The Shiba Inu Breed

7/30/2019 The Shiba Inu Breed

1/19

The Shiba Inu Breed

He looks just like a fox!You have probably seen this foxy little dog, walking his little walkaround your neighborhood. Or perhaps you saw him at the dog park, strutting his stuff, or maybe itwas at the dog show.These little foxes are striking. They act like they are on show all of the time, and theystand out wherever they go.What are they?Sounds like Sheba Inu, Shibu Inu, Shiba Enu the one and only Shiba Inu .

Sounds like Sheba Inu, Shibu Inu, Shiba Enu ... the one and only Shiba Inu.The Shiba Inu Whats That?!

The Shiba Inu - What'sThat?!The Shiba Inu is aJapanese dog breed.There are six original

distinct breeds of dogfrom Japan, and theShiba Inu is thesmallest one.The largest in the groupis the Akita. Therearent many red and white Akitas in the United States, but the few that I have seen, look

just like larger versions of the red Shiba Inu. And not in the Schwarzenegger-DeVito sort
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traits


2/19

of way.Between the Akita Inu and the Shiba Inu, are the medium sized Japanese dog breeds,including the Shikoku, Kai, Ainu, and Kishu. These six Japanese dog breeds have verysimilar appearance and temperaments. They all belong to the Spitz dog family .

It's a wild thang!Shiba Inu What Does It Mean?

The Kanji or Japanese character for dog, can be pronounced as Inu or Ken.Therefore, Shiba Inu simply means Shiba dog. Sometimes, you will also hear the Shibadog being referred to as Shiba Ken.The exact interpretation of Shiba, is less clear. It could mean red shrub, for the red

bushes that grow in the region, where Shibas come from. Alternatively, it could also meansmall.The Shiba Inu is certainly a cheeky little red shrub, so both interpretations work out well.Shiba Inu - What DoesIt Truly Mean?Shiba Inu of all colorshave the same fiery red

personality.Shiba Inu What DoesIt Truly Mean?

I know that discussionsof red shrubs are trulyriveting, but you

probably want to moveon to what it truly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitz


3/19

means to be Shiba, am I right?Well, you know what they say about red-heads and their fiery temper.The same is also true of the red-headed Shiba Inu. You may think that you can get aroundthis thorny issue, by getting a Shiba of another color, such as the red-sesame, black andtan, or cream colored versions. However, the Shiba God is indeed one step ahead of you.

Shiba Inus of all colors, have the same fiery red personality .That is why they are also known as -The devil dog,The not for everyone dog, andThe honey, why the hell did you get this thing?! dog.

Indeed, the Shiba Inu is not recommended for first time dog owners.However, figuring I was smarter than everyone else, or mainly because of lack of research, I decided to get a Shiba as my first dog anyway. It was not an easy first dogexperience, but after over a year, Shiba Inu Sephy and I reached a somewhat peacefulstate of cohabitation.My little red shrub still has some thorns, but he is growing some beautiful flowers as

well.

Shiba Inu Sephy - My cheeky, little red shrub.

Mame Shiba

Standard sized male Shiba Inus tend to range between 20-25 pounds, for an averageweight of around 23 pounds. Female Shiba Inus are slightly smaller, and have an averageweight of 17 pounds. There are always outliers though.My male Shiba is a big boy, and comes in at around 30 pounds. He is not an overweightdog, just big-boned.
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.hubpages.com/_srec/hub/Shiba-Inu-Sephy-and-Mehttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.hubpages.com/_srec/hub/Shiba-Inu-Sephy-and-Me


4/19

Recently, some breeders in Japan and the United States have started breeding MameShibas, which are essentially smaller sized Shibas. Mame means bean in Japanese, sothese are bean-sized Shibas.Mame Shibas are not recognized by any of the kennel clubs in Japan, or in the UnitedStates. As a result, the breeding of Mame Shibas is not regulated, and many of the

breeders who sell them, do not breed for health or temperament.Since the Shiba Inu is already a difficult dog breed to begin with, we want to try and getone that has a balanced temperament. Therefore, it is best to get a Shiba fromanaccredited club breeder , who has to follow strict breeding guidelines.

