Shiba war-cries.
It is best to keep your Shiba away from fearful people and their dogs as they will likely project bad energy that may trigger extreme behavior in their dog and possibly even in yours. Do not socialize your Shiba with unbalanced dogs and unbalanced owners, as they may teach/cause your Shiba to engage in bad interaction habits including fear aggression and mouthing on people.
Just as it is important to screen your children’s friends, it is important to screen your Shiba’s friends.
Shiba Sephy is very sensitive to my emotions and to the emotions of the people around him. He quickly picks up on fear, frustration, anger, or excitement, and gets even more crazy.
While meeting other dogs, stay calm and do not put undue tension on the leash.
Personal space
Shibas do not generally like having dogs come unannounced into their space.
Many other guard breeds, such as German Shepherds, feel the same way.
If your Shiba has this preference, you should protect him from strange dogs. Tell other dog owners not to come too near because your Shiba is wary of new dogs. Suzanne Clothier describes this issue very well in her article "He just wants to say hi".
My Shiba is reactive to other dogs so I am very careful during dog-to-dog greetings. He is always supervised when he is with other dogs, and he is not allowed to bully or hump. He also does not enjoy new dogs sniffing his butt without permission, so I will body block dogs from going into his buttockal region.
For reactive dogs, it is best to introduce them slowly to other dogs and have one-on-one play dates. One-on-one play sessions are easier to supervise and there is less excitement and uncontrolled behavior.
On-leash vs. off-leash
A Shiba may display different behaviors when he is meeting dogs on-leash or off-leash.
The leash can sometimes create fear (Shiba can’t run away) and barrier frustration (Shiba can’t get to the other dog). As a result, a Shiba may show more aggression when he is on-leash compared to when he is off-leash. Nevertheless, it is useful to teach a Shiba polite greetings whether he is on or off-leash.
If your Shiba is only aggressive on-leash, then you can use off-leash time as a reward for good on-leash behavior. If you are unsure of your Shiba, first start desensitizing him to dogs from a distance and slowly work your way towards a greeting.
It is also possible to use a muzzle, but that may cause the same fear and barrier issues as the leash. Shiba Sephy does not like the muzzle and shuts down when he has a muzzle on. Another possibility is to let the dogs meet from across a fence, but this can also cause barrier frustration.
Desensitization from a distance has worked best on Shiba Sephy.
Spaying and neutering
Spaying or neutering can also help with the dog-to-dog socialization process.
Un-neutered males may posture more when in the company of other dogs. This can lead to dominance displays, which may escalate into dog aggression. Female dogs that are in heat should always be separated from all male dogs, as she may trigger competition among the males and cause a dog fight.
Some owners may be reluctant to spay or neuter their dogs because they are afraid that the process may change their dogs’ personality. According to the Humane Society of the United States,
A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.
This article by the Dog Owner’s Guide also has useful information on spay and neuter surgery.
Socialize your Shiba slowly
Start socializing your Shiba by walking him on-leash in your own neighborhood. See how Shiba reacts to calm dogs, fenced reactive dogs that he can’t see, and then fenced reactive dogs that he can see.
Desensitize him to each of these situations slowly so that he does not practice any aggressive behaviors.
Remember to maintain calm energy when meeting other dogs. If you are tense, your Shiba will pick up on that energy, and get tense and reactive as well.
Once Shiba is calm around the neighborhood, you may want to take him to a nearby SPCA and desensitize him there. At the SPCA there are usually fewer dogs around than in a dog park, and SPCA dogs are usually handled by trainers or trained volunteers. There is less danger of things getting out of control at the SPCA.
Taking a dog obedience class is also a good way to socialize your Shiba and have him focus on you even when there are other dogs around. A class is also a good way to meet friends that you can later invite for play dates.
Options for dog-to-dog socialization
1. Dog Playgroups
Dog playgroups are usually organized by training facilities or dog daycare facilities. The advantage of a playgroup compared to an enclosed dog park is that these sessions are supervised, and owners are usually very conscientious about cleaning up after their dog, and making sure that their dog is behaving properly.
Dogs in these playgroups tend to be more balanced because they are more socialized compared to the average neighborhood dog.
The disadvantage is playgroups usually only occur weekly or monthly, and at a specific time; whereas a dog park is open at all times.
2. Dog Daycare
While Shibas may be aloof and independent, they generally like being with their humans. At a daycare center a Shiba gets to enjoy dog and human company all day long. This will help to socialize Shiba and increase his confidence when facing new people and dogs.
Make sure to thoroughly check out the daycare facilities and their staff before enrolling your Shiba. Ensure that the dog playgroups are not too large and are well supervised, otherwise fights may occur or your Shiba may get harassed by the other dogs.
Here is more on what to look out for in a daycare center.
3. Enclosed dog parks
Shibas really need to have off-leash time to do their Shiba running and get rid of excess energy. If you do not have a backyard, an enclosed dog park may be a good place for your Shiba to run free.
