They are beautiful, smiling, foxlike dogs coming from Japan. Shiba Inu is a truly remarkable dog with a muscular body and a confident personality.
They are alert, attentive, and active dogs with an independent trait that makes them a bit hard to handle for those who are not experienced in dog training. However, those who have a Shiba Inu dog swear they wouldn’t change anything and that they would do it all over again, easy and hard things considered.
- Size
Shiba Inu is not a big dog. They are approximately up to 16.5 inches tall and can weigh around 23 pounds. These are specific AKC measurements for males and females:
- Male height: 14.5 to 16.5 inches (36 to 41 cm)
- Male weight: 23 pounds (10 kg)
- Female height: 13.5 to 15.5 inches (34 to 40 cm)
- Female weight: 17 pounds (7.5 kg)
They were originally bred for sight hunting and are the smallest of Japanese dog breeds. They walk smoothly, they are agile, and male dogs are more muscular than females.
- Color
Shiba Inu comes in four coat color variations:
- Cream
- Red
- Sesame
- Black and tan
These are all considered breed-standard colors. The only accepted markings are white. They can be present on the tip of the tail, hind legs up to the knee joints, on the chest, or in the form of socks on the forelegs to the elbow joint.
- Social traits
A lot of Shiba Inu owners say their dogs have a “cat-like” personality when it comes to affection. They say their Shiba Inus are loyal but not very cuddly and they let you know when they don’t want to do something.
However, it’s not always the case. I’d say there are 50-50 chances of getting a very affectionate, dog-like personality or a cat-like personality. However, in both cases, they are very protective of their favorite human and very loyal dogs. They just might not tell you through doggy kisses and cuddles.
Shiba Inu wants to be an alpha dog. They do well with other dogs, even much bigger ones than them, but they want to be in charge. This means they need careful socialization focused on introducing them to all kinds of dogs. Of course, only after they have had all of the core vaccines.
Shibas are not the best dogs for families with children unless they have been properly socialized when they were puppies. Otherwise, they could play rough and even lose their temper, which can result in injuries.
The same goes for small animals. Shiba Inu is a dog that needs socialization 100% before introducing a new pet to a home. It’s just the way their DNA works and it’s not a bad dog. We just have to work with their nature and find the middle that suits us all.
Good with other dogs: yes
Good with other animals: needs socialization, otherwise, not recommended
Good with young children: needs socialization, otherwise, not recommended
We are using statements of people who have had bad and those who have had good experiences with their Shiba Inus. A dog’s traits depend on many factors, from its parents and breeder’s behavior to how we treat it.
- Trainability
Shiba Inu is a smart dog, but being smart doesn’t necessarily mean being easy to train. As mentioned before, they can often have a “cat-like” personality which means they could give you some hard time during obedience training.
Of course, every dog is unique. The good thing is that they will quickly learn what to do but the problem is whether they will want to do it. You need to give them a reason, often playtime, a treat, or some other type of food.
The biggest problem is recall. Shiba Inu has a high prey drive and if he sees a squirrel or some other small animal he is interested in, calling his name won’t do a thing.
That’s why you need patience and consistency. Don’t give up, just because it is harder than training a Golden Retriever or a Belgian Malinois.
- Activity needs
Shiba Inu is an active dog that needs at least 40 minutes to 1 hour of daily exercise. You can take him for a long walk, hike, run, swimming (if they like water) whatever works for both you and the dog.
But, that’s not all. You’ll need to provide them some playtime at home as well and a quick walk in the evening. As you can see, they are not lazy dogs. They were bred to hunt and they have a lot of stamina.
While every dog is unique and some might need less exercise than most dogs of this breed, Shiba Inu is not a dog for families that don’t have time to spend with their dogs doing some kind of outdoor activity.
Don’t forget that they need mental stimulation as well. Shiba Inus are smart dogs that will turn their boredom into aggression, destructive behavior, or anxiety.
- Feeding
Generally speaking, an adult Shiba Inu needs 1 to 1.5 cups of kibble food daily. This should be divided into two meals – one in the morning and one in the evening. You can also add some treats in between or some fruits (good for dogs, such as apples or bananas).
A dog needs to be a normal weight for the breed, not overweight or underweight. We should adjust the amount of food according to our dog’s needs, activities, health, age, sex, and after consulting a veterinarian.
- Grooming
Shiba Inu has a double and short coat type. And, they shed a lot. It is not difficult to groom a Shiba Inu, but it will be something you will have to do regularly.
They shed all year round but they have two times a year when they shed more profusely. This is the time when it would be perfect to take them to a groomer for a blowout. If not, using a vacuum for dog grooming is another choice.
It might be expensive but it will save you money in the long run because you can use the vacuum at home. Just remember that a dog needs some time to get used to the noise and feeling of a vacuum cleaner.
They also require regular baths. It all depends on how often they get dirty outside. If they roll around in mud or in sand, etc, they need a bath. If they don’t get dirty while outside, most people bathe their Shibas once every two to three months.
- Possible health problems
Shiba Inu can have some health issues just like any other dog breed. The more specific health issues for this breed are:
- Allergies (atopy)
- Hip dysplasia
- Teeth and gums problems
- Patella luxation
- Eye problems (Cataracts, Glaucoma, Distichiasis)
We cannot prevent every disease, however, we can do a lot if we do responsible breeding where we test our breeding dogs for inheritable diseases.
Final Thoughts
Shiba Inu is a dog for those who know how to handle a dog that can easily become an alpha in your house. They are often referred to as self-sufficient, intelligent, and active dogs. If these are not the traits you are looking for in a dog, it is OK to check another dog breed.
After all, a dog is not a toy or a fashion choice. Dogs love us and only have us and we must take care of them, love them, and not just leave them if they don’t go well with our lifestyle.
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