Shiba Inu

Coat & Grooming: The Shiba Inu is a very clean companion animal. They practice self-grooming and carry almost no unpleasant “dog odor” with them. When you perform your weekly grooming sessions, take a few extra moments to check their ears, eyes, nails, and teeth. If you start to see problems develop, you’ll want to intervene ASAP to keep your veterinary bills low and your dog happy and healthy.

Coat length: Short to Medium
Grooming: Frequent

Shedding: Their thick double coat looks luxurious with proper care, but it tends to shed a lot seasonally. Make sure you brush them once per week during the low-shedding months and more often during peak “flying fur” times. Invest in good grooming tools and your job will be much easier. A proper grooming brush (or dog grooming glove) makes a big difference. Also, buy a good quality vacuum to clean up during the shedding season.

Training: While many novice trainers find the breed a frustrating challenge, the Shiba Inu is very intelligent and quick-to-learn. The trick is maintaining their focus and attention on you. With such a strong independent mind and high self-importance, your Shiba is quick to ignore you if you lose their focus. Keep your training sessions short and to-the-point. It’s also good to introduce games to help them learn the proper way to play. Left alone, a Shiba Inu can become aggressive and focused on chasing prey about all else.

Barking: Shibas aren’t overly loud or frantic barkers, but they are keen to express themselves to the world. As an emotional breed, they will often whine (or “Shiba scream”) when displeased or overstimulated. Proper socialization is key at an early age. It’s important to expose them to different people, animals, and environments to develop their confidence and resilience.

Temperament & Behavior: With a strong personality and an independent streak, the Shiba Inu can be a force of nature. While they can show dog-aggression, your Shiba Inu will be a perfect companion animal, given the proper training and socialization. They are very possessive of their toys, and they tend to keep themselves clean. Some Shibas will exhibit strange grooming behavior, such as licking their paws like a cat. While they are reserved with strangers, they are affectionate and loyal when it comes to their friends and family. Shibas are very intelligent and emotional dogs –always give them the love (they feel like) they deserve.

Behavior with kids: Very small children don’t make a good mix with your Shiba Inu since the breed can be a bit rambunctious when excited. After a good introduction, your Shiba Inu should warm up to older children. Always make sure you supervise your pets, and don’t be shy about instructing strangers about proper dog handling.

Protection: When it comes to home protection, the Shiba Inu might not be the best choice. While they can be protective and possessive around the home, they are generally curious about strangers. Shibas aren’t guard dogs, but they might bark at nefarious-looking squirrels out the window. If you are hoping for a dog that will protect from intruders, you might consider a different breed.

Life span: On average, Shibas live to be about 13-16 years old.

Inherited health issues: As with any breed, certain health conditions can occur in the Shiba Inu at an increased frequency within the breed or can be inherited. Responsible breeders commonly perform genetic testing on their breeding dogs in an attempt to decrease the incidence of these conditions in future generations. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Glaucoma, Gangliosidosis, Heinz body anemia, Pseudohyperkalemia, Chylothorax and Atopy.

Preventive care: The Shiba Inu is a generally healthy breed. Most of the health problems associated with Shibas in particular are relatively infrequent. Responsible breeders typically perform genetic screening tests on breeding dogs to decrease the frequency of these conditions in new puppies, but these tests are ineffective in preventing a condition in an individual dog.

Routine preventative veterinary care is crucial to picking up on subtle changes before they become bigger problems. Regular use of flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, deworming medication, vaccinations, and wellness exams are all of the utmost importance in keeping your Shiba Inu in tip-top condition.

Shibas are energetic little dogs and should be able to maintain a healthy body weight with proper feeding. Offering a high quality balanced diet fed in portion-controlled meals will help to keep your Shiba Inu in great condition. Avoid offering too many treats or table foods since this can quickly pack on the pounds.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Shiba Inu is 1/2 to 2/3 cups

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: It’s very important to give your Shiba Inu ample opportunities to get out and play. They need a significant amount of exercise to stay healthy and happy. If you can’t devote enough time, don’t be afraid to rely on a dog walker to help out. While they are smart and learn quickly, they aren’t always interested in your commands. Obedience lessons and socialization are key to developing the right habits in your Shiba Inu. Don’t be surprised if your Shiba develops a possessive attitude towards their toys, bed, and their home in general. They don’t like to share!

Climate: The Shiba Inu found its calling as a mountain climber and hunting dog in ancient Japan. They are built for working outside, so they typically stand up well to any climate. In extreme cold or hot weather, it’s important to keep a close eye on your dog. If you see extreme panting or shivering, it’s time for a break. If you live in a very cold climate, it’s never a bad idea to invest in some stylish outerwear for your Shiba Inu.

Living Space: As long as you can provide a good daily exercise regime, your Shiba Inu can adapt to apartment living. While it’s better to have a house with a fenced in backyard, but it’s not impossible to keep a Shiba Inu happy in a smaller space. Just beware of long isolation periods and make sure you get your walks in.