On-leash walks alone (3 hours daily), were insufficient to drain my active Shiba. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find a good dog park with responsible dog owners. Unless you find a good dog park, your Shiba may get into fights, get injured, or pick up bad behaviors from the other dogs at the park.
4. Group Dog Walking
Group dog walks may be a good way to socialize your Shiba if he is uncomfortable being in a large group of dogs. Dog walks usually have a maximum of about 6 dogs per walk and is a less stressful social environment for a Shiba.
Walks are a lot more structured, well supervised, and conducted in an interesting environment (e.g. an outdoor park). This means that Shiba has other things to focus on, and need not obsess on dog-play the entire time. Finally it is good training for Shiba to feel comfortable about walking with a pack of other dogs.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a good dog walker who can handle a Shiba without resorting to forceful aversive techniques. Here is an article from the San Francisco SPCA on choosing a good dog walker. If you cannot find a good walker, it is best to stick to the dog playgroups and daycare.
Socializing a Shiba Inu to other dogs
If your Shiba is showing aggressive behaviors, do not push him too quickly in the socialization process.
Socialization is now a popular buzzword in dog training, but do not force your Shiba into becoming a social butterfly if he is not comfortable being one.
It is important to teach your Shiba good manners when greeting people and other dogs, but do not force him to interact or play if he prefers not to.
hey i have a shida inu her name is Dakota we found her and she is a very good but she liked to bite she bit my mom and my mom didnt like it because it was unanounced and so my mom gave her to a clase friend and Dakota likes it thier but every time we went to see her and then left later that night she would not eat and gpt a rea;;y bad rash and the vet did not know what was wrong with her so we took her back and she got fine but the thing is whenshe would not eat we went up their and then she was fine and would eat. now that we have her back she is perfically fine but she is now getting attacked by our other dogs but she is getting better with them now and when i read this artecle i know alot about her but my mom dont believe me that she is a shida inun but thhank you 🙂
My Shiba pulls on leash when she sees another dog. Not to be aggressive but because she wants to go over there to say hi and play (My dog is very playful and social). Off leash she get excited because we don’t have the control over her but she also likes to bully other dogs if she can.
Really would like any tips to get to stop pulling when seeing another dog.
Hello Faith Prince,
Yeah, Shiba Sephy also used to get really excited when he saw other dogs.
What helped with Sephy is to first create neutral experiences, i.e. teach him to ignore other dogs. When we see other dogs, I make sure to stay calm, I create space (e.g. by crossing the road), and I just keep walking at a measured pace. In this way, Sephy learns that when he sees other dogs, nothing happens. The more he practices this, the more he gets accustomed to staying calm in the presence of other dogs.
I also did a fair amount of desensitization exercises with trainers at my old local SPCA. They had many great dogs there that they could use for dog-to-dog type training sessions.
Here is more on what I did with Sephy to deal with his dog-to-dog reactivity issues.
Hi, my shiba inu is now 9 months old and she will behave okay when we have a leash on her but when its off leash and people comes to our home, she will sometimes jump on others, bite their jackets, run around in circles and also bite me if I tell her to stop and whenever she bites my shoes or my jacket she will shake her head like crazy (the killer move) THANK YOUUU
Here are some of my experiences with dog greetings and jumping-
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-meet-a-dog
http://shibashake.com/dog/stop-your-dog-from-jumping-on-people
Hi,
I love your site and Have been reading it for many month now. I just got a shiba about a month ago, he is 3 months now and very fearful of everything! He was like this ever since we picked him out of the litter. He started to wine and hide behind us in the beginning but now he is doing better and slowly taking treats from people. But still no one can ever touch him. We go to socialization groups but since the trainers can’t tell if he is being aggressive or playful he is in a play pen while he watches the other dogs. While in that play pen he seems really aggressive but when we walk on leashes and he meets other dogs he is a little scared and growls once in a while. I have read all over that your dog loves to go on walks, sometimes I think my shiba doesn’t because eveytime he does. It want to put his leash on and does not come when I call him to go outside. My deepest fear is that he will bite someone. HELP!
Hello Chelsea,
Congratulations on your new Shiba puppy!
Yeah, Sephy is not really big on touching either. The good news is that we did a lot of touch exercises with him, and he slowly got better. Now he will even ask for tummy scratches and affection sometimes. It is very precious when he does. 😀
We also got him to a point where we can do nail grooming, brushing, and teeth cleaning on a regular basis. Here are some of our experiences with touch exercises-
http://shibashake.com/dog/hug-dog-teach-your-dog-to-enjoy-hugging
As for dog-to-dog socialization, Sephy is also pretty reactive when it comes to other dogs. He gets over-excited, and gets in the other dog’s face, which can trigger aggression from the other dog. Sephy also does not like other dogs sniffing his butt.
The thing that helped a lot with Sephy is to first teach him to ignore other dogs. When we see other dogs, we just ignore them and move along. The more neutral experiences we created, the more Sephy learned to stay calm when he saw other dogs, because we just ignore.
