Shiba Inu

[SPENCER]

Anyone out there - would like any info on getting a shiba inu. Looking only for little dogs as that is all we've had for yrs. and this may be an opportunity.
Thanks, Spencer

[snoopygirl]

Congrats on possibly getting a Shiba Inu! They are very beautiful dogs. Did you see Maiya, yesterday's Daily Puppy?
Shiba Inus seem like good dogs.

They like a good run as well as just walking on a lead, they are not greedy and may be a bit disinterested in their food, and their temperament is described as quiet, reserved, spirited and independent. They form close bonds with their owners and make good guard dogs. They can adapt to living in town or country. They also love children and are apparently relatively easy to look after. They are also very clean dogs. They don't bark so much as 'purr', yodel and even scream! Their personalities can be described as 'cat-like'. They don't like to come when they are called but are supposedly easy to housetrain.

[Sam Omalley]

Shiba's are great little dogs! They are the little sisters to the akita. They can be vocal and do have lots of energy. A walk each day will help relieve their energy. They need to be socialized with people and other dogs when they are young and like the akita kept socialized. If you don't socialize them they can be a bit snappy with people and other dogs. As with any dog they should be taken through a basic obedience training class to promote good behavior. An adult should be under 25 pounds, although I've seen larger shibas come into the animal hospital where I work. They do have wonderful personalities and are very loving and loyal to their owners. You can read more about them by going to the shiba club of america website or talking with shiba rescues or breeders about their personalities and the pros and cons. They are very cool little dogs!

[alexalou]

I won't be as knowledgeable as someone with a Shiba, but I did do a lot of research when I was hoping to bring one home.
Here's what I learned from some breeders and websites-

Shiba Inu's are often described as cat dogs. They are very independent animals. They are not clingy at all. This makes them great hunters. They are a one owner only type of dog. Not 3, not 2, but 1. They don't bark like other dogs. They yodel. I haven't heard one, that's just what the breeders said. I'd be interested to know if they actually do. They were originally bred in Japan. They are still extremely popular there. They were bred to be hunting and guard dogs. They still have a very strong hunting instinct. One of the breeders we talked to said she had one lady return her puppy because it brought a dead squirrel to her door step almost every day. If there are any small animals outside where you live, or if you have cats, you'll need to be careful. Shiba's are also very intelligent dogs. The only thing that would keep them from earning something quickly is their stubbornness. (a lot like me! haha.) They require a strong, dominant trainer. If you can be this, you'll have a great dog. Just like any other breed.

The only reason we did not end up with a Shiba, but a German Shepherd instead is because of one key feature. Aggressiveness. Obviously it depends on how much you socialize the dog. Any dog can become aggressive if put in the wrong environment, however, all the breeders we talked to said the same thing- they had to keep their females separated. Now, I'm not saying that all Shiba's are this way, but we didn't want to take the chance of having a puppy grow up, and fight to the death with out other female dog. If it was just our male, then we probably would have gotten one.

They are absolutely gorgeous dogs, (love their tails!) but you must make sure you can handle one! But like I said, i haven't had any experience with one, just a lot of research. I hope everything works out great for you and your dog!! If you're still looking, don't forget to look at other breeds as well. I was very close minded when looking for a dog. I feel I could have made a better decision if I had looked at all my choices. Good luck!!

[BearsMomJodi]

Hi! I have a 1 year old Shiba Inu whom my husband and I adore. He is very different from other dogs. He typically doesn't bark (but can), instead he yodels or screams. He doesn't really make any noise unless he sees another dog/person etc. He's extremely intelligent, possibly moreso than my husband and I. He associates certain words (car ride) and sounds (like the sound of me opening cheese/lunchmeat bags - he loves cheese!) with actions. He was a breeze to housetrain, he was practically housebroken when we got him at 10 weeks old. To go outside, he'll either ring his bells, stand up and tap on the door knob, or occasionally will grab his leash in his mouth. I've heard that shibas shouldn't be trusted off the leash and will tend to bolt out an open door. Bear has yet to try and bolt out an open door; but if there were an animal outside, I'm sure he would run out the door at first chance. Shibas are hunters and he loves to chase after anything that moves: birds, cats, squirrels, deer, leaves, whatever. If it moves, he's after it.