Mame Shiba? Nah - just a Shiba Inu puppy.Jomon Shiba

The Jomon period is the time in Japanese history from around 14,000 B.C. to 400 B.C.The Jomon inhabitants reared hunting dogs that were a big part of their culture.Archaeological sites have uncovered well-preserved skeletons of the Jomon dogs , whichshow that they have prick ears and a sickle tail. Scientists believe these dogs to be theancient ancestors of the Shiba Inu, and the other five original Japanese dog breeds.Some breeders in Japan have founded the Shibaho association , to breed dogs with

physical characteristics that conform to the Jomon dogs of old.The Jomon Shiba is a more feral looking Shiba, with a narrower head, and larger teeth.True to their even more primitive roots, Jomon Shibas are more stubborn and lessobedient, than their domesticated Shiba Inu brothers.Given the already high level of stubbornness and willfulness in a regular Shiba, it may be

best to stay away from these Jomon dogs.
http://shibashake.hubpages.com/_srec/hub/Most-Difficult-Dog-Breedshttp://shibashake.hubpages.com/_srec/hub/Most-Difficult-Dog-Breedshttp://www.shibas.org/breeders.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jomon_periodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jomon_periodhttp://www.shiba-dog.de/jomonNE.htmhttp://www.shibaho.net/http://shibashake.hubpages.com/_srec/hub/Most-Difficult-Dog-Breedshttp://www.shibas.org/breeders.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jomon_periodhttp://www.shiba-dog.de/jomonNE.htmhttp://www.shibaho.net/


5/19

Shiba Inu Sephy looking a lot like his Jomon ancestors in this foxy-shot.Shiba Inu Why Not?

Shiba Inu - Why Not?The Shiba Inu isindependent and aloof.The Shiba Inu is aclown.The Shiba Inu is acharmer.The Shiba Inu is one of a kind.Truthfully, there aremany easier andfriendlier dog breeds than the Shiba Inu.The Shiba Inu isindependent and aloof.If we want a lap dogwho likes to cuddlewith us, then the Shibais not for us.The Shiba Inu is feisty and active. If we want a calm dog that just lies at the end of our

bed, and warms our feet, then the Shiba is not for us.The Shiba Inu is a dog rebel. If we want an obedient dog that follows our everycommand, and only lives to please us, then the Shiba is not for us.
http://shibashake.com/dog/top-men-and-top-women-dog-breedshttp://shibashake.com/dog/top-men-and-top-women-dog-breedshttp://shibashake.com/dog/top-men-and-top-women-dog-breeds


6/19

Why Do People Get Shiba Inus?

Yeah, they are a bit nuts. Maybe more than a bit nuts. However, once we get beneath thatfiery red temper, we will find a rich and deep Shiba soul.The Shiba Inu is a trickster. He likes to play tricks, and he likes breaking rules. We willnever be bored if we live with a Shiba, because he will always be up to something.Sometimes, it is even something good.The Shiba Inu is a clown. He likes being the center of attention, and he will do much toget to that coveted spot. What he does, will be original, funny, and very entertaining. Infact, Shibas remind me of stand-up comedians. They can easily make others laugh withtheir crazy hi-jinks, but they have a very sensitive and fragile soul.The Shiba Inu is a charmer. He can charm birds from the trees, if he wants to. Most of thetime, he may not want to, but when he does, look out! It is simply not possible to resistthose deep dark eyes, his infectious grin, or roguish charm.The Shiba Inu is one of a kind. He is not like a regular dog. In fact, many people describethe Shiba as a dog that is more like a cat .If we want a dog that is a bit different, a dog that will challenge us and grow with us, adog that will surprise us in both delightful and sometimes non-delightful ways, a trickster,a prankster, and a rogue, but sensitive, deep, and surprising then the Shiba Inu is thedog for us.He is like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, except with more fur and without the hat!

The Shiba Inu is like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, except with more fur and without thehat!Getting a Shiba Inu
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-a-dog-that-is-more-like-a-cathttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-a-dog-that-is-more-like-a-cathttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-a-dog-that-is-more-like-a-cat


7/19

Only get a Shiba Inu puppy from anaccredited breeder or from a Shiba Inurescue.

What do you think of Shiba Inus?

