You would make a great owner for a Shiba if you:
* enjoy running, walking, hiking and crawling through brambles while yelling your dog’s name at the top of your lungs
* picture the ideal mate as someone who greets you effusively when you get home from work, asks you about your day and then walks away and falls asleep on the couch
* like cats. Cats with curly tails and screams that can shatter glass
* have a fenced yard that could safely contain the inmates of a maximum-security prison
* have a high tolerance for humiliation, because at one point of your life or another, your Shiba will contrive to make you look like the world’s biggest idiot
Are You Prepared For A Shiba?
The goal of this page… well, it’s not to prevent you from getting a dog that screws up your life. It’s to prevent you from screwing up the life of a dog that has no control over where it goes or how it’s brought up.
Thou shalt not screw up the life of a member of my chosen breed.
You would think that people who agonize over buying a house or a car would exhaustively research the dog that they plan to add to their lives for roughly 15 years. As we all (should) know, the number of animals in SPCAs, animal shelters and rescues is evidence that this is not happening.
The Shiba is often underestimated, since it is a small, often cute, often charming breed of dog. The same characteristics that make it endlessly amusing when playing with a ball or other toys make it hell on earth for the unprepared owner.
Who is the ideal Shiba owner? All sorts of people, with different schedules, lifestyles, and levels of physical fitness own happy Shibas. If an owner is dedicated to their dog’s welfare, I think it’s possible to make a Shiba work out in most situations.
What I can definitely state is that the ideal owner for a Shiba inu is assertive, realistic, and educated about their chosen breed of dog. I would generally not recommend this for the first-time dog owner and would have reservations about a family with small children choosing a Shiba for their family pet.
I laughed at all the comments you have posted above, but I think only an owner of a Shiba would really “get” that these facts are real and true about a Shiba. I have never had such an arrogant, strongheaded, focus minded, untrainable, me,me,mine,mine,mine,wantyours,want yours and mine too, loveable, clean, loyal, dog. I just happen to love all animals, and when my Shiba insists on doing what he wants, which is all of the time, he just makes me laugh. I realize it is not his fault, it is the way his breed is, and I love him for it.
I find your website extremely amusing! I’m the owner of a 4 year old Shiba Inu. She’s the sweetest, most loving creature in the world. She’s also psychotic and I swear, the definition ADHD!
We got her when she was only 6 weeks old and she’s friendly and very playful with kids. (Our kids, the neighbor’s kids.) She doesn’t bark. She’s not agressive. She’s just the best!
Of course, I could never let her off the leash… and she does need supervision or she will get herself into trouble. But it doesn’t matter! In my eyes, she’s still perfect. She’s a great running partner, too.
We had a male Shiba a couple years ago, before we owned our current dog. Unfortunately, he was already grown when we got him and completely untrainable. He had a lot of bad habits and though he was a lovable dog, we just couldn’t keep him under control and had to release him to a rescue organization.
It really is all about the training! Shibas are very intelligent dogs and with a little time and patience, the best pest in the world.
I’m so happy I found this website! Thank you!!
Thanks for the note, Da Moyre!
I definately agree… For those ppl that buy a shiba thinking that they are just another dog are about to have a rude awakening. I think they look SOO cute as babies and adults so that you take them home before you realize their true colors! The hardest part in the beginning is the fact that they almost want nothing to do with you. They rather have you do your thing and they do theirs… So if you have your heart set on a cuddle bunny then pick a different breed! Most ppl buy puppies because their SO cute and cuddly looking and they just cant wait to hold and love on the pup. However shiba pups dont have ANY plans on lying in your lap, well at least not quietly! lol
When it comes to training a shiba I’ve never met a dog that could learn SO fast (my male at least could) he learned over 30 tricks by the age of 4 months! However he’d only preform when I was willing to reward him with his favorite treats. (Anything less then his favorite wasnt good enough!) My female shiba was a different story all together she was almost impossible to train bc she didn’t CARE if I praised her, gave her treats or punished her, she just wanted to do what she wanted to do! (luckily by being super consistent for a yr she finally decided it was in her best interest to follow a couple very basic commands!) I about pulled my hair out with frustration since I’ve trained dogs since I was young both in obedience and agility and no matter what I tried it didnt work and when something seemed to work it wouldnt the next time. Another thing is she acted just like a cat when it came to walking ANYWHERE on a leash. When I first started leash training her I literally had to drag her with me. I even ended up accidently hurting her feet bc she rubbed her pads off on the pavement trying NOT to go anywhere! (I never thought she would take it to THAT level!) Of course when that happened she turned into a super diva and thought she couldnt move at all! You would have thought she’d be run over and was paralysized from the neck down! Vet’s have said shibas are one of the hardest dogs to treat bc even a sliver will make them act like their half dead or dying! Next problem is recall… Shibas dont have any! Well maybe if they feel like it they might come but not close enough for u to catch them! The kicker is you CANT leave your shiba off leash at all! You cant even let them in fenced yard unless you have a yard that is concrete on the bottom with fence literally cemented to the ground AND a roof! They will dig thru almost anything, squeeze under at the smallest place, or literally climb the fence like a rock wall. Doesnt even matter if you have a 6 ft fence they will get over sometimes bc they are constantly trying to figure out how! They are ALWAYS thinking and trying to figure out how to outsmart you! What will work one day will almost NEVER work the next day! Trainers have often said that the shibas will spend their time between training sessions figuring out how to NOT obey!
