I was channel surfing the other day and stumbled upon a Dogs 101 episode with Shiba Inus. They characterized Shiba Inus as “one of the most difficult breeds to train”.
- Why is a Shiba Inu difficult to train?
- What makes a Shiba Inu more difficult to train than other dog breeds?
Of course a Shiba is stubborn and strong-willed, but then so are many other breeds, including the Siberian Husky. Why then are Shibas more challenging to train than other strong-willed breeds?
1. A Shiba Will Do What a Shiba Wants
A Shiba Inu will only respond to activities that makes sense to him, and not necessarily to you. The good news is a Shiba is not shy about letting you know what he likes, and what he wants!
Shiba owners usually listen carefully to their dogs, and personalize training methods to suit individual preferences and temperaments.
Shibas also think for themselves, and are very motivated to come up with alternate ways to reach their goals. As a result, training a Shiba Inu is often counter-intuitive, and traditional dog training methods may not work well.
Shiba owners must be creative and flexible.
A Shiba may follow commands if they make sense to him. Other times, he will do something else that ROCKS!
Some people may reason that since Shiba Inus are independent thinkers, they would respond better to aversive training techniques, such as collar corrections or alpha rolls.
This is false.
Shiba Inus are also extremely strong-willed and stubborn. They will fight back if they feel threatened. I started with aversive training techniques, and my Shiba Sephy fought me every step of the way. The more a dog practices fighting back, the more likely he will repeat that behavior and develop aggression issues down the road. Sephy was surely heading that way, which was why I started looking into alternative training methods.
Aversive techniques also made Sephy lose trust in me.
2. A Shiba Inu Will Not Surrender Even When All Is Lost
All dogs think for themselves. They have their own needs, which may not always coincide with ours.
Strong-willed dogs are not afraid to push their own agenda, even if it puts them in conflict with us and other dogs.
However, even strong-willed breeds like the Siberian Husky will give up the ghost when they see that the effort and time involved, is not worth the end result.
On the other hand, Shiba Inus have a very …
singular state of mind.
~~[ Geoge ]
Once a Shiba starts to focus on something, he may quickly become obsessed. When in that singular state of mind, it is difficult to distract Shiba and get him to do something else.
When Sephy gets into that obsessive state, he will not give up no matter what. Even if things look hopeless, he will not surrender. The more I try to force him to comply, the more he will dig in his paws and not budge.
For Shiba Inu Sephy, giving-up is simply not an option.
It seems that any kind of concession will deal such a grievous blow to his Shiba pride that he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect it. Sephy is willing to endure pain, not eating, not going for his walks, not getting affection or attention, losing his freedom, and much more; when his Shiba Honor is on the line.
This great quote from the I am Shiba blog sums it up very well
I Am Shiba. Seppuku will not be enough.
The best way of getting Sephy to do something is not to make it into a challenge or a fight. If Sephy does not want me to brush his teeth, he does not get his usual melted cheese and chicken meal. I will simply go back to my tasks, and when I am free, I try again. By then, he is usually hungry and in a different state of mind.
3. A Shiba Inu Has the Heart of a Rebel
Shiba Inus are often characterized as independent, aloof, and more like a cat.
I think that Shibas are independent minded, but they actually want and enjoy a fair bit of human attention; perhaps more so than many other dog breeds.
Unlike other dogs however, Shibas are not necessarily looking for positive attention. With Sephy, any type of attention will do; as long as it is big, all-eyes-on-Shiba, high quality attention.
Negative human attention is easier to obtain, more intense, and usually lasts for a longer duration.
As such, this is the type of attention that Shiba Sephy usually strives for, not unlike an online troll. If he is able to get my goat, he will. If he is able to get my goat and start a fun chasing game, that is even better!
If I tell Sephy not to do something, he will definitely try to do it the first chance he gets. He is sneaky and will do it when my back is turned. However, if I am not home, he spends most of his time sleeping because he does not have an audience.