One of the mostdifficult breeds I haveever owned.Difficult

breed.Medium Difficulty.Fairly easy.Piece of cake.Vote View Results Polldaddy.com

Should we get a Shiba Inu puppy?That would depend on our temperament, lifestyle, and the amount of time we can devoteto a new puppy. The Shiba Inu is a challenging dog breed, because he is extremelystubborn, dominant, and smart.Shiba Inu training is a must, and it can be a very time consuming and frustrating process,especially in the beginning.Patience and time are two key ingredients, that we will need in abundance.Shibas are inside dogs, that need the company of their people. A Shiba puppy that isconstantly left in his own company, will become stressed, unhappy, destructive, andaggressive.If you still want a Shiba Inu after all this then get a puppy from an accredited breeder ,or from a Shiba Inu rescue .

ShibaInuSephyfellasleepduring ahide-and-seek game.RelatedArticles


8/19

PREVIOUSNEXT >>

Shiba Inu Personality -Good,Bad, & QuirkyThe Shiba Inu is a striking dogthat looks a lot like a fox.However, the Shiba Inu has aquirky personality that may bechallenging to dog owners. We

present the good, bad, and quirkyaspects of the Shiba Inu personality.Shiba Inu Personality -Good, Bad, & Quirky

The Shiba Inu is a beautiful Spitz dog. You will get many compliments and turn many

heads while walking next to a Shiba.

A Shiba Inu can get you a lot of attention and open doors to many social encounters. Get

used to hearing, He/She looks just like a fox!.

In fact, it is this foxy look that often gets Shibas into trouble.

Many people fall in love with the Shiba look but are not equipped to handle his larger

than life personality.

If you like the Spitz look, there are many other breeds that fall into this group that may

better suit your lifestyle.
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/sheba-inu-shiba-inu-shibu-inuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitzhttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traitshttp://shibashake.com/dog/sheba-inu-shiba-inu-shibu-inuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitz


9/19

Shiba Inu Personality - The Good, The Bad, and The Quirky.

The Good

1. A Shiba Inu is a dog that is more like a cat

A Shiba Inu is independent and very clean.

My Shiba Sephy spends a fair amount of time not just grooming himself, but also helping

to groom my Siberian Husky.

A Shiba Inu is extremely easy to potty train .

Sephy only had housebreaking mistakes on the first day that we brought him home (10

weeks old). After that, he always let us know when he has to go potty. We did not even

need to train him to go potty outside. He naturally dislikes soiling his living space and

even prefers not to go in our backyard.

Shiba Inus like having their humans around in the general vicinity. However, theyarealoof like cats , and do not need or want human affection much of the time.
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-potty-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-a-dog-that-is-more-like-a-cathttp://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-potty-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-a-dog-that-is-more-like-a-cat


10/19

A Shiba Inu is a dog that is more like a cat.2. A Shiba Inu is a good watch dog

Good watch dog.

A Shiba Inu is not a

noisy dog. However,

when there are strange people or strange

noises around the house

he will bark to alert

you. Once I go and

check things out, Sephy stops barking .

Shibas have great memory and will alert you to anything out of place around the house

and even in a familiar neighborhood. One day Sephy started barking at the fence because

somebody had put a piece of wood on top of it amazing!3. A Shiba Inu is graceful, agile, and high energy

Graceful, agile, andhigh energy.

A Shiba Inu is graceful

and agile.
http://shibashake.com/dog/woof-woof-stop-dog-barkinghttp://shibashake.com/dog/woof-woof-stop-dog-barkinghttp://shibashake.com/dog/woof-woof-stop-dog-barking


11/19

He can leap tall fences in a single bound and can scale walls like Spiderman. If properly

directed, his super powers can be used for good. However, when left on his own, the

Shiba will likely turn towards the Dark Side.

A Shiba Inu is a great hiking buddy and is always up for a new challenge. He can easily

learn and conquer an agility course but he will only do it, if you make it worth his while.

A Shiba running is a sight to behold and a Shiba at play is poetry in motion.

4. A Shiba Inu is a doggy Einstein

Doggy Einstein.

A Shiba Inu can learn

many dog obedience

commands and he canlearn them very

quickly. He also thinks

that he is much smarter

than you, and will only

obey you when it suits him.

A Shiba can quickly figure out complex interactive dog toys and puzzles. I am always

trying out new ways to deploy Sephys food in toys because he figures things out so

quickly. A Shiba will challenge you and keep you sharp and on your toes!5. A Shiba Inu has a larger than life personality

Shiba Inu with butt inthe air.

No great genius hasever existed withoutsome touch of madness.~~[ Aristotle ]

A Shiba Inu may be

small in body, but hehas a ginormous

personality. If a Shiba

were a person, he would either be an extremely successful egomaniac or in prison!

