Purebred Dogs vs. Mixed Breed Dogs Which Dog Breed Is Best For You? 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy Advice You Can Trust: 180 Dog Breed Reviews Teach Your Dog 100 English Words How To Buy a Good Dog

Shibas: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Shiba Inu personality and behavior. main page breed review faq health training adopting/buying links My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Shiba Inu, including these excerpts: "Though clean and quiet indoors, and not a nuisance underfoot, the Shiba Inu is not a lapdog, but a bold, high-spirited, hardy "big dog" in a compact body. 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 should have a covered run, for his ingenuity and jumping and climbing anddigging skills may send him over or under an ordinary fence. 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, 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 (and 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; it is said that if they could utter one word, it would be "Mine!" History The shiba (little brushwood) inu (dog) hunted birds and small game through the dense low bushes of Japan. Size 14-16 inches and 18-30 lbs

Shiba Inus What's good about 'em What's bad about 'em There are energetic Shibas, and placid Shibas. Hard-headed Shibas, and sweet-natured Shibas. Serious Shibas, and good-natured goofballs. Introverted Shibas, and Shibas who love everyone. If you acquire a Shiba Inu puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed... If you want a dog who... Is conveniently-sized, sturdy, and spitz-like, with prick ears, foxy face, thick coat, and curled tail Is energetic, bold, and spirited -- definitely not a lapdog Moves swiftly with light-footed grace Thrives on vigorous exercise and athletic activities Makes a keen watchdog A Shiba Inu may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... Vigorous exercise requirements Massive destructiveness when bored or left alone too much Suspiciousness toward strangers when not socialized enough Aggression toward other animals -- strong chasing instincts Escape attempts and 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 a Shiba Inu... My major concerns would be: Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. 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. I strongly recommend that you get your Shiba Inu involved in obedience classes at the intermediate or advanced level, or in agility (an obstacle course for dogs), as outlets for his high energy. 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. 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. 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, you may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. Some Shibas are incredible climbers who require a covered pen when outdoors. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks. 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. Heavy shedding. Shibas shed a LOT. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life. Make sure you're REALLY up for this. If you're considering an adult Shiba Inu... There are plenty of adult Shibas who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS. Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author.