The “game” is only fun when there is a real danger of being caught, and the possibility of escape. An audience is also necessary to see his God-like Shiba-ness.
I have since learned that one of the best ways to deal with Shiba-hijinks is to stay above the fray and ignore my attention-seeking Shiba. Sephy does not like being ignored. He will go to great lengths to get the attention of those that seem disinterested in him – even if it means following commands!
What to you think?
- Are Shiba Inus one of the most difficult breeds to train?
- What makes a Shiba Inu difficult to train?
- Which dog breeds, do you think, are more difficult to train than a Shiba?
Many thanks to Kblover & Wally, Brett & Ziva, Andrea & Kiba, Zuko’s Mom & Zuko, Geoge & Rusty, as well as Jess & Zeus, for sharing their Shiba Inu stories and many dog experiences. I made many changes to the article above based on their comments.
My Shiba Inu, Kibo, is the first dog I have ever owned. I do not understand why Shibas have a reputation for being difficult to train. He was very easy to train. First, they are naturally clean and fastidious, so housebreaking using crate training was a breeze. Second, they know what is theirs – the famous MINE possessive trait of Shibas. That is great because my Shiba never chewed anything unless it was his own toys or bones. Third, I took my Shiba to puppy training and he did fine. However, he found it rather boring at times and so did I – the instructor scolded both of us. LOL I think it is a matter of what you are looking for in a dog. Kibo knows the basics and once he learned those, he learned everything else I wanted very quickly. But my expectations are not those of someone who wants perfect obedience every single minute and to “micromanage” their dog and needs a dog who wants constant attention and will be looking adoringly at me 24/7. This is an independent dog and I think the breed requires an independent, confident owner who is definitely an “alpha,” with firmness and consistency, tempered with kindness and a great sense of humor. Also, I was fortunate to be able to work from home a lot, so I spent a lot of time with Kibo and he is very “in tune” with me. I think spending a lot of time with your Shiba when they are young is very important. Kibo is a fantastic dog and getting him is the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.
I have a Shiba Inu her name is Ala,I agree with
what you wrote about Kibo and Ala being the same.Although our biggest problem when we first got her was that she would get out of the yard,we had to put her on a running line part of the time.She stays on her side of the stairs as we go up and down.I have taught her the rail side is mine,and she goes by that.We told her the lawn chairs are “mine” so I caught her laying on the table inbetween,I got a pix and put a caption on fb.
Ala stays beside me and expects her walks,she will howl for walks with my husband.
I just got my dog Shiba Inu the only problem so far I have she has a lot of energy sometimes bothers to much my pitbul or my toy poodle but the pitbul plays a lot with her leaving her for 3 hrs will get something to keep her busy and that is not good cause she will get into my pots but if I give her walking and spend time with her wish I have I don’t work and she learn finally to share food! She loves showers very obediente good potting train and she’s getting use to my routine
I have had six Shiba Inus and just recently had to put two down at the same time. Just a few weeks ago went and got two more and they are young puppies. All of my others were one year apart. Training is not difficult. it’s insanely fast and in all honesty it took me less than 5 minutes to train them anything that I have ever tried. What is difficult is to get them to do what you want them to do and when you want them to do it. If I had to explain these dogs to someone that knows nothing about them, it’s that they are not dogs and they are not cats. There’s something flukey in between the two. I will never get a different breed. The most important thing and I cannot stress this enough… Is to immediately start training them and with great affection and socialization. Not just with other dogs, but with other people. My first for Shiba were all a year apart in age and I didn’t realize, until I had two puppies at the same time… How much the older dogs tot and train them. It was, I believe even more important then my training them. Having these two pups at the same time? It’s a whole different ballgame and a whole hell of a lot more work. I have absolutely no issue with that, but it’s certainly a learning experience. I cannot express how much I enjoy this breed and how rewarding it is. They are one of the most loyal breeds that you could possibly have. They may not want to be up in your lap and for some reason they don’t really like to be around your face. But they always want to be right next to you and wherever you are. I believe that the most important, number one sing if you intend on getting involved with this breed, is that you invest the effort. Otherwise, you may very easily end up with an aggressive dog. It’s similar in the sense when people speak of pit bulls. They’re an incredibly awesome, loyal and loving breed as long as they’re trained and socialize properly. It’s like everything else in life. You get exactly what you put in and invest.
