If you like a challenge and don’t mind having an extremely independent, sometimes aloof, dog, then the Shiba Inu may be for you. The Shiba is a “big dog in a small dog body” and they can act like sullen teens, so it takes plenty of patience to raise one. They know their own mind and aren’t afraid to speak it, sometimes in their own language of shrieks and howls.
I have been a proud Shiba Mom for 20 years! I currently have a 2 1/2 year old Shiba son, Kenji Maru. I adopted my first Shiba son, Niko, in 1997 and he went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2015. So, I have a fair amount of experience with the breed and their idiosyncrasies.
Shibas are beautiful dogs and often attract attention while out and about – I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard, “He looks just like a fox!”. It is these foxy good looks that can cause problems for the charming Shiba, as many people adopt the breed based solely on their looks and are not prepared to handle their larger-than-life personalities. Many Shibas are surrendered because their new owners are ill-equipped and impatient, they expect an overly-affectionate pet that is eager to please (get a Lab). However, if you do your research, are patient, firm and loving, a Shiba can be a wonderful additional to your home.
In this post, I’ll start with a bit of background information on the breed.
In Japanese, Inu means “dog”, and shiba means “brushwood’ or, in old Nagano dialect, “small”, so the Shiba Inu is sometimes referred to as “little brushwood dog”. “Brushwood” could be referring to either the red color of the brushwood shrubs, which the most common color of the Shiba, or the fact that the breed was used to hunt small game in the brush.
The Shiba Inu is one of the oldest dog breeds; DNA analysis has dated the breed back to the 3rd Century BC. The breed is one of the 6 original native Japanese breeds, and was declared a national treasure in 1936. The Shiba was introduced to the US in 1954, with the first litter of puppies being documented in 1979, and was officially recognized by the AKC in 1992, and became a member of the “non-sporting group” in 1993.
Males can reach 14-17” at the shoulders and weigh up to 22lbs. Females can reach 13-16” at the shoulders and weigh up to 18lbs. Shibas have an average life expectance of 12-15 years. Our first Shiba, Niko, was 18 years old when he went to the Rainbow Bridge.
The breed has a double-coat, with a coarser, waterproof outer coat and thicker, soft undercoat for insulation. Shibas “blow their coats” (shed) multiple times a year, usually seasonal changes with the heaviest being into summer when their blow their winter floof. Shibas come in multiple flavors: Red, Sesame, Black & Tan, and Cream/White.
RED SESAME
BLACK & TAN CREAM/WHITE
Shibas are very independent, and strong-willed. They will not back down from a challenge, which can sometimes result in aggression. The Shiba is also aloof and not overly affectionate, but they do like having their people around and will approach their chosen person when, or if, affection is wanted.
As Shibas were originally bred to hunt, they should never be left off-leash, unless in a safe and fully-enclosed area. A Shiba can and will run, and it will run fast. I experienced my fair share of chases with Niko, and not once did I catch my own Shiba. I am forever in debt to the strangers who found my tuckered-out escape artist and phoned me to retrieve him.
In my next post, I’ll address some pros and cons of the Shiba personality.
I’ve always thought they were cute dogs, but I didn’t know much about them. Thanks for the information. I don’t think they would be the dog for me, but I still can appreciate them.