The Shiba Inu is a very popular breed of dog — and very distinctive in both appearance and personality.
They come in a variety of colors with white markings usually spotted around their coat. They have double coats, with a rougher coat on the top and a softer undercoat that tends to shed quite a bit. Make sure you take this into account, as you’ll have to brush them quite a bit with an undercoat rake to get all of that loose hair out. They’re very compact and muscular dogs.
Shiba Inu – Originally A Hunting Dog
This dog used to be a hunting dog. That means you should take great care when bringing a Shiba Inu into their home. Unfortunately, their hunting instincts often kick in when it comes to smaller animals such as cats or rabbits. You can help this by socializing your Shiba Inu puppy well with other animals and teaching a firm recall. However, this can take a long time to become reliable, and it’s hard to fight instinct! Generally speaking, they aren’t the dogs best-suited to live with other, smaller animals.
They are, however, highly intelligent. Your Shiba Inu should be a joy to train, though you may have to work with their stubborn streak! Plenty of patience and positive reinforcement is key here, so make sure you’re equipped to deal with that.
They are a little prone to developing separation anxiety. You can help this by introducing them to short periods alone and rewarding them for it by leaving a frozen KONG or another tasty snack. In general, though, these dogs won’t do well if left at home for long periods of time. They may not be the best choice for people who work long hours. If they do fit your life you will quickly love this dog.