Hi, I got halfway through the comments and just had to say something. I have a three year old Shiba called Maya. I have been EXTREMELY lucky and found one that I can walk off the leash and enjoys cuddling,but it took me two months of daily and I mean every time I walked her it was a training session also. Shiba can be off the leash dogs but most people don’t have the patience to train them. Like the author said they fight. The first day I got her I put the leash on her and she had none of it. I stood on the sidewalk with this puppy thrashing around for 10 minutes before I gave up. The next day she was walking with it as if she was doing it for years. The point is yes they need to see a reason for things so I started doing small things everywhere. If she wanted to go for a walk she needed to sit at the door until I opened it AND said go. Nothing was free, not even dog treats. The second step was come here. I started in the apartment and called her. I called once and if she didn’t come I would put the leash on her. I know people kept telling me that it would make her see walks and leashes as punishment but I used operant conditioning, the reward was if she came the reward was that the leash came off and she could walk away. Trust me that was a good month of attitude but the last part was obedience and not just tricks. The last part was the hardest and that was my command as a priority and it was not… Not easy. I began slowly unleashing her in a park near my place. I would spontaneously call her and if she didn’t come on the first call then it was the leash. I would walk and hold her close and again spontaneously and randomly tell her to sit or come here even of she was still on the leash. If she came after two calls on the first call I let her go. She began to u destiny that listening meant freedom and not constrained to a leash. She got better but a Shiba’s prey drive is sooo strong. Again like the author said they see and want to hunt so badly. I got her to even stop chasing a cat when I call her but even after 2 years of me training her she still had a moment of hunting drive. I moved to a new area and I was in a dead end street (luckily) and she saw a rabbit for the first time at night (I am in Montreal and yes they are rare). She spent 5 minutes just running into yards, across the street, into backyards and this rabbit is just leading the whole time. I finally caught her and I admit I smacked her so hard across the head she Shiba screamed (yeah he didn’t mention that… Look it up). I’m not for hitting animals but that was dangerous and that is why they are not off the leash dogs too. The point is it took me two months to start getting her to listen to my voice above all else. I can now tell her to sit outside of a store and when I come out she doesn’t move. They can listen but it is a daily thing, no breaks, no compromises, and a constent consistent consistency (do you understand how important it is lol I said it three time). Now, she is the best dog I have ever seen and I don’t know why but she actually want to please me. She cuddles, gives me the cold shoulder when I am about to leave as if she is mad I’m going, I just say bad girl and she will do (literally) three barrel rolls in a row thinking it’s what I want (even though I told her to lay down but nooo she takes it that one step further) and I wouldn’t trade her for ANY sum of money. If anybody has any questions I’d be more than happy to answer and see if what I did can work for other Shibas.
I’m in Montreal too and have been on the hunt for a shiba. Which breeder did you find Maya at? We’ve been looking into a few but some seem to be a bit sketchy. Any help would be great!
I didnt realize there was any other way to train a dog then consistency. BTW, tons of rabbits/hairs in the west island.
Still want one of these brilliant dogs though.
Hi,
I loved your input! I am planning on getting a Shiba Inu in a couple months. I pushed it back until I’m back from overseas.
So my question is about how to prepare for a puppy, stuff I need, how much space etc…
I can plan time off work to spend time with the new pup and get him adjusted to our place.
