Unless you've been living under a rock or are not into internet and social media in general, you've probably seen a specific dog breed becoming very popular in the past few years, being turned into memes, Japanese anime characters, and even names of crypto coins. But beyond the cuteness and the popularity of this dog breed, lies the story of a dog with a heart of gold, but strong and stubborn character who won't let itself be "tamed" easily.
Don't give in to pop culture and get a Shiba Inu just to be cool, to be "on trend". Like with any pet, do your research before you decide to get one for yourself or your kids. A pet is a commitment for many years to come, if you're lucky. And a Shiba Inu is an even greater commitment because you need long hours to spend training them, and you will meet frustrations very often. There's a good reason the Japanese say that Shiba dogs have the independence and stubborness of a cat. They are not particularly fond of human attention and interaction, but there are ways to win their heart. This is a dog breed that will not satisfy your cuddle cravings when YOU want it, but when the dog wants it. It's a dog that you can hardly play frisbee with, because he's just going to take off at the first opportunity he's off leash, and you'll be spending minutes or hours trying to get the dog to come back to you and he'll take it all as a game and truly enjoy messing up with your patience. It took us 11 hours with a dog trainer to get our Shiba to listen to basic, easy commands, and that's not because of lack of intelligence, but on the contrary, a Shiba is a highly-intelligent dog that just does what it wants. The key to training most Shibas is through gentle discipline (the iron hand in a velvet glove) and a lot of CHEESE. Our Shiba Suki, 8 years old, loves Gouda in particular, but any other cheese will usually do.
Shiba Inus are cheeky, stubborn, intelligent creatures that will not have you have it the easy way. It's not your typical dog wagging their tail happily in wait of getting new orders from their owner. But once you've gained their trust, they will shower you with infinite love and airplane years, and if you give them treats, especially cheese, they may not do whatever you tell them to, but they will find a way to melt your heart and make your day so much better. Some Shibas are good with kids and other dogs or cats, but most just enjoy the company of their human adult owners. It's said that a Shiba Inu only has ONE owner, so do expect your dog to be much more receptive to you OR your partner's commands. Provide them with gentle discipline, lots of treats, time, patience and tender petting on the head, ears (yes!) and belly. Puppies will need a lot of outdoor exercise, whether it's just walks or jogging with you, in order to consume their high energy. Shibas do what is a called a "Shiba 500"run-around-the-house when they are not tired enough OR if they're happy. When you come home, expect a cute, wolfish howl as welcome-home greeting.
Our Shiba Suki is 8 years old and still has the energy of a puppy sometimes. I got him when he was 2 months old and from the start he has been a very cuddly but stubborn and mischievous dog. I was lucky enough to get a Shiba that enjoys cuddling and petting, it seems Shibas are not usually fan of cuddles, and enjoy their independence in their little corner in the house where no one will disturb their long daytime naps. If you're hoping for a lap dog, this is not the right choice of breed. In terms of family life match, it seems that female Shibas are more fit for families with toddlers or young children, as they are generally more patient and more tolerant. Our Suki is still adjusting to the new member of the family, a very energetic toddler that wants to pull the dog's tail or bother him during naps. So we make sure to have a "refuge" where our Suki can go and be left alone, and to put limits to what our toddler can do in his interaction with the dog. But I guess that is valid for any dog breed - make sure they have their own peaceful, quiet place to retreat to.
I hope you found this information useful, and if you're considering getting a Shiba, please first do an extensive research on the breed, to see if it really fits your lifestyle and family situation, and please consider looking for one in dog shelters in your area. There are unfortunately plenty of elderly Shibas looking for a new loving home to live the rest of their lives in and give all the affection in the world. And if you're considering a puppy, please do your research again, before you settle on a specific breeder, and make sure you find a responsible breeder with good reviews. The research is important because there are lots on unscrupulous breeders out there breeding these dogs just for money (Shibas being very popular and expensive right now) and care little about the health and living conditions of the dogs they breed.
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