Sephy always surprises me and makes me laugh; at least when he is not making me cry.

He has this one move where he puts his head down on the ground with his butt sticking
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-obedience-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-obedience-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-obedience-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/best-dog-toyshttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-obedience-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-obedience-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-obedience-training-facts-and-mythshttp://shibashake.com/dog/best-dog-toys


12/19

up in the air it is just too precious.

Larger than life personality.

The Bad

1. A Shiba Inu is bold, strong willed, and stubborn

He has a Never give up, Never surrender attitude.

He will not back down from a challenge and will often fight back when he perceives a

threat. Because of this, many owners face aggression issues with their Shiba

including food aggression , dog to dog aggression , and people aggression.

To successfully live with a Shiba Inu, you must be extremely patient and have a good

sense of humor.
http://shibashake.com/dog/stop-food-aggression-stop-resource-guardinghttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-to-dog-aggressionhttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-to-dog-aggressionhttp://shibashake.com/dog/stop-food-aggression-stop-resource-guardinghttp://shibashake.com/dog/dog-to-dog-aggression


13/19

Shiba Inu Personality - The Bad.A Shiba Inu gets boredeasily.Bold, strong willed,and stubborn.

Turn a Shibas

annoying habits againsthim.

For example, a Shiba

gets bored easily. If you

ignore him and give

him nothing to react to,

he will quickly lose interest, and move on to something else.

Shibas can be very competitive. If they see another dog getting praise and rewards, they

will want to strut their stuff and show that they are better.Work with a Shibas innate personality and use it motivate him in the right direction.

Passive resistance and reward obedience training work best with Sephy.A Shiba will hand you many lemons, which is good if you like lemonade. Otherwise, justcut one up and squirt it on his muzzle.~~[ just kidding! ShibaShake ]2. A Shiba Inu has a sly, rougish intelligence
http://shibashake.com/dog/reward-dog-traininghttp://shibashake.com/dog/reward-dog-traininghttp://shibashake.com/dog/reward-dog-training


14/19

A Shiba Inu is super intelligent. He will most often use his brain power to push your

buttons and get what he wants.

Sephy is always trying to figure out how he can outsmart me and all the humans around

him. A trainer once told me that Sephy was spending the weekends, Devising new

strategies to defeat her.

In another life my Shiba was probably a Catholic priest. He can guilt me into doing

almost anything for him.

Beware the Shiba look it is one of his most powerful weapons and he will use it to great

effect if he senses any weakness in you. Before you know it, your Shiba will have gottenyou trained to fetch, stay, and rub tummy.

Remember that a Shiba Inu will do whatever he wants if he can get away with it. If he

cant get away with it, he will figure out another way to get away with it. When he gets

caught with his nose in the cookie jar, he will give you the innocent What did I do?

look and then come over and lick your hand.

Once you turn away, he is back in the cookie jar!

A Shiba Inu is equal parts sly and rougish.


15/19

3. A Shiba Inu is like the evil, black Spiderman

A Shiba Inu is like theevil, black Spiderman.

He is capable of great

feats of agility but if

untrained, he will use it

to destroy and cause

great havoc in the

household.

If bored and lonely, he

will escape by jumping over or burrowing under your fence. He can squeeze through

small holes, bite through leashes, and achieve amazing great escapes that will make

Houdini proud.

If not properly supervised, a Shiba will pull down items from counters and shred them to

pieces. He may even eat some of those pieces. Once, I left Sephy unsupervised for about

10 minutes and in that time he pulled down a phone headset and shredded it to little

pieces. Luckily he didnt swallow anything.

A Shiba Inu, especially a young Shiba Inu has a lot of energy.

It takes a lot to keep him occupied and away from trouble. Getting him a dog playmate

can help. Another alternative is to put him in dog daycare or to employ the services of adog walker.4. A Shiba Inu is a Drama Queen

Sephy will whine, mope and act like it is the end of the world when he is unhappy about

something (e.g. wearing a harness).

Woe be to you if your Shiba gets hurt or even just thinks that he is hurt.

Sephy acts like he is close to deaths door even for small things like getting grass stuck

between his teeth.

Woe be to you, woe be to your vet, and woe be to anyone who tries to help.

Shibas are extremely touchy when in this state, and may snap and bite at anyone who


16/19

comes near them.