Thanks
Congratulations! 😀
When we started out we got a crate, some toys, some grooming supplies, food+water bowls, good puppy food (I use Wellness Puppy), puppy pads (potty training depends a lot on where you are getting the puppy from), cleaning solution for potty mistakes. More on puppy stuff –
http://shibashake.com/dog/new-puppy-supplies-what-a-puppy-needs
I highly recommend getting a Shiba from a registered club breeder especially if you are new to Shibas. The page below has a good starting list, then I would do more research via their website and talking to them over the phone.
http://www.shibas.org/breeders.html
This article has more on what I looked for in choosing a breeder and what places to avoid. It is based on getting a Sibe puppy, but the information for choosing a breeder is general, irrespective of breed.
http://shibashake.com/dog/how-to-buy-a-siberian-husky-puppy#where
Also, training and structure were very important for our Shiba. Setting up a fixed routine was important, setting rules and boundaries, and properly training him to understand those boundaries. Getting a trainer helped us a lot. Our Shiba responded much better to positive training techniques. Socialization in a puppy-play type class was also a great experience for Sephy.
Take lots of pictures and have fun! Puppies are a lot of work, but they are also awesome!
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
Honestly, I chose the this breed because I’m a person who keeps to themselves. Once I learnt that these dogs are independent, intelligent, and have a strong personality I knew we would get along.
I just want to make sure I give this puppy all that it needs for success.
If you don’t mind I can write down my schedule for your consideration?
I’ve had my Shiba Inu for 3 weeks, everyday she does something new, however I cannot get her to.come when called. She will wait look away and then 4 seconds later come close to me. Its on her terms. She is definitely a challenge yet I am as stubborn as she is. Thanks for the information on how to get her to come when called.
What can I do to get my Shiba puppy to quit biting my hands? He has drawn blood on my 87 year old mother twice now, and she is not amused!
How I deal with puppy biting.
How I set up structure and teach my puppy self-control.
I *do not* let my Shiba interact with seniors or children until I am very very sure that he has a *very* soft mouth, and is no longer mouthy towards people. Even then, I have a lead on him and I am right there to gauge his mood, body language, and closely supervise.
My shiba tried to “mouth” me at first at about 6 months. He got very excited because I took his leash out and was getting ready to take him for a walk, so he grabbed my hand in his mouth – not hard or a bite, but I wanted to stop that before it became a habit. I calmly said “No!” and gently tapped his muzzle. He let go, but then did it again. I again said “No!” with a gentle muzzle tap, then told him I wouldn’t take him for a walk. I put the leash away and did something else. He was shocked! About 30 minutes later, I again got ready to take him for a walk and he never used his mouth on me again! Boy, these dogs are SOOO smart. Really just talking to them helps as they have a psychic bond with their owner. Also, my shiba always had a very soft mouth – I can feed tiny little tidbits to him and he will never hurt me, even with those needle sharp teeth.
Hi I’m 14 and I want to get a shiba inu I’ve read your article about 3 times now and I know the qualifications of what it takes to have a shiba I’ve had a golden retriver before and I raised him but for the last 3 years of my life I’ve wanted a shiba and I was wondering if you think it is a good idea to get a shiba to build my responsibility and to make a new friend to the family my mom will help me take care of him
I think it depends a lot on why you want a Shiba or a dog. Are you looking for companionship? What sorts of things do you plan on doing with the dog? What would his daily routine be like? Are you planning to go to college? Would your mom be ok with fully taking over the care and training of the dog then?
One thing that was very difficult for me with my Shiba is his aloofness. Most of the time, Sephy likes being by himself and he is not very interested in human company or affection. If I try to give him affection when he is not interested, he will simply stand up and walk away. That is his Shiba snub. 😀
He is also extremely stubborn. Unlike other dogs who may be eager to please their people, Sephy knows his own mind and works to fulfill his own goals. The general temperament of a Shiba is very different from that of a Golden.
I write a lot more about my experiences with my Shiba here-
http://shibashake.com/shiba-inu-tips-information-care
There are also a lot of interesting Shiba stories in the Shiba Inu Forum-
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/
Shibas are definitely a very different kind of dog. I had a very difficult time with Sephy in the beginning because he was so different from what I expect of a dog.
