The Shiba Inu is a Japanese hunting dog. It is a small to medium dog breed. He does well with children as long as he is properly socialized and trained. It is an intelligent breed who learns quickly. Shiba Inu is strong, possessiveness, alert, good natured dog.
If you’re wondering for Shiba Inu information, you’ve come to the right place. This article will cover everything you need to know about Shiba Inu.
Content Overview
- History
- Other’s name
- Characteristics
- Temperament
- Is Shiba Inu Good With you & your family?
- Appearance
- Common Health Problems & It’s Symptoms
- How to take care
- Grooming Needs
- How to train Shiba Inu Puppy
- Puppy price
- How to care Shiba Inu in Winter?
- Shiba Inu Mix breeds
- Things to consider adopting a Shiba Inu puppies
- Advantages & Disadvantages
History
The Shiba Inu is a Japanese breed, like the Shikoku, Akita, Hokkaido, Kai Dog, and Kishu. It was mostly used as a hunting dog, bringing small animals and birds to the hunters. Several theories exist as to how the Shiba Inu got his name.
One theory is that Shiba means “brushwood,” and the dogs were named for the brushwood shrubs they hunted. Another idea is that the Shiba’s flaming red hue matches the autumn colour of brushwood leaves. They lived in the Chbu region’s hilly highlands.
It was bred to chase tiny game and flush it out. Western dog breeds were introduced during the Meiji Restoration, and hybrids between them and native Japanese breeds became popular. From 1912 to 1926, there were nearly no pure Shibas left.
Hunters and intellectuals began to take an interest in pure Shiba from 1928. During World War II, the Shiba was on the verge of extinction. The only three remaining bloodlines were used to breed all subsequent dogs.
The Shinshu Shiba of Nagano Prefecture, the Mino Shiba of present-day Gifu Prefecture’s ancient Mino Province, and the San’in Shiba of Tottori and Shimane Prefectures were among these bloodlines. These three strains were combined into one general breed, the “Shiba”.
When the study of Japanese dogs was established in the early and mid-20th century. An armed service family brought the first Shiba Inu to the United States in 1954. The American Kennel Club recognised the Shiba in 1992 and added it to the AKC Non-Sporting Group in 1993.
Other’s names:
- Japanese Brushwood Dog
- Shiba Ken
- Shobe
- Japanese Small Size Dog
- Japanese Shiba Inu
- Shibe
- Shober
Characteristics
Breed basic Characteristics
| Weight | 8 to 10 kg |
| Height | 33 to 43 cm |
| Grooming requirements | Medium grooming |
| Litter size | 3 Puppies |
| Coat color | Red, black and tan, cream, sesame, black sesame, red sesame |
| Lifespan | 13 – 15 years |
| Suitable For | Families, Small homes and apartments |
| Purpose | Hunting |
| Barking Level | When Necessary |
| Breed Type | Non-Sporting Group |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Energy Level | High |
Temperament
The Shiba Inu is a charming, loyal, self-assured, sharp, alert, and courageous dog breed. He is a dog breed with a strong personality and self-assurance. It has its own viewpoints on issues.
With his family, he is devoted and affectionate, yet he is wary of strangers. Puppies have a pleasant demeanour. They are curious, playful, and eager to approach others.
They are easy to groom and have a great sense of territoriality. It has a great weight-gain potential. The Shiba Inu is a devoted dog that makes a terrific trekking companion. They need to be socialised at a young age.
Is Shiba Inu Good With you, your family & kids?
The Shiba Inu is a good family dog if he is properly raised and given sufficient training and socialisation when he is young. He gets along well with children that are kind and respectful to him.
Teach your kid to never approach a dog who is eating or sleeping, or to try to steal the dog’s food. Always teach youngsters how to approach and touch dogs, and supervise any interactions between dogs and small children to avoid biting or ear or tail pulling on either party’s side.
It can be aggressive toward other dogs and he will chase animals he perceives as prey. Early socialisation and training go a long way toward assisting the Shiba Inu in getting along with other dogs and animals. Other dogs don’t always get along with him.
Appearance
Body: It has a compact, muscular body.
Ear’s: Shiba Inu ear’s are naturally upright and triangular. Their ears are small and set apart.
Head: It’s head is wedge-shaped head
Eyes: Their eyes are slightly triangular. Eye’s color is dark brown.
Eyebrows: They have faint eyebrows.
Nose: Shiba Inu nose is black.
Lips: It’s lips are black.
Muzzle: Their muzzle is fairly short and compact. Muzzles are tapers slightly at the nose.
Front legs: The front legs are straight.
Coat Length: Their coat is medium in length. Shiba Inus is double-coated dog breed. Coarser outer hair that covers softer inner hair.
Tail: Shiba Inus tail looks like a question mark. Tail is long and curves upright over the dog’s back.
