Quick Facts
Origin: Japan
Height: F: 13.5”-15.5”, M: 14.5″-16.5″
Weight: F: 17 lbs, M: 23 lbs
Color: Black & tan, Cream, Red, Red sesame with or without White markings
Lifespan: 13-16 years
Temperament: Vigilant, energetic, loving, aloof
Overview
No, this isn’t a briefing on cryptocurrency, it’s an introduction to one of the sweetest furry friends around. Shiba Inu, the pride of Japan, was once an excellent hunter, now a top-notch guard dog and companion. They are confident, daring and poised, though sometimes aloof.
These pups have classy sensibilities and avoid getting dirty whenever possible. Early training and establishing pack order are essential for this breed, as when they sense weakness, they will begin to assert their dominance. They are an energetic dog that will pair best with people who are active and will spend the time making sure their pup’s needs are met.
Celebrity Owners
Fan Chengcheng, Fast Eddie, Jaime King, Michael Jordan, Olly Mur, Richard Gere
Fun Facts
- In 2004, a Shiba named Mari saved her elderly owner who was trapped under a cabinet following an earthquake.
Health
Shibas are typically very healthy pups. Their main concerns include:
- Allergies: Histamine, which is a chemical in the body associated with immune responses, is released during allergic reactions.
- Patellar luxation: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A Luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
- Hip dysplasia: This condition is when the socket joint in the hip isn’t large enough, or more often too shallow, for the femoral head.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Grooming
Shibas are prolific shedders. Be prepared to brush your pup weekly to help contain the hair loss. These pups go through two seasonal sheds where you should increase your brushing to daily. You pup will need a bath somewhere around monthly.
These dogs are very clean and do their best to avoid dirt when possible. Their coarse short-haired coat is naturally waterproof. Excessive washing will cause it to lose its natural properties. Keep their eyes and ears clean and clear of debris. Clip your pup’s nails regularly and brush their teeth several times per week.
Cost
$1,500 – $3,500
Exercise
Shibas are active dogs. They will enjoy brisk walks, light jobs, games of fetch and any other playtime you can invent. Plan on spending around an hour each day focused on activity with your dog. It is essential to keep your pup leashed or in a secure fenced in area, sometimes the instinct to hunt will override the will to respond to a return call.
Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is essential. Start training early with your Shiba. This pup thrives in an established pack, if you do not take charge your pup will.
Training will take a bit a patience on your end. Fill your sessions with fun, stimulating activities. Be sure to include lots of positive feedback and treats. One of the wonderful aspects about a Shiba is they do not like getting dirty. So, they will happy housetrain almost immediately.
Crate training is encouraged with this breed. When you are away or your dog gets bored, it is likely they will chew and chew and chew on everything in site. Crate training will keep this chewing to the things inside the crate. Consider lots of toys including puzzle toys to keep your pup engaged.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Nutrition
Your Shiba will eat around 2 cups of food per day. The exact requirements for your dog will vary with age and activity level. Be mindful that little dogs that receive lots of treats and or table scraps end up overweight. A little dog that is overweight is significantly more likely to develop other health issues.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
The Good
Easy to housetrain
Low barking
The "Ruff"
Shed a lot
Prone to allergies