I have my head so set on a Shiba its so difficult to choose to know if I am ready for the challenge or not. I think the main reason why I would want a dog would be because I want a responsibility nothing like chores or some thing boring. I want to have a chor that im looking forward to do , every day I do my research on shibas and when you say shibas are very aloofness would say that there not the greatest dog for companionship . And your right a golden is definitely different from a Shiba its a family dog . The thing is I want a challenge some thing that will extend my knowledge. Having a Shiba has been my dream but I think twice about it so much i know I’m ready for the challenge . But I want companionship
Well, my Huskies are very affectionate dogs who really love to be with people. A lot of the time, they will come over to where I am and lie down close-by. They enjoy getting attention and affection.
Shiba Sephy, on the other hand, is happy to be off by himself most of the time. He will sometimes ask for affection by rolling over on his back, but that happens a lot less frequently than with my Huskies.
Here is more on the differences between my Huskies and Shiba.
Here is a Reddit discussion on companionship –
http://www.reddit.com/r/shiba/comments/2a7bd0/thinking_of_adopting_a_shiba_puppy_as_an/
I just have a few more questions , what age would you prefer I get a Shiba when he is still a puppy or at least 1 to 2 years old . I read the reddict you recommended to me and there were some things that disappointed me a little bit . For some reason I want a Shiba and nothing else, I have one more question how long can a Shiba be left alone for ? Are Shibas one on on dogs or can they be trained by more then one person from the house hold ? Thank you for your help really
With Sephy, I had to slowly train him to get used to alone time. I start with very short periods of alone time and slowly build up from there. I make sure to manage his environment carefully and I set him up for success. I *never* leave him alone for more than he can handle. If I need to be away for more than he is ready for, I get someone else that he trusts to be with him
Shibas are very loyal but they do not trust easily. I had to slowly gain Sephy’s trust, and I get other people in the house to do the same – by spending positive time with him, caring for him, training him, etc. In this way, if I am not around or need to be away, there will always be someone who can properly look after Sephy. Most importantly, he will be comfortable in their company because he already trusts them. I make sure that everyone uses the same type of training and enforces the same house rules. Consistency is very important in training my dogs.
As for puppy vs. adult dog, that depends on the person, the situation, the dogs under consideration, etc. Here are a couple of articles on puppy vs. adult dogs-
http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/article/should-i-adopt-puppy-adult-or-senior-dog
https://www.petfinder.com/pet-adoption/dog-adoption/puppies-vs-senior-dog-adoption/
Finally, let me also say that I had a very difficult beginning with my Shiba. He is an extremely stubborn dog, he was very mouthy as a puppy, and he is very bold. I had to put a whole lot of time, energy, patience, blood, sweat, and tears into him before we turned a corner and things started to improve. The beginning months with Sephy were very stressful, very draining, and very difficult for me. To make matters worse, throughout that early time, he was very disinterested in attention or affection from me.
Shibas are not lap dogs, and Sephy is not really the cuddling type, not even today. He will tolerate hugs nowadays (after a bunch of training and desensitization), but he rarely seeks it out himself.
Here is my Shiba Inu story.
I just wanted to say thank you for your help and that I really appreciate it . I may not be ready for a Shiba but I won’t that stop me from trying to raise one . Thank you again
Hello I was searching for training information as I am hoping to be getting my own shiba puppy in the next months. My family recommends going to a professional, but I don’t think its necessary. What would be best: train the shiba myself or go to a professional?
With Sephy, I did group puppy classes to help with his socialization and I also did many private lessons with trainers to help with his many misbehaviors. I also read up a whole lot on dog behavior. I didn’t know much about dog training at the start, and there is *a lot* of conflicting and inaccurate information out there. Having a *good* professional trainer was helpful.
Ultimately, I needed to do the training exercises myself, and establish a good bond with Sephy, but having a good professional trainer helped me get there. I do have to say though, that the dog training field is not well regulated, and there are a lot of not very good trainers out there. We went through some not so good ones before finding a few that were helpful. Reading up on dog behavior helped me to improve my training skills, better read my dog’s body language, and filter out the bad trainers.