Sephy is extremely sensitive to the energy of the people and dogs around him. If I am

scared or stressed out, he picks up on that immediately and gets that way too except

with a thousand times more gusto!5. A Shiba Inu is an accomplished singer

A Shiba Inu does not bark much but he has a wide range of vocal stylings.

The most well known is the Shiba-scream, which is a high pitched, loud scream that will

make your blood curdle. Your neighbors will think you are torturing your poor little ball

of fur.

A Shiba Inu will quickly learn to use his Shiba-scream against you if you let him.

Do not get embarrassed, and do not give him a reaction during a Shiba-scream. Just

ignore him and go about your business and he will stop. Remember that he can senseyour inner energy, not just your outward appearance.A Shiba Inu is anaccomplishedsinger.6. A Shiba Inuknows he is dogroyalty

A Shiba Inu does

not like being

touched or

handled.

Cutting nails,

bathing, or a vet examination, is never fun for any breed of dog, but with a Shiba it can be

total hell.

After a lot of desensitization work and management, Sephy still protests to some of these

activities. He sometimes throws a fit when I pick him up, and he only likes human

contact when the mood suits him.

A Shiba Inu is like dog royalty.

He wants his subjects close enough to serve him but not too close as to sully his royal

person.


17/19

A Shiba Inu will quickly learn to use his Shiba-scream against you if you let him.7. A Shiba Inu pretends not to understand Obedience

Obedience? What'sthat?

Obedience? Whats

that?Shibas Inus think that

you should be obedient

to them and not the

other way around.

If you want a Shiba to

do something for you, you had better make him a good offer.

Sometimes, Sephy bargains with me. He will sit there and wait until I have the acceptable

number of dog treats in my hand before going into his crate.A Shiba Inu can be a good citizen at home, but he must be properly managed.

Shibas are strong willed, independent, and bred to hunt. Aversive training does notwork

well on them. Shiba owners need to be creative and flexible when interacting with their

dog.

A Shiba Inu is not to be trusted off-leash unless in a fully enclosed area.
http://shibashake.com/dog/aversive-dog-traininghttp://shibashake.com/dog/aversive-dog-traininghttp://shibashake.com/dog/aversive-dog-traininghttp://shibashake.com/dog/aversive-dog-training


18/19

8. A Shiba Inu has nasty, wicked teeth

Nasty wicked teeth.

For a small dog, a

Shiba Inu has very

large teeth, and he is

not afraid to use them.

Shibas can be very

mouthy, more so than

many other dog breeds.

When I first got Sephy at 10 weeks old, his mouth was all over me. Now it is in control,

but his instinct is still to bite.

Shiba Inus are a primitive breed and they lose control more easily than other moredomesticated dog breeds.The Quirky

A Shiba Inu is a grass connoisseur

What do you think of Shiba Inus?

One of the most difficult breeds I have ever owned.Difficult breed.Medium

Difficulty.Fairly easy.Piece of cake.

Vote View Results Polldaddy.com

He likes grazing, but he is picky about what grass he will eat. Dogs may sometimes graze

when their stomachs are upset to clear their digestive systems, but a Shiba Inu just enjoys

eating grass if it is the right kind of grass.

I recently found an article suggesting that there might be something to this grass

connoisseur business after all.We at Green Foods believe that dogs and many other carnivores, including cats and

bears, eat cereal grasses because cereal grasses contain nutrients not found in meat thatare essential for the animals good health.~~[ Green Foods web site ]

Thanks to all the posters at Shibatalk and ShibaInuInfo for their many humorous Shiba

Inu stories that inspired this article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_dog_breedshttp://polldaddy.com/signup-free/?ad=poll-fronthttp://mydog-parlance.blogspot.com/2007/10/why-do-dogs-eat-grass.htmlhttp://www.greenfoods.com/news/Why_do_dogs_eat_grass.htmlhttp://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Shibatalk/http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ShibaInuInfo/http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ShibaInuInfo/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_dog_breedshttp://polldaddy.com/signup-free/?ad=poll-fronthttp://mydog-parlance.blogspot.com/2007/10/why-do-dogs-eat-grass.htmlhttp://www.greenfoods.com/news/Why_do_dogs_eat_grass.htmlhttp://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Shibatalk/http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ShibaInuInfo/


19/19

Shiba Inu Sephy resting after a tiring day.

Documents

The Shiba Inu Breed