The Shiba Inu: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find about Shiba Inu temperament, personality, and behavior.

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Shiba Inu Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em

By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010

Though he is conveniently sized, easy to groom, clean and quiet indoors, and not a nuisance underfoot, the Shiba Inu is not an easy-to-live-with lapdog, but a bold, high-spirited, hardy "big dog" in a compact body.

This breed is very challenging to raise. He must always be kept on-leash, for he has a high prey drive and quick reflexes and will pursue anything that moves. He can outrun and outdodge any human.

Your fences must be secure; indeed, if the Shiba Inu is ever outdoors when unsupervised, he really should have a covered run if you want to be sure of finding him in the yard where you left him. Otherwise, his ingenuity and his agile jumping/climbing/digging skills may send him over or under an ordinary fence. And once he's loose, he's gone.

Dog aggression is a common breed trait. Cats are iffy, and small caged pets will be stalked.

You must stay one step ahead of the Shiba Inu, for he is both dominant and clever. He often tries to manipulate through intimidation and when displeased by something can emit a loud scream which may catch you (or your vet) totally unprepared.

With his marked stubborn streak and mischievous sense of humor, the Shiba Inu does best with owners who are firm, confident, and consistent.

Shibas are possessive of their toys and food; it is said that if they could utter one word, it would be "Mine!"

If you want a dog who...

• Is conveniently-sized, sturdy, and strong
• Has a wolf-like (spitz) appearance, with prick ears, foxy face, thick coat, and curled tail
• Is energetic, bold, and spirited -- definitely not a lapdog
• Is smart and clever
• Moves swiftly with light-footed grace
• Makes an alert watchdog

A Shiba Inu may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

• Massive destructiveness when bored or left alone too much
• Excessive suspiciousness when not socialized enough
• Aggression toward other dogs and cats -- strong chasing instincts
• Containment difficulties and preventing escape attempts
• Running away, oblivious to your calls, when an interesting sight or scent catches his attention
• Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
• Heavy shedding

A Shiba Inu may not be right for you.

If I were considering buying or adopting a Shiba Inu

My major concerns would be:

1. Keeping him busy enough. Shiba Inus are active go-getters who MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing. Bored Shibas are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of sofas, and turning your yard into a moonscape of craters. This is not a dog you can simply leave alone for long periods of time.

2. Suspiciousness toward strangers. Standoffish by nature, Shiba Inus need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become suspiciousness, which is difficult to live with and could even lead to biting.

   If you have small children, I do not recommend a Shiba Inu. This breed does not like to be grabbed or hugged or held tightly, and if pushed too far, may react defensively.

3. Animal aggression. The Shiba Inu was bred to hunt other animals. Many Shiba Inus are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster!

   Shiba Inus cannot be trusted off-leash. They will take off -- oblivious to your frantic shouts -- after anything that runs.

4. Fence security. Many Shiba Inus are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. To keep your Shiba Inu in, a 6- to 8-foot fence is recommended -- and it should NOT be chain link or anything else climbable. Some Shibas can go over anything and require a covered outdoor pen. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks, not a flimsy latch.

5. The strong temperament. Shiba Inus are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

   To teach your Shiba to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Shiba Inu Training Page discusses the program you need.

6. Heavy shedding. Shibas shed a little throughout the year and a LOT for three weeks during the spring and three weeks during the fall. During these latter periods, you'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, etc. Just so you know.

To learn more about training the Shiba Inu to be calm and well-behaved, consider my dog training book,
Teach Your Dog 100 English Words.

It's a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will make your Shiba Inu the smartest, most well-behaved companion you've ever had.

Teaches your dog to listen to you, to pay attention to you, and to do whatever you ask him to do.



My dog buying guide, How To Buy a Good Dog, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a healthy Shiba Inu puppy. Health problems have become so widespread in dogs today that this book is required reading for ANYONE who is thinking of getting a purebred, crossbred, or mixed breed dog.

If you'd like to consult with me personally about whether the Shiba Inu might be a good dog breed for your family, I offer a Dog Breed Consulting Service.

Once you have your Shiba Inu home, you need to KEEP him healthy -- or if he's having any current health problems, you need to get him back on the road to good health.

My dog health care book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy is the book you need.

Raise your dog the right way and you will be helping him live a longer, healthier life while avoiding health problems and unnecessary veterinary expenses.

Please consider adopting an ADULT Shiba Inu...

When you're acquiring a Shiba Inu PUPPY, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important.

But when you acquire an adult dog, you're acquiring what he already IS and you can decide whether he is the right dog for you based on that reality. There are plenty of adult Shibas who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics that are "typical" for their breed. If you find such an adult dog, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. Just be happy that you found an atypical individual -- and enjoy!

Save a life. Adopt a dog.

Adopting a Dog From a Dog Breed Rescue Group

Adopting a Dog From the Animal Shelter