My trainer search experiences.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/finding-professional-help
Congratulations on a very nice blog-site!!
We just lost our good buddy, Riley, on September 18, 2014, at the age of 14 1/2 Y.O. ((. Dementia, failing limbs, and a very short illness quickly took their toll. We all loved him so much!!!
Riley was a 55 pound, prick-eared, tri-color (predominantly white), dual-coated dog with one brown and one blue eye. He loved our cold, snowy Wisconsin winters!!! He was also a fully-trained dog-sledding lead dog (trained by us). Being in dual-lead (i.e., two side-by-side trained lead dogs) out in front a hard-running, well-trained team was one of his favorite activities!!!
Riley’s dam was a big red Carolina Dog (American Dingo); his sire was unknown, so we had a blood-test DNA done on him. There is no DNA test for Carolina Dogs or “dingo-ism” However, the DNA verifiable in Riley’s make-up showed that he was 25% Shiba Inu, 12.5% Boxer, 12.5% Samoyed, and 12.5% Bernese Mountain Dog. He had the characteristics of ALL these breeds (some more so than other, of course). But when Riley was being “Riley”, we needed only to consult all his breed make-up characteristics and the reasons instantly became very clear for his actions (even if they made absolutely NO sense to us).
Like his Shiba Inu and American Dingo heritages, Riley learned very quickly and very well things that (at times) made sense only to him. ;)) For any one interested in his other inter-woven mannerisms and characteristics, please refer to the temperaments/characteristics of all his breeds. Most of what you will discover will describe Riley “to a ‘T”!!!
Riley was born in a litter of six pups in the knee of Cyprus tree in a swamp outside of Lake Charles, LA. He had a harrowing start to his young life, but he was always a welcome, and much loved, addition to our home and family.
Riley was much more than a survivor. Riley was “Gentle Samurai”!!!
As a side note to those with pups or dogs of any breed that are a handful and a challenge to train: Training them properly, and well, will reveal very much about you; and in the process you will learn patience, love and joy!!!
Peace to all.
Mike
Wow! Sounds like he was quite a character. If you have pictures of him online, please send us a link. I would love to see him.
I am so glad that he found such a good home after a difficult beginning, and had such an amazing time with his family all the way through. Thanks for sharing Riley’s story with us.
So true and so very well said. A big toast to Riley.
My Shiba, “Shuga” turns 16 next month. She has given us all so much pleasure and has always been healthy. Although she is trained, she will NOT recall if onto another animal. Shiba are NOT OFF LEASH dogs, unless you are in a restricted surrounding!!
“Shiba are NOT OFF LEASH dogs,”
That’s what I was told when I got mine 5 years ago at 11 weeks. For 2 years he never came off the leash but I found out my parents were letting him off when they looked after him. At first I was furious, but he didn’t run away. A week before his second birthday I let him off the leash for the first time, and he has been untethered EVERY single day with every trip to the park.
Obviously Shibas are wilful but I’m wondering if this ‘never off the leash’ trope is nonsense. I only know one other Shiba and he’s the same.
In the last 3 years he ran away once, though that was my fault (long story…). I don’t order him to come back (as you presumably know Shibas don’t ‘do orders’) but when I need him to obey me I just have to leat him know by tone of voice that’s I would really appreciate it if he did what he was told. Works every time.
My Shiba does not run away either, but as you say, he is willful. He is not consistent with recall, and may run up to dogs or people who may not want to be disturbed. At the park, he will go after balls that belong to other dogs, and try to instigate a chasing game. He loves his chasing games.
Because he is Shiba, he thinks that all dogs should love him and can’t understand it when they want nothing to do with him. 😀
Therefore, I keep him on-leash so that he does not get into trouble and does not bother the other dogs. Some Shibas may also chase after prey animals. I think the ‘not off-leash’ rule makes sense for many Shibas, not because they keep trying to run away, but precisely because they are willful, and may bother or get in trouble with other dogs and people.