Common Health Problems & It’s Symptoms
| Health issue | How it works? | Symptoms |
| Hypothyroidism | This is a thyroid gland anomaly that causes a variety of problems, including a decrease in metabolic function. | Weight gain, Lack of desire to exercise, dry, dull hair, Increased dark pigmentation |
| Cataract | When the eye’s protein clumps together, a foggy grey film forms over the eyes, eventually obscuring the lens. | Changes in eye color, Cloudy pupils, Reluctance to climb, scratching of the eyes |
| Patellar Luxation | This is a hereditary condition that affects the kneecaps of dogs. | Pain when moving the leg, Refusing to exercise, Swelling, Weak legs |
| Addison’s Disease | Reduced hormone synthesis from the adrenal gland’s outer part, or cortex, causes it. | Weight loss, Diarrhea, Bloody stools, Alopecia, Anorexia |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | This is an eye condition that causes the retina to gradually deteriorate. | Eyes begin to have a cloudy look, loss of night vision, Eyes take on a grey colour |
How to take care
Feeding importants:
The digestive systems of all dogs are different from ours and can be rather delicate. They don’t have the same desire for variety or the ability to adjust to new foods as we do.
The amount of food they require is determined by their size and energy level.
Each day, an adult Shiba will consume one to one and a half cups of kibble.
When you first bring your new puppy home, it’s crucial not to feed him different food right away. Your breeder will provide you advice during the first four months.
For their health and development, Shiba Inu puppies require a proper puppy diet. Puppies burn calories more quickly and require more calories per pound than larger dogs.
A popular choice is dry kibble. Dry food, wet food, BARF, and home-made food should all be included.
Exercise needs:
Shibas will require daily exercise. They require one hour of exercise per day. It has a fair amount of prey drive. Destructive or even aggressive behaviour might occur from a lack of exercise.
There are three main types of exercise and activity you must provide your Shiba Inu dog every day.
- Purposeful Activity
- Daily Walk
- Mental Stimulation
1. Purposeful Activity
1. Fetch: Another great technique to expend pent-up energy is playing fetch with your Shiba dog. Balls are a favourite toy for many Shiba Inus.
2. Stair Exercise: If you have stairs in your home, stair exercise is a wonderful energy burner and muscle strengthener. Begin at the bottom of the steps, instructing your dog to “stay.” “Go” after throwing the ball to the top of the steps.
3. Digging: Shiba Inus are famous for their digging abilities. Provide a digging space or a digging box for your Shiba Inu. If you choose to utilise sand, keep in mind that it can get rather hot in hot weather. Simply moisten the sand before allowing your dog to play with it.
4. Flirt Pole: This is similar to a giant cat tickler, but it has a stick, rope, and a bait or toy at the end. Your dog will chase the bait if you move it in circles or in all directions across the ground. It takes advantage of the dog’s innate predatory instinct to provide plenty of mental excitement.
2. Daily walk
Your Shiba Inu’s mind will be stimulated by the sights, sounds, and smells they experience on their walk. It also offers social enrichment, strengthens their bond with you, and provides an excellent training opportunity. Daily walks are preferable to doing nothing during the week and going for a long walk on the weekend.
3. Mental Stimulation
Give them puzzle toys. Puzzle toys are great for their minds because they put their problem-solving abilities to the test. Try to select puzzle toys that are a little more difficult because they tend to figure them out quickly. Mental stimulation is provided via scenting and nose games. Give them soft toys for playing.
This amount of activity and exercise ideas are for a healthy adult Shiba Inu. Puppies have distinct activity requirements because they are still growing. A puppy’s growing bones and joints might be injured by the wrong amount and type of exercise.
Shiba Inu puppies need exercise:
A puppy’s activity requirements are very different from those of an adult. Socializing with other pups or nice adult dogs is a fantastic way to burn off some puppy energy while also teaching them important social skills.
Puppies under the age of three months are unlikely to have had all of their immunizations and should not be walked in public.
Walking a puppy for 5 minutes for every month of age is a good rule of thumb. For example, 5 month-old puppy, a walk of 25 minutes is enough.
Older Shiba Inu need exercise:
Older Shiba Inu become less active and have lower energy levels. It’s critical to keep their joints mobile and control their weight, but doing so too much can cause pain. Give them a daily walk of 30 to 45 minutes.
Grooming Needs
Brushing:
Brushing your dog’s coat helps in removing loose hair while also dispersing natural oils for a healthy, shiny appearance. This will also prevent matts and tangles in the hairs. It is the most crucial aspect of grooming.
Shiba Inus should be groomed / brushed at least twice a month during non-shedding seasons. Grooming should be done regularly or twice weekly during the spring and fall shedding seasons (shedding seasons).
Bathing:
Depending on the level of activity, bathing should be done once a week to every six weeks. Bathing Shiba Inus too frequently can cause their skin to become excessively dry.
Always use the shampoo and conditioner recommended by your veterinarian. Ask your vet regarding to your dog skin shampoo.
Trimming:
When their nails become too long, you should be trimmed. If you’re not sure how often you should clip their nails, talk to a veterinarian. Use a standard nail clipper to trim their nails.
Trim the hair around their face and paws. This helps avoid mats from forming in this area. Use a pair of small scissors for trimming.
Oral health:
Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis will help maintain his breath fresh and his mouth healthy. Brush their teeth with a standard toothpaste and toothbrush.
If you observe a brownish film growing on their tongue, contact your veterinarian right away.