In terms of playing, I pick his playmates very carefully. I only let him play with dogs that are non-dominant, playful, and are very tolerant. Sephy absolutely does not get along with dominant dogs.
Here are some of our dog-to-dog meeting experiences.
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-to-dog-aggression
As for walks, my new Sibe puppy Lara is also fearful of many number of things. In the beginning, I only walked her close to home and in very quiet parts of the neighborhood. We have hiking trails nearby, so we usually go there. Another thing I have noticed is that when I bring one of my other dogs along, puppy Lara gets a lot more confident and is able to handle more things.
Together with the more low-key walks, I also slowly desensitized her to each of the things she was afraid of in a controlled environment at home. Here are some of our experiences with desensitization-
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-calm-a-fearful-reactive-dog
Yeah, I was very afraid that Sephy would get into a fight in the early days. The thing though is that Shibas are very sensitive dogs and they can pick up on our emotions. When I got afraid, Sephy would also get afraid, and start acting crazy. My fear was actually making Sephy act out and become fearful himself. Once I was able to control my own worries and have a plan of action, things got a lot better. Here are some of my early experiences with Sephy-
http://shibashake.com/dog/pack-leader-to-an-aggressive-dog
Hugs to your puppy! Let us know how it goes with the little guy.
I have a one year old Shiba and I recently took him to a dog park. He usually goes and does his own thing and comes back and forth playing with other dogs. He has been around numerous dogs since I got him by him playing with friends and families dogs as well as seeing other dogs hiking and stuff like that. At the dog park there were three other dogs there with him; two jack russells and a black lab. It seemed like they were playing fine but then all three of the dogs cornered mine. I have never seen my dog ever get aggressive. He is usually submissive and seems to not like confrontation at all. It made me nervous and the other dog owners didn’t seem worried. It wasn’t until I walked over to the three dogs that had my dog up against a fence that the others started to come and get their dogs. I am bothered because I don’t know if I should be doing something with my shiba or if that is a common thing to happen at a dog park? I really enjoyed taking him there because he loves the time off the leash.
Hello Amanda,
I used to take Sephy to enclosed dog parks, but we stopped after a few months. Mainly, the unstructured environment at the park just did not suit Sephy and he was learning a lot of bad habits. As you noticed, the quality of a park is very dependent on the people who go there. Most of the time, people are interested in chatting with each other and there is very little supervision of the dogs.
Sephy does better with smaller one-on-one play sessions. After we stopped with the dog park, we took Sephy to our local SPCA and did very structured training sessions with the friendly dogs there. It was great because the sessions were well supervised, and they had a nice variety of friendly dogs.
We also invited our neighbor’s dog, Kai, to come over and play at our house. We were very lucky then because our neighbor had a young, balanced, and friendly puppy who had a lot of fun playing with Sephy. When we go on our walks, Sephy would always go to Kai’s house and wait at the gate for her. It was very sweet. I always imagine him carrying a bouquet of flowers for her. 😀
Here is an article on our dog park experiences and why we stopped going-
http://shibashake.com/dog/enclosed-dog-parks-good-or-bad
Additional possibilities-
Dog daycare, or group dog walking.
Hi,
I love reading your site, its my new addiction. 🙂 I’m getting a little Shiba Inu soon, and would like to know as much as possible.
I found Suzanne Clothier article “He just wants to say hi”, very interesting. You see I have a Boston Terrier, and he is well…rude. :/ I was hoping to find some answers on how both he and I can work on his manners.
So my question is, do you know where I could email her, or if there is another section on which I can read about? Or do you have any other tips?
Thanks a lot,
Crystle
Yeah Suzanne Clothier has some really cool articles on her site at http://www.flyingdogpress.com/
She has a contact link on her Hawks Hunt Farm page.
Shiba Sephy can also be a bit rude. One of the things that helped is working with trainers that have a variety of other dogs that they can use for meetings and greetings. We used to take Sephy to the SPCA for social training and it was great. They have a variety of dogs that they use to practice different social situations, and the trainers are there to supervise to make sure everything is safe. Trainers at daycare centers may also have similar resources.
Hi Alison,
Congrats on your new Shiba! It is awesome that you rescued a Shiba and are helping her get through some life challenges. Shibas really are a very interesting and quirky breed. I don’t think I have seen another breed with so many different facial and body expressions.
Keep us updated on how your Shiba is doing, and send us some picture links when you can. I always love Shiba stories and Shiba pictures 🙂
Thanks Masako.
I always try to observe Sephy and understand what he is trying to tell me. I think Shibas are very expressive, but sometimes it can still be difficult for me to understand their cues.
If there are things that I have missed, please let me know. Hugs to Winnie!
Thanks for posting! My partner and I just rescued a 6-month old Shiba, who is very shy and scared of EVERYTHING. We’ve been trying to socialize her slowly, and this gave us lots of good ideas. I really appreciate that there’s a good, reliable source for Shiba info out there in the vastness of the internet. <3
EXCELLENT post! I love all of your tips… I will definitely refer others to this post as I think it covers a lot of great information on how to socialize our Shibas. Thank you,