Hi. We just got a Shiba Puppy and we love her to death but she is a handful. She is great around people and other dogs and I love that she was pretty much house broken right away (my mom’s 6 year old Papillion was actually going in the house more than her). My only worry is that we are expecting a baby in less than 4 months and she likes to rough house and bite and jump on us and we’re worried about her doing that with our daughter after I have her. It’s been tough enough to keep her from jumping on my belly. Do you have any advice on getting a Shiba used to her when she comes and is 4 months enough time to break her if her bad and potentially dangerous for a newborn habbits? Kitsune, our Shiba, is about 14 weeks old now.
I don’t have any kids so this is not something I had to go through with my Shiba. Here are some threads from the Shiba Inu forum discussing this issue-
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/8066/having-a-baby-with-a-shiba/p1
http://www.shibainuforum.org/forum/discussion/12787/shiba-and-newborn-human-baby/p1
Other articles-
http://shibainus.ca/chapter-00-the-misanthropic-shiba/chapter-6-shiba-inus-and-children/
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/preparing-your-dog-new-baby
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/introducing-your-dog-your-new-baby
Hello
I have a 2 year old Shiba who is amazing! My husband and I got her when she was 9 weeks old and she has been wonderful. Potty trained within 2 weeks and no barking or screaming. never really chewed on anything other than her own toys. She is very gentle with kids when they are at my home. and She loves our cats! they are buddies. I have always researched the Shiba’s and their personalities and I can see some Shiba in her but overall, she has been perfect and I have had zero difficulties with her. she is not aggressive at all and I have never been aggressive twords her which probably helps. She is so smart and its like she knows what is her’s and what is not and what she can and can’t do. We never really had to do much training with her at all. She is very loving tword us (especially me) and very friendly to anyone new she meets. The only issue I could say we have is she is very “bull headed” . She does not listen to us when we call her in , although she is starting to get better with that than in the past. She looks right at us and you know she can hear and understand you and then just walks away…it makes us laugh most of the time though. We are thinking about getting her a Shiba companion but I’m not sure on it yet. We got really lucky with her and I’m not so sure we will get that lucky again. Plus it would be twice the shedding : ). Anyway, I love my Shiba and she is the best dog I could ever ask for and probably will be a Shiba owner for the rest of my life. Great dogs!
Hi! My husband and I brought home a 10-week old Shiba puppy 6 weeks ago and it has been quite an adventure. We definitely have experienced some challenging moments with Sasuke’s strong will and high energy, but we have also enjoyed how darn smart he is and how quickly he learns and follows commands. He potty trained nearly 100% after just a few days home; it has been nearly a month since an accident. He crate trained and slept through the night from day 1 as well. For the moments when we felt challenged by him, your blog has helped us tremendously, especially the reminders to avoid challenges with the puppy and the effectiveness of ignoring bad behavior. For example, if Sasuke gets excited during fetch and lunges for the ball, I simply stand up, put the ball away and calmly walk away. It only took him a few times of me doing that for him to realize that his naughty behavior makes the game stop. So now, he no longer does that. If he is chewing on the wrong thing, your blog has helped me remember not to respond with a crazy voice or boldly command, “No!” (that only provokes the bad behavior more), but to calmly approach, substitute an appropriate chew toy, and then praise him for that. Lots of praise for all the wonderful behavior has helped to diminish the bad behavior. We play crate games, fetch, or nose games a bit each day and that helps with the bonding. We have also enjoyed funny quirky things that Sasuke does, like play fetch with himself by dropping a ball down the steps, retrieving it and dropping it down again and again. He also love to chase the water spray from the hose, and in the morning before leaving his crate he loves to stretch both front and back paws out and have us pull his legs and stretch them. Funny. So, we are having lots of fun, but in the crazy moments we find ourselves losing our patience, we re-read your blog and it has really helped us. Thank you.
LOL! That is too adorable!
Yay! Big hugs to lucky and clever Sasuke!
Thank you very much Linda, for your wonderful story on Sasuke. I love reading happy dog stories and your comment made me laugh, nod my head, and really cheered me up. 😀