I am proud to call myself a Shiba Mom! Currently, I have a 2 1/2 year old male, Kenji, who I brought home after Christmas in 2015. In 1997, we made Niko part of our family, and he went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2015. With 20 years of Shiba parenting experience, I have learned a great deal about their quirks and temperament.
In this post, I’ll be touching on some pros and cons of the Shiba personality…and they have got big personalities!
Shibas are very clean.
PRO: They are almost cat-like in their cleanliness, and bathing is rarely required. This trait can make Shibas easier to house-train than other breeds, as Shibas hate soiling their living space. Kenji, our current Shiba, will not even poo in his own yard.
CON: This can mean your dog will be particular about where he or she does their business, leading you through your neighborhood, silently hoping for a doggie poo.
Shibas are usually quiet but can be good watch dogs.
PRO: When something or someone is out of place, the Shiba will alert their person, and should settle down once the threat has been neutralized. Niko would alert to pillows being on the floor instead of the couch, he knew when such things we “just not right”. Shibas are not yappy dogs, and some do not bark at all, instead making more of a ‘yodel’ similar to a Basenji.
CON: The “Shiba Scream” -a high-pitched cry, and will let you know when your Shiba is displeased. Shibas are reputed “Drama Queens” and may be set off by the slightest provocation, such as bath time, nail clipping, or even inappropriate looks from their person. Kenji has yet to let out more than a whimper in the 2.5 years we’ve had him, while Niko knew how to vocalize his annoyance, and did so more as he aged (don’t we all?).
Shibas are highly energetic, agile and graceful.
PRO: If you like walking or hiking, this is a great breed for you, as they can usually go for miles over varied terrain, and in all types of weather. If they so desire, they can be agility trained and easily complete a course.
CONS: If you are not an active person, and do not want to take regular walks with your dog, do not get a Shiba Inu. If you are away from your home for 8-10 hours a day, and are too tired to have regular playtime with your pet after work, DO NOT GET A SHIBA. If a Shiba is not properly stimulated, not properly exercised and not well and truly tuckered out, it will be destructive and spiteful. When he was young, Niko would urinate in the gameroom while we were at work. Once he started being walked daily, the bad behavior stopped. This is common sense for many breeds, not just the Shiba Inu.
Shibas are highly intelligent
PRO: Shibas can learn many commands, however, they will only perform these command when and if they want to. The breed will challenge your mind and your will, in good ways, and make you a more capable pet owner.
CONS: Are you training them, or are they training you? The Shiba’s mind is almost always thinking of new strategies to train it’s people. Kenji will intentionally hide a toy under a piece of furniture or a rug and then whine until one of us comes to retrieve it for him. We also let him get away with more than we do our other dog, Echo, a shepherd-mix. It’s the look – the “Shiba look” – it’s like the Force.
Shibas have huge personalities.
PRO: They can be clowns, chasing their tails, dancing, prancing, leaping into the air or crawling close to the ground. Fun and funny little dogs who can wrap you around their little claw with a sideways glance. Shibas are quirky and strange. Whenever Hubba or I asks, “What is wrong with that dog?!”, the other just replies, He’s a Shiba.”.
CONS: The “Drama Queen” – as mentioned above – Shibas will throw a tantrum when something displeases them. The smallest offense can set them off, and they can be extremely prickly when in this state. Shibas are sensitive to the energy of those around them, and depending on whether that energy is positive or negative, it can send them into turmoil.
Between this post and Part 1, I have provided some major points about the Shiba Inu, but certainly haven’t covered everything. If you are interested in adding a Shiba to your family, you should definitely do as much research as possible first. You can find plenty of information on the interwebs and at Amazon.