He's a relatively clean animal, and fairly odor free (or at least its not noticeable). He sheds about twice a year.

He's very protective of my husband and I, which is a good and bad thing. And yes, he is an aggressive dog by nature. It seems like he has some leash aggression too. He does not like dogs that he doesn't know in our house and he doesn't like any dog taking his stuff or eating his food. I take him to doggie daycare to help with socialization. All the workers laugh b/c little 25lb Bear will go after the biggest dogs in the group (mastiffs, newfoundlands, etc). The big dogs think he's crazy. He does love people, but he's afraid of children. My husband and I made a mistake and didn't have him around many small children while he's a pup. We don't have any of our own (yet) and I am concerned how he will act if/when we do have children. My advice it to socialize your shiba pup with as many different people, children, places, and animals as possible during the first year. Overall, he's a great dog and we love him to pieces!

[NikkiOwner]

Ah- the beauty of the shiba inu. My family ALMOST got one but decided to get a more family oriented dog. We also have guinea pigs, and shibas have been known to climb or get/dig under fences/gates to escape! They were bred to kill small animals so NOT a good match for our family. They are beauty's but VERY dominant, and I have a younger sister at the age of 7. They are constantly trying to dominate you. Very good around kids, but my mom didn't want a too overpowering dog, my youngest sister can never be too hard with them, so ALSO not a good match for our family. So if you are VERY dominant and don't mind having to keep track of an escape artist or mastermind (you can put a jar of treats in a cabinet, and BAM- once you leave the room, the shiba will be up on the cabinet, getting the treats) they could work. I have also heard from someone at a puppy play hour with her shiba inu "very intelligent. If I wanna go left, she runs with all her might right- VERY stubborn, and clever". I've also heard "So beautiful, but she's a pain in the neck, our other dogs [Chihuahua and basset hound] are great, and our shiba is just a pain in the butt...." So many people like them for their looks, but many people just can't put up with the cunningness or dominance of this ancient asian breed.

[NikkiOwner]

The only reason we did not end up with a Shiba, but a German Shepherd instead is because of one key feature. Aggressiveness. Obviously it depends on how much you socialize the dog. Any dog can become aggressive if put in the wrong environment, however, all the breeders we talked to said the same thing- they had to keep their females separated. Now, I'm not saying that all Shiba's are this way, but we didn't want to take the chance of having a puppy grow up, and fight to the death with out other female dog. If it was just our male, then we probably would have gotten one.

They are absolutely gorgeous dogs, (love their tails!) but you must make sure you can handle one! But like I said, i haven't had any experience with one, just a lot of research. I hope everything works out great for you and your dog!! If you're still looking, don't forget to look at other breeds as well. I was very close minded when looking for a dog. I feel I could have made a better decision if I had looked at all my choices. Good luck!!

That was the exact reason my family did not get a shiba, we ended up rescuing a labrador in the end.

[WallysMomma]

I had a Shiba Inu for 10 years, they are beautiful dogs and have quite the personality. The quote that I think describes them best is "Whats mine is mine and whats yours is mine!" They can be very stubborn at times and are a challenge to train, but if you can get them to listen they can be wonderful dogs. We rescued our Shiba named Sasha (who has since passed on) and she was a little aggressive at first from not being socialized properly at birth. With a little love and TLC she was a wonderful dog. From what I have noticed from the breeds is that they are very clean and cat like, they do not bark very much, which is always very nice. I did notice they were not very cuddly dogs, they like to have their space. I would definitely recommend a Shiba for the right type of person, they can be a great addition to the family!