Originally bred as a hunting dog, the Shiba Inu is among the world’s oldest breeds and one of six native to Japan. A smaller version of the Akita breed, the name Shiba Inu translates as ‘small dog’ in Japanese and it is a Spitz-type breed characterised by its thick coat, pointed ears and curly tail. Known to be a clean dog, Shiba Inu are very loyal and alert with a strong prey instinct and a knack for escaping from gardens. They make a good choice for the experienced dog owner.
Facts & advice
Shiba Inu
With its foxy features and alert, confident behaviour, Shibas are a popular choice for the experienced owner looking for a loyal companion.
Vital stats
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| Size: | Small to medium |
| Coat: | Very thick double coat |
| Exercise | 1 hour a day |
| Life span: | 12-15 years |
| Breed group: | Spitz |
| Temperament: | Loyal, alert, independent, lively |
Shiba Inu temperament & personality
A very confident dog, the Shiba Inu temperament is alert, loyal and lively and they tend to form strong bonds with their owners. However, they can also be quite independent and territorial with a strong hunting instinct.
- Inquisitive, very playful and generally good-natured, a Shiba Inu will love being involved in everything around the home and will be a loyal and loving companion to any owner.
- It’s important to set the boundaries early with any Shiba Inu and ensure good training with plenty of positive reinforcement.
- Their strong prey drive and hunting instinct coupled with a stubborn, independent streak means that Shibas are best kept on a lead, particularly when in the presence of wildlife.
- The Shiba Inu can be quite a vocal dog with some pretty peculiar forms of communication. Not necessarily a big barker, they have a tendency to yodel when they want attention and can sometimes be heard to make a purring sound when being stroked. They’re also known for a high-pitched scream they can often make when they become excited.
- Although they’re not the best choice for first-time owners or families with young children who might test their impatient side, Shibas are a great choice for the more experienced dog owner looking for a loyal companion.
Shiba Inu training & exercise
Plenty of exercise and lots of mental stimulation is very important for any Shiba Inu – not only to avoid boredom but also to help maintain a healthy weight.
Training tips
- As a highly intelligent breed, Shiba Inus are relatively easy to train. However, their strong-willed nature means that training can sometimes be a challenge as they tend to lose focus and test the boundaries of what they can get away with.
- All of this means that recall training is an essential part of any Shiba’s training and development. A hunting instinct means that they will often chase anything that moves.
Game ideas
- Shibas were born to hunt and their inquisitive nature means they love problem-solving games that bring out their cunning side. Add to this a strong food motivation and games that involve finding and working for their food will always go down well. Try hiding food treats around the garden so they have to hunt them out.
- A lively and attentive personality makes for a great ball game partner. Including ball games into your training can help improve their recall training without boring them.
- In the summer months, a garden water hose can often be a great source of fun for any dog. A Shiba’s love for chasing means they’ll enjoy trying to catch the water from a hosepipe and it will help cool them down too.
Exercise
- Shiba Inus need between 40 and 60 minutes of exercise every day to satisfy their energetic, active personalities. Make sure this includes plenty of off-lead activity but be careful to do this in a safe, enclosed area. A long, interesting walk with time to explore a secure garden or open space is ideal. But make sure there are no holes in fences or open gates as these dogs are expert escape artists.
Keeping them happy
- A Shiba will need plenty of mental simulation to avoid boredom. They have the potential for destructive behaviour around the home if they become too bored and inactive. Indulge their playful side with toys and games and make sure you exercise their minds as well as their bodies.
- Although they can be very happy on their own, Shibas like nothing more than receiving lots of affection and attention. Involve them in anything and everything going on around the home and they’ll be very happy.
Shiba Inu grooming
Shibas have a very thick, high shedding coat that requires regular attention.
- With a thick, double coat consisting of a soft, dense undercoat covered by a harder, straight topcoat, the Shiba Inu needs weekly brushing to keep its coat tangle free and healthy.
- Their coats come in four recognised colours: red, white, sesame and black and tan.
- Shibas are a heavy shedding, non-hypoallergenic breed so be prepared for lots of hair around the home. They tend to shed year-round but more heavily in the spring and autumn so regular brushing is needed to remove dead hair.
- Considered a very clean breed, Shibas are often known to self-groom in a similar way to a cat.
- Oral hygiene should be consistent to prevent tooth or gum issues and ears should be checked regularly for any build up of wax that could lead to infection.
Shiba Inu nutrition
Your Shiba Inu’s nutrition plan should be appropriate for a small but active dog and help them maintain a healthy weight.
- All dogs love mealtimes, but Shibas are known to be very food motivated. As a small breed, it’s important to choose good quality food in the right sized portions so it’s best to measure out your pet’s food to avoid overfeeding and maintain both a healthy weight and a Shiba’s characteristic compact body shape.
- Like most dogs, Shibas will thrive on a balanced diet of good quality, dry dog food that contains all the necessary minerals and proteins.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Shiba Inu
A Shiba Inu will make a great canine companion for the right owner. If you’re thinking about welcoming one into your home, here are a few important things to keep in mind.
- Loyal and loving, Shibas form a strong bond with their owners and love being part of everything that goes on around the home.
- However, they are notoriously independent and have a stubborn nature. This means they are best suited to experienced owners and families with older children.
- Between 40-60 minutes of exercise is recommend each day with lots of opportunity for mental stimulation to avoid boredom.
- These expert escape artists will test your boundaries, so it’s important to establish an alpha role early in your relationship and make sure that any gardens are fully secure.
- With a thick, double coat that sheds throughout the year, be prepared for regular grooming and cleaning up excess hair around your home.
- Always be fussy about the breeder you choose. ‘Lucy’s Law’ dictates that new puppies must be bought directly from a breeder or adopted from rescue. Third party sellers are illegal.
- There are many things to consider before getting a dog. Always find out whether a canine friend is the best pet for you before you make the leap from dog lover to dog owner.
Shiba Inu frequently asked questions
Whilst Shiba Inus are friendly and loyal, they have an impatient side and may quickly become provoked by children. This means they are not the best choice as a family dog. As with any dog breed, you should always supervise your Shiba Inu when around children to make sure everyone stays safe and happy.
Part of the Spitz group, the fox-like Shiba Inu is classed as a small to medium breed. An average height for the breed can be anywhere between 34 to 40 cm and their ideal weight is somewhere between 7 and 11 kg.
Shiba Inus are often described as a “big dog in small dog’s body”, and they have a number of distinctive characteristics including their unique vocalisations and cat-like approach to personal hygiene. On the whole, Shiba Inus are confident and independent, with a good-natured personality. Whilst they’re not big barkers, Shibas are a very vocal breed and have been known to purr, yodel and even scream.
Whether you’re looking to adopt a Shiba Inu or buy a puppy, it’s important to make sure you’re getting your pet from a reputable organisation or breeder. If you’re looking to adopt, you can use Petplan’s rehoming directory to find an organisation. If you want to buy a puppy, make sure you find a reputable breeder.
Shiba Inus have a dominant side and don’t do as well in multi-pet households as other dog breeds. Shiba Inus can be trained to get on well with cats if introduced properly and from an early age, but their dominant personality and strong prey drive is likely to prove distressing for cats.
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Shiba Inu insurance considerations
Shiba Inus sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan dog insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
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