Ear cleaning:
If they are prone to excess moisture, wax buildup, yeast overgrowth, and other common ear disorders, weekly ear cleaning may help keep their ears healthy.
If you notice a dark discharge coming from the ear, it’s time to see your veterinarian.
How to train Shiba Inu Puppy
Train a new puppy is an exciting, challenging and hugely rewarding time. If you’re well prepared, you can help your puppy settle faster and it’ll be more enjoyable for you too.
There’s lots of things to do before you collect your puppy to make sure you’re ready for their arrival. it’s vital to make appropriate preparations at home too. Starts giving puppy training at the moment you bring your puppy home.
If you use the wrong teaching method, your puppy will begin making decisions about how he wants you to fit into his life. Shiba Inu is considered one of the most difficult breeds to train.
Basic command:
Learn them basic commands like Go, Stop, Heel, Sit, Stay, and Come. Place your pup in front of you and do action related command in front of them.Sit in front of them if you are teaching sit commands. Reward them after positive reply.
Stop Jumping:
Jumping can be a natural behavior for dogs. Teaching your canine, do now no longer to jump. Say “No” and “sit”. Teaches them to neglect about this form of behavior. Understand them, and that they’re not getting their favorite thing as soon as they are jumping.
Potty training:
Starts to provide them potty education after they are 4-6 months old. Give your Shiba Inu pup their personal dog bathroom. Some dogs could take up to a year for this coaching job. Let confirm them within the canine lavatory a minimum of each 2 hours.
Stop bitting:
Once your pup bites you, pull again your hand and say aloud, “Ouch” or “No”. Offer dogs any gentle toys to chew. Shiba Inu pup bite when they see people, and that they sense vulnerable.
And at that time, as soon as their teeth return, and they feel pain. If the biting come to be excessive, you’ll need to be compelled to want action.
Socialization:
Take your dog for frequent walks. Daily walks are great way to expose your dog to new sights, sounds, smells, humans and other animals. Introduce your dog to different people, other dogs and animal. They take around 1 year in socialize.
Puppy price
Puppy price of Shiba Inus is between $2000 – $3500.
How to care Shiba Inu in Winter?
Here are some way to protect Shiba Inu in winter:
- Warm blankets, fresh from the radiator or dryer, should be wrapped around them whenever they feel cold.
- Offer them warm or lukewarm water for drinking.
- During the cold and winter months, give them a bath on occasion.
- Wrap a hot water bottle in a cloth and place it on Shiba Inu’s stomach. Make sure the bottle isn’t directly on his stomach, as this could burn the Shiba Inu.
- Give them jackets and booties for protection.
- During the winter, use a hydrating shampoo.
- Wiping it’s leg with a warm towel and blanket.
Shiba Inu Mix breeds
- Akita Inu = Shiba Inu + Akita
- Shiba Husky = Shiba Inu + Siberian Husky
- Shiba Chi = Shiba Inu + Chihuahua
- Corgi Inu = Shiba Inu + Welsh Corgi
- Shiba Inu Border Collie = Shiba Inu + Border Collie
- Shepherd Inu = Shiba Inu + German Shepherd
- Golden Shiba = Shiba Inu + Golden Retriever
- Shiba Malamute = Shiba Inu + Alaskan Malamute
- Poo-Shi = Shiba Inu + Poodle
- Shug Inu = Shiba Inu + Pug
- Imo Inu = Shiba Inu + American Eskimo dog
- PomShi = Pomeranian + Shiba Inu
- Shairn Inu = Shiba Inu + Cairn Terrier
- Shibadach = Shiba Inu + Dachshund
- Shibo = Shiba Inu + Boston Terrier
Things to consider adopting a Shiba Inu puppies
- Finding a reputable breeder is an efficient technique to find the ideal dog.
- The breeder is more interested in finding suitable homes for the puppies than with making a profit.
- Good breeders will welcome your inquiries and explain the breed’s history as well as why one puppy is rated pet quality while another is not.
- Discuss the health problems that concern the breed and the steps he takes to avoid them. A good breeder will want to be a resource for you throughout the life of your dog.
- Avoid breeders who seem mainly concerned with how quickly they can sell you a puppy and whether your credit card will be accepted.Many respectable breeders have websites, so look at the buyers’ reviews.
- Consider whether an adult Shiba might better suit your needs and lifestyle before purchasing a puppy.
- Puppies are a lot of fun, but they take a lot of time and effort to develop into the dog of your dreams.
- Make sure the puppy you buy was raised in a clean home environment by parents who have health clearances, conformation (show) titles, and, ideally, working titles to establish that they are good breed specimens.
- To give puppies a healthy, confident start in life, they should be temperament tested, vetted, dewormed, and socialised.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
- This breed has lot of strength in a small package.
- They are exceptionally healthy dogs.
- These dogs hate to stay dirty.
- It produce less dander than other dog breeds.
- It has a high emotional IQ level.
Disadvantages:
- They need daily exercise and a healthy diet.
- It is difficult to train.
- They are stubborn breed.
- This dog can be aggressive.
- It can be dangerous toward other dogs.