Another thing you have to deal with is the shiba “scream”… I actually had the cops called on me once when I was giving the shibas a bath!! My neighbors thought my ex was beating me! (I warned them that my shibas would scream whenever they didnt like exactly how I was treating them. Definately something you should do if living near anyone at all!) Shibas also have their own ideas of being treated bad means… It might be taking a bath, walking in wet grass, picking them up, making them cuddle, going out in the rain or even when they are super happy to see you when you return! The list goes on and on and each shiba has their own ideas (though normally baths are on all shibas list of what is considered good treatment of them!).
That being said their are definately some great positives to owning a shiba. Shibas are very clean and will actually even clean up after other pets (You’ll have to be super fast to beat them to the punch!) They are very indepedent and not needy at all so being left at home doesnt bother them (though it might bother you bc they definately will get into as much trouble as possible!), they pretty much potty train themselves and will even have great bladder control when they are only 6wks old. Shibas will NEVER urinate in their home unless there is NO other option (or if they are male they my want to mark stuff like you!). This means you dont have to take them outside 6-8 times or more like you do other smaller breeds. Next they really go off of your energy level most the time. If you calm and quiet then they will be too. (unless is Shiba 500 time of the day) If your wanting to play and run around or even take them running, biking, rollerblading, walking then they will ALWAYS outlast you! They will always make you laugh (and probably cry at times!) since they are SO smart and will manipulate other animals around them! My shiba would literally throw a toy for my other dog then while he was fetching it she’d steal whatever the other dog was chewing on! Also she used to frame my pomeranian since my pom was too stupid to run away from the scene of the crime! She’d do this by getting into trouble then when she heard me coming she would run away and lay down and act like she’d be sleeping and didnt know the pom had done something bad! I actually ended up getting rid of my pom bc I thought she was always getting into everything! Another good thing about a shiba is they are SUPER loyal and she loved being wherever I was (though not on my lap). My shiba wouldnt listen to my ex unless she knew I was okay with what she was doing! It used to drive my ex nuts!! Bc no matter what he said or offered she’d always obey my commands first!
So all in all I think anyone thinking about owning a shiba should do their research with the best research being talking to other people that have actually owned one. I have always loved shibas since I was very very young and I had done tons of research on the breed however that did not prepare me for what owning a shiba really was going to be like! Anyone thats buying a shiba bc they are cute and bc they want a dog will have a rude awakening bc they are anything but like a classic dog. So please know what your really looking for before getting one otherwise you’d be unhappy. Finally if you never owned a dog before don’t start with this breed… Mostly bc you have to be SUPER consistent with training, know what your doing and many way to train AND start from a very young age otherwise it will be nearly impossible… These dogs are not easy in this regard at all and are not the best breed to start learning to train on. Since they will play you for a fool and you’ll be beating your head on the wall!!
Even with all their faults personally after owning a shiba I could never own just a regular dog again… Shiba’s are addictive! lol They are SO unique and different from other dogs that they really should almost have their own catagory! After owning one its hard to go back to the slow, hyper, yippy, weeing animals that most dogs are! After owning one I will NEVER pick another breed before a shiba… I might get a shiba AND a different breed but I’d NEVER pick a different breed before buying another shiba! I’m definately hooked on Shibas for life!!!
I am an experienced dog owner and am thinking of taking on a Shiba! I want an independent dog that is good in apartments and cities (AKA always on a leash, likes to run and doesn’t need to worry about climbing gates and fences), can be trained well and is loyal. I also want it to be small (it is hard to find smaller dogs that like to run and exercise!).
That being said, I love to adopt dogs. I have felt terribly about the thought of buying a dog when there are so many in need.
Everything I have read about the Shiba makes me feel like the only way I can go about owning one is to buy a pup. I need my dog to be comfortable around other dogs and I want to train it and not have it be completely independent/know some commands and run with me on a leash. I am not sure if adopting an older Shiba is an option because everywhere I read it sounds like the older, fostered Shiba will be aloof and coexist with me rather than be my friend. I want more than just a roommate!
Should I give up hope on adopting a slightly older Shiba?
I don’t think you should give up hope, but be very careful about the older Shiba you do adopt. One option is to go through a reputable rescue that can guide you to a dog with a demonstrated temperament that you can work with. Another option is to contact show kennels and see if they have older dogs who have finished their show careers. Some kennels do this to provide the dogs with a more one-on-one home life after their show career is done. That might be an option for you.
Also keep in mind that older dogs can be trained – in fact when adopting a rescue, it is my opinion that training is imperative to cement the bond between new owner/new dog. Seek out mainly positive-based trainers and remember that, no matter what, your Shiba will humiliate you in some entertaining fashion